Ingredients:

  • 1 ½ cups All-Purpose Flour (180g)
  • 1 cup Granulated Sugar (200g)
  • 3 tablespoons Unsweetened Cocoa Powder (20g)
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Soda (5g)
  • 1 ½ teaspoons Ground Cinnamon (4g)
  • ½ teaspoon Ground Nutmeg (1g)
  • ¼ teaspoon Ground Cloves (0.5g)
  • ½ teaspoon Salt (3g)
  • 6 tablespoons Vegetable Oil (90ml)
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract (5ml)
  • 1 teaspoon White Vinegar (5ml)
  • 1 cup Cold Water (240ml)

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease an 8x8 inch square metal baking pan or line with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, vigorously whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt until all dry ingredients are well combined and any lumps are broken up.
  3. Using the back of a spoon, create three small indentations (wells) in the dry mixture.
  4. Pour the vegetable oil into the first well, the vanilla extract into the second, and the white vinegar into the third well.
  5. Pour the cold water evenly over the entire surface. Whisk the ingredients together immediately, mixing just until barely combined and no streaks of dry flour remain. Do not overmix.
  6. Pour the batter immediately into the prepared 8x8 inch pan and spread evenly.
  7. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes. The cake is done when a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean or with moist crumbs attached.
  8. Let the cake cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before slicing or applying any topping.