Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F.  Put the flour, the º cup sugar, the 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in a medium-size mixing bowl.  Use a wooden spoon to stir until well mixed.  Add the milk, oil, and vanilla.  Stir until smooth.  Pour the batter into a 1-quart ungreased casserole.  Put the ‡ cup sugar and the 2 tablespoons cocoa powder in a small mixing bowl.  Gradually stir in the boiling water.  Pour evenly over batter in the casserole.  Put the casserole in the oven.  Bake about 30 minutes or until a wooden toothpick comes out clean.  (To test for doneness, use hot pads to pull out oven rack.  Stick a toothpick in the center of the cake; pull out the toothpick.  If any cake sticks to it, bake the cake a few minutes more and test it again.)  Turn off the oven.  Use hot pads to remove the casserole from the oven.  Set the casserole on a cooling rack to cool for 20 to 30 minutes.  Serve with whipped cream garnish or over vanilla ice cream.

Makes 4 servings