Underground Chile Chocolate Bread

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Splurge-Worthy Goodness: Underground Chile Chocolate Bread! Don’t you hate it when you’re in the mood to bake something delicious and then find yourself short one key ingredient? That happens to me whenever I find “buttermilk” listed on a recipe. Truth-be-told, I seldom buy it. Thankfully there are two ways to transform ordinary milk into buttermilk. You can use white vinegar, or you can use lemon juice. It’s the acidity that works like magic. Now you’re probably wondering why we want buttermilk in the first place. Well, other than the rich creamy taste, buttermilk helps breads to rise with more body and a softer texture. Is it any wonder pancakes, mashed potatoes, and even fried chicken taste better bathed in buttermilk. Keep that under your hat.

UNDERGROUND CHILE CHOCOLATE BREAD

Ingredients:

3/4 cup milk, mixed with 2 teaspoons vinegar

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 2/3 cups flour

1/4 cup cocoa powder

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 2/3 cups sugar

2 large eggs, room temperature

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper. Set aside. Pour vinegar into a measuring cup, then fill with milk until you reach the 3/4 mark. Let sit for five minutes to thicken, then whisk. This is a substitute for buttermilk. In a large bowl, combine chili powder, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, vegetable oil, sugar, eggs, and “buttermilk”. Mix until just evenly combined. Do not over stir. Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for one hour, or until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool bread on a wire rack before removing from loaf pan. Slice and serve.

26 thoughts on “Underground Chile Chocolate Bread”

  4. This looks like a wonderful chocolate bread. I have often found myself too, short one ingredient when the mood suddenly strikes me (sigh). Thanks for sharing this recipe with us.

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