Chocolate Beggars Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease and flour one 9" spring form pan or well grease a bundt pan. Sift the flour with the cocoa, baking soda, pudding mix and salt into a mixing bowl. Add the vegetable shortening to the sifted ingredients. With an electric mixer beat for 1 minute on low or until the ingredients are combined and shortening is in teeny pieces. Add the sugar and blend with a fork or fingers until combined. Add 1/2 the milk into the flour and beat on low speed for 2 minutes. Combine the rest of the milk and the rum with the eggs and vanilla in a separate bowl and beat until combined. Add this to batter and beat on low for 2 minutes. Scrape down the beaters and sides of the bowl and beat for 1 minute longer or until smooth. Add 1 package of chips and manually mix them in. Transfer the batter into the pan. Bang the pans on the counter a couple of times on the counter to release any pockets of air. Bake for 45 to 65 minutes, or until the cake begins to shrink from the sides of the pan and a tester inserted in the center comes out dry. The tester method is likely more accurate. Because of the rum, this may take more than an hour to bake, depending on your oven, so be prepared to test often (every 15 minutes or so) after 45 minutes has passed. Remove the cake from the oven and set to the side to cool. While cake is cooling, 1/2 of second package of chips (or as many as desired) with a double boiler or carefully in teh microwave. (Mixing often is key). Unmold cake from spring form or carefully pop out of bundt pan onto serving dish. Poor melted chocolate over cake (or drizzle as desired) and let cool. Sprinkle with sifted powdered sugar or serve as is. ENJOY!