ABUELITA Chocolate Cake with a Kick

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I admit that my family didn't really celebrate Dia de los Muertos when I was growing up. Halloween I knew about, but Day of the Dead was just some weird Mexican holiday where skulls were more cute than creepy.

Well, now that I'm older and I actually researched the celebration I am in love with it. Dia de los Muertos is how I think death should be celebrated: with parties, loud music, colorful flowers, and food. The entire premise of Day of the Dead is to celebrate the lives of those who you've lost, not to wallow in sadness. It's a whole day to remember those who you loved in the way they were before they were gone. So for instance if your grandma died of cancer - you'd probably only remember her as sick; Dia de los Muertos is a time to think back to the things she liked to do in life. To remember all the activities she enjoyed because that's what life is about - enjoying it!

I have to say - that's a pretty badass way to think about death.

For the last couple of years John and I have gone a little sugar skull crazy and bought a lot of decorations for the celebration. We put them up towards the end of September and leave them up until the middle of November (though that may just be my laziness showing).

 There are some traditional Day of the Day foods that I think of when I think of the holiday. Chicken caldo (soup), and some mole are delicious and using some Maggi Chicken bouillon makes the process so much easier. Then there's my favorite coffee/condensed milk drink! When making it, I prefer La Lechera condensed milk because it has the best flavor.

But today, I'm going to show you how to make an ABUELITA Mexican chocolate cake.

They infuse the chocolate with cinnamon and other spices. You'll find the cute little abuelita (which means granny in English) in the hot chocolate section of your grocery store.

They have different varieties of ABUELITA chocolate: powder, syrup, and bars but my personal favorite are the ones in little disks. My dad and my grandma used to buy that version so I've always bought the same type.

So you've gone out and bought your ABUELITA chocolate. You ready to make a cake?

ABUELITA Chocolate Cake with Cayenne

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cup all purpose flour

• 1/4 tsp baking powder

• 1/4 cup sugar

• 2 circles ABUELITA chocolate

• 3/4 cup butter

• 2 eggs

• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

• 2 tbsp milk

• 1/4 tsp cayenne

• 1/4 tsp salt

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Grate or finely chop the ABUELITA chocolate.
3. Melt the butter & ABUELITA chocolate in a pan until they mix together. Set aside.
4. In another bowl mix the flour, baking powder, cayenne, and salt.
5. Whisk the sugar and the butter/chocolate mix.
6. Add the milk, eggs, and vanilla to the butter/chocolate mixture.
7. Mix in the dry ingredients until everything is incorporated.
8. Pour the batter into your pan and bake for 20 - 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
9. Allow to cool before frosting.

I really like the way the cake turned out in my skull cake pan. It looked awesome! The taste of ABUELITA makes this cake delicious. Also, don't worry about the cayenne, it doesn't add flavor so much as a little heat at the back of your throat. 

John and I ate our skull cake on our Day of the Dead plate by Dia de los Muertos candlelight. I think it was a pretty good way to get into the festive spirit. 

Want more recipes for your Dia de los Muertos fiesta? Visit El Mejor Nido to get some great recipe ideas that incorporate some Mexican flavors with some American twists for really delicious treats. Let me know which one you plan to make!