We’re in the thick of the holiday hustle and bustle at the flower shop. That means long work days and short weekends. My favorite way to recharge my batteries is house-mousing at home on Sunday with Gilmore Girls on Netflix and a new recipe to try. (Usually of the dessert variety.) I watched this video of Bon Appetit‘s Chris Morocco making the *easiest chocolate birthday cake* last night and thought, ‘there’s my Sunday plans.’
This recipe is so simple. It comes together with a handful of pantry staples and requires minimal tools. If you have a cheap hand mixer, a couple of bowls and a whisk, you’re good to go; it’s the perfect recipe for a baking beginner. I had to pop into Publix for a few things, but had most of the ingredients in my baking stash.
Chris Morocco is my snarky/bossy/Type-A soulmate and I love watching him rule the test kitchen. Plus his recipes always deliver; see: BA’s Best Chocolate Chip Cookies.
This is a super-satisfying, dense chocolate cake — topped with a tangy cream cheese frosting that balances out the rich cocoa. (I got excited and frosted it before the cake cooled completely, so my frosting is a little soft; oops.)

Bon Appetit suggests mixing up the dry ingredients and storing them in an air-tight container. Then you have a DIY cake mix on-hand to throw a cake together for any occasion with minimal effort. Birthday celebration, dinner party, Sunday supper, stressful day at the office… whatevs. This is a life hack I didn’t know I needed!
Highly recommend giving the ‘Easiest Chocolate Birthday Cake‘ a try. Serve up a big slice with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or an ice cold glass of milk. No birthday required.
Merry Christmas Beautiful Lady!