CRUNCHY-TOPPED COCOA CAKE

Crunchy-Topped Cocoa Cake image

Provided by Nancy Allen

Categories Cakes

Time 1h

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 1/2 c all-purpose flour
1 c sugar
1/4 c hershey's cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 c water
1/4 c plus 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 Tbsp white vinegar
1 tsp vanilla extract
BROILED TOPPING
1/4 c 1/2 stick butter (butter works best)
1/2 c packed light brown sugar
1/2 c coarsely chopped nuts (pecans )
1/2 c sweetened coconut flakes
3 Tbsp light cream or evporated milk (both are great)

Steps:

1. Heat oven to 350F. Grease and flour 8 inch square baking pan.
2. Stir together flour,sugar,cocoa,baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add water,oil,vinegar and vanilla; beat with spoon or whisk just until batter is smooth and ingredients are well blended. Pour into prepared pan.
3. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Meanwhile, make topping by adding all toppin ingredients in small bowl until well blended, it makes 1 cup of topping.
4. When cake is done spread topping mixture over warm cake. Set oven to broil; place pan about 4 inches from heat. Broil 3 minutes or until top is bubbly and brown. Remove from oven. Cool completely in pan on rack.