Preheat the oven to 180 C or 350 F for at least 15 mins.
Grease a 8 or 9 inch round cake pan & drizzle some flour on it. or Line with a parchment paper. Set aside.
Mix together flour, cocoa powder, salt and baking soda.
Sieve this mix at least twice to aerate the flour. This makes the cake light. If using wheat flour then sieve four times.
Add sugar and mix it well. I use fine sugar. If you are using coarse one then you can also dissolve it in 1 cup water (called for the recipe) and pour it in the next step.
Make a well (space) in the center. Pour water, oil or melted butter, vanilla extract and vinegar called for in the cake ingredients.
Gently begin to mix well from the liquid ingredients in the center.
Using a whisk or spatula, mix just until the flour is combined well with the wet ingredients. Do not over mix.
The batter will be runny. Pour it to the cake pan.
Knock it a few times against the kitchen counter to release air bubbles.
Bake for 30 to 35 mins. Check after 27 mins. The bake time may vary depending on your pan size and oven. So Just bake it until a skewer or a tester inserted comes out clean.
To check if it is completely baked, insert a skewer in the center of the cake and check. It must come out clean.
Keep the cake pan on a wire rack and allow it to cool down for 8 to 10 mins in the pan.
Invert eggless chocolate cake gently on a wire rack. Allow it to cool.
You can frost the cake if you like or just sprinkle some powdered sugar.
This eggless chocolate cake tastes best the next day.
Mix together ¾ cup milk, 2 tbsps cocoa, 1 tsp vanilla extract & 4 to 6 tbsps sugar.
The mixture must be lump free & smooth.
Begin to cook on a low to medium heat stirring constantly until slightly thick & creamy.
Taste it and add more sugar if needed & boil. Cool completely.
Place the cake on a plate or a tray that can hold the excess dripping from chocolate sauce.
Pour the chocolate frosting on the warm eggless chocolate cake.
Spread with spatula. For step by step pics, please refer this Ragi cake.
Ensure the butter is soft yet cold. When you press down the block of butter, it must dent easily yet hold shape without melting.
Add butter to a large bowl and beat it until soft and fluffy. You can use a hand mixer or just a whisk.
Place a sieve over the butter bowl. Add cocoa and powdered sugar to the sieve. Sieve it well.
Pour vanilla and 2 tbsps milk or cream. Mix them up lightly.
Then whisk or beat until everything turns smooth fluffy and light. It must be of spreadable consistency.
If it is too thick, then add another half to 1 tbsp milk or cream. Beat well until it reaches a good consistency.
Do not over beat else the butter begins to melt.
If needed you can keep it in the fridge for a while.
Spread a tbsp of frosting on your cake stand. Place 4 - 2 by 8 inch parchment paper strips across the four sides of the cake stand.
Place the cake over these papers with the frosting beneath the cake.
Scoop off a good amount of frosting to the cake. Begin to spread from the center and then towards the sides.
Place the cake in the fridge for about 40 mins. Then smoothen the cake with a spatula. Remove the parchment papers gently.
Eggless chocolate cake is ready. Slice & serve.