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Rosehips & Honey

living the sweet life in Alaska

Home | Log Cabin Life | Cast Iron Sourdough Chocolate Cake

Cast Iron Sourdough Chocolate Cake

Food, Log Cabin Life, Sourdough

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This delicious treat is surprisingly simple to whip up! Cast iron sourdough chocolate cake makes the perfect dessert, whether for guests, a birthday, or after a special family meal.

sourdough chocolate cake

Whenever we have out-of-town guests visit us here in Alaska, they always want to feast with us and sample the bounties of this great state. Most have never tried black bear, caribou, halibut, or smoked salmon.

We love to get creative and prepare a meal with a little taste of everything Alaskan that we have on hand. Smoked salmon dip before dinner, red meat that my husband and daughter hunted as the main course, wild berries that we picked, and of course, sourdough.

I almost always make sourdough bread for guests. Many people are intrigued by sourdough and how it works. Serving them a unique dessert using some of my starter is the perfect way to end an Alaskan feast.

I like to bake my sourdough chocolate cake in a cast-iron skillet to make it even more rustic. Serving the cake right out of the skillet fits in with our old-fashioned log home. This cake is fluffy, rich, and delicious as well as easy to put together. I like to make this on the weekends for a fun treat just for our family.

piece of chocolate cake on a plate

Ingredients for Cast Iron Sourdough Chocolate Cake

  • Butter-Unsalted. Homemade is even better!
  • Sugar-I use organic cane sugar.
  • Egg-I like to bake with duck eggs, but chicken eggs work too.
  • Vanilla-Homemade is best. Here’s a recipe to make it yourself!
  • Milk-Preferably whole. We use raw milk from our dairy cow.
  • Sourdough Starter-Doesn’t need to be active, you can use discard for this recipe. Don’t have a starter? You can get some from a friend or make your own with these simple instructions.
  • Flour-All-purpose will give you a fluffier cake but freshly-ground whole wheat keeps it helathier, either works!
  • Cocoa Powder-Be sure to use pure cocoa powder.
  • Baking Soda
  • Baking Powder
  • Salt

Tools You Will Need

  • Stand Mixer-Fitted with the paddle attachment. Or just mix it by hand.
  • Measuring Cups and Spoons
  • Spatula
  • 8 inch Cast Iron Skillet-A well-seasoned cast-iron skillet will leave you with hardly a mess to clean up.
chocolate cake in a cast iron skillet

How to Make Cast Iron Sourdough Chocolate Cake

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and place the skillet in the oven to preheat as well.
  • Cream butter in the stand mixer (or by hand) on medium speed until creamy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
  • With the mixer still running, pour in the sugar and mix well.
  • Continue by adding the egg, vanilla extract, milk, and finally the sourdough starter until well combined.
  • Turn the mixer to low and pour in the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix well.
  • Remove the skillet from the oven and place on a hot pad on the counter. Place a pad of butter (about 1 tablespoon) in the skillet and allow it to melt.
  • Pour the batter into the hot skillet and smooth over the top.
  • Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
cake batter in a cast iron

How to Serve Sourdough Chocolate Cake

Allow the cake to cool for several minutes before cutting. I like to leave it right in the cast iron, cut it into slices like a pie, and serve it just like that. No fancy extra serving dish is needed!

Although this cake is delicious and simple on its own, feel free to add your favorite sauce or icing to the top. It depends on how much time I have or how fancy our meal is as to whether or not I add anything. Serve with some homemade ice cream for an even better treat!

chocolate cake in a cast iron skillet

Sourdough chocolate cake just has a hint of sourdough flavor so it shouldn’t be overwhelming for those new to the taste. It’s a delicious way to use up excess sourdough starter in an unexpected way!

piece of chocolate cake on a plate
chocolate cake in a cast iron skillet
5 from 1 vote

Cast Iron Sourdough Chocolate Cake

This rustic, old-fashioned treat served right out of a cast-iron skillet is so simple to whip up, you can delight your family or friends anytime!
Print Recipe
Prep Time:15 mins
Cook Time:30 mins

Equipment

  • Stand mixer
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Spatula
  • 8 inch cast iron skillet

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 1 cup sourdough starter
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup cocoa powder
  • 3/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/8 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 Tbsp butter

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place skillet in the oven to preheat as well.
  • Cream butter in the stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, on medium speed until fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Pour in the sugar and mix until well cobined.
  • Continue mixing and add the egg, vanilla, milk, and sourdough starter.
  • Turn the mixer down to low and pour in the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix until well combined.
  • Remove skillet from oven and place on a hot pad on the counter. Place 1 tablespoon of butter in skillet and allow to melt.
  • Carefully pour batter into the skillet and smooth over the top.
  • Bake for about 30 to 35 minutes or until knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
  • Allow to cool for several minutes, cut into slices, and enjoy!

Notes

No need to have active sourdough starter, you can use discard for this recipe. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 to 3 days. Feel free to top with your favorite sauce or frosting. Serve alone or with a side of ice cream!
Course: Dessert
Servings: 8

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January 11, 2022 · 11 Comments

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Comments

  1. Krista says

    January 13, 2022 at 9:53 am

    This looks like a wonderful cozy evening in dish! Saving to Pinterest!

  2. Christen says

    January 13, 2022 at 10:07 am

    5 stars
    This sounds so delicious and positively cozy! Plus I can hardly pass up a recipe that uses a cast iron pan! Yum!

  3. Shanna says

    January 13, 2022 at 10:42 am

    Yum! This looks amazing! You just can’t go wrong with chocolate cake, can you?! Well done! ~Shanna 😊

  4. lisaharlow06 says

    January 13, 2022 at 12:13 pm

    I completely agree! Thanks Shanna:)

  5. lisaharlow06 says

    January 13, 2022 at 12:13 pm

    Yes, everything in cast iron please! Thanks Christen:)

  6. lisaharlow06 says

    January 13, 2022 at 12:14 pm

    Thanks, Krista, it definitely is!

  7. jamie says

    January 14, 2022 at 12:38 am

    Ummm delicious! I cannot wait to try this with my kiddos. Thank you for sharing!

  8. Barbra-Sue says

    January 14, 2022 at 12:44 am

    Looks delicious. I love to use my cast iron whenever I can.

  9. lisaharlow06 says

    January 14, 2022 at 8:28 pm

    I hope they love it as much as mine do!

  10. lisaharlow06 says

    January 14, 2022 at 8:28 pm

    Thanks, Barbara-Sue! Me too:)

  11. Melanie says

    January 16, 2022 at 4:42 pm

    This looks great Lisa. I’ll definitely have to give this recipe a try.

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Hi there!

I’m Lisa, Alaskan born (but not raised) and now I’m back in the last frontier with my own family. Welcome to our little log cabin in the woods!

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