Chocolate Fudge Pudding Cake

Sometimes a girl needs the warmth of a deep, dark chocolate, coffee spiked on a cold night.... if you are there, or have been there and need a 'Healthy Alternative' let me introduce you to a recipe I found on the eatingwell.com website that is sure to fulfill your warm chocolate dreams.

This reminds me of the warm caramel puddings I had growing up. But instead... it's darker, richer and a bit healthier- made with whole wheat flower, dark chocolate, walnuts- it includes some healthy alternatives that boost the nutrition.

Chocolate-Fudge Pudding Cake

(adapted from http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/chocolate_fudge_pudding_cake.html)

Ingredients

    1/2 cup whole-wheat pastry flour, (see Ingredient notes)

    1/2 cup all-purpose flour

    1/3 cup sugar or 3 tablespoons Splenda Sugar Blend for Baking (see Ingredient notes)

    1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted

    1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

    1/2 teaspoon salt

    1 large egg

    1/2 cup 1% milk

    2 tablespoons canola oil

    2 teaspoons vanilla extract

    3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips, (optional)

    1 1/3 cups hot brewed coffee

    2/3 cup packed light brown sugar, or Splenda Granular

    1/4 cup chopped walnuts, or pecans, toasted

    Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Preparation

 Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 1 1/2- to 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray. Whisk whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, sugar (or Splenda Sugar Blend), cocoa, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Whisk egg, milk, oil and vanilla in a glass measuring cup. Add to the flour mixture; stir with a rubber spatula until just combined. Fold in chocolate chips, if using. Scrape the batter into the prepared baking dish. Mix hot coffee and brown sugar (or Splenda Granular) in the measuring cup and pour over the batter. Sprinkle with nuts. (It may look strange at this point, but don't worry. During baking, cake forms on top with sauce underneath.)

 Bake the pudding cake until the top springs back when touched lightly, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool for at least 10 minutes. Dust with confectioners' sugar and serve hot or warm

Makes 8 servings

Nutrition per serving

Per serving: 220 calories; 7 g fat ( 1 g sat , 3 g mono ); 27 mg cholesterol; 38 g carbohydrates; 4 g protein; 2 g fiber; 237 mg sodium; 105 mg potassium.