Lesson Plan: Unleash Your Inner Baker: Creating an Amazing Chocolate Cake - A Recipe for Chocoholics!

Lesson Plan: Unleash Your Inner Baker: Creating an Amazing Chocolate Cake - A Recipe for Chocoholics!

Grade Levels: 9-12

Objective:
- To teach high school students how to make a decadent and moist chocolate cake from scratch.
- To enhance students' baking skills and understanding of ingredient ratios and techniques.
- To encourage creativity in cake decorating and personalization.

Common Core Standards:
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-12.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately.
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.9-12.3: Follow precisely a complex multistep procedure when carrying out experiments, taking measurements, or performing technical tasks.

Materials:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup boiling water
- Mixing bowls
- Whisk or electric mixer
- 9-inch round cake pans
- Cooling rack

Procedure:

1. Introduction (10 minutes)
- Begin the lesson by discussing the popularity of chocolate cake and its universal appeal.
- Engage students in a conversation about their favorite chocolate cake variations and their understanding of key ingredients.

2. Chocolate Cake Batter Preparation (20 minutes)
- Instruct students to preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare two 9-inch round cake pans by greasing and flouring them.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Add buttermilk, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredient mixture, whisking until well combined.
- Gradually pour in the boiling water while whisking continuously until the batter is smooth.

3. Baking and Cooling (30 minutes)
- Divide the chocolate cake batter evenly between the prepared cake pans.
- Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely.

4. Frosting and Decorating (15 minutes)
- Introduce various frosting options for chocolate cake, such as chocolate ganache, buttercream, or cream cheese frosting.
- Demonstrate how to frost and layer the cooled cake with the chosen frosting, using a spatula or piping bag for decorative accents.
- Encourage students to get creative with decorating the chocolate cake, using sprinkles, chocolate shavings, or fresh berries as garnishes.

5. Reflection and Tasting (10 minutes)
- Lead a discussion on the process of making a homemade chocolate cake and the importance of ingredient ratios for achieving a moist and flavorful result.
- Encourage students to describe the taste, texture, and appearance of the chocolate cake they made.
- Allow students to enjoy a slice of their delicious creation or consider sharing it with classmates, teachers, or family members.

Common Core Labels Correlations:
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-12.2
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.9-12.3

My Chocolate Cake is beyond moist, you could LITERALLY leave it out on the counter for several days and it would still be luscious. This is the BEST chocolate cake recipe and garanteed the please all the chocolate cake lovers out there! The surprise favorite for me on this cake was the cacao nibs. For those of you who have not been exposed to these little delights, they're pure, unprocessed chocolate aka they're very crunchy and chocolatey (not sweet at all). They contrast with the buttercream nicely and prevent the cake from being cloying.Full Recipe: https://preppykitchen.com/ultimate-chocolate-cake/I've made this cake many times and filmed on two separate occasions. So you might notice that I bake a 6 inch cake but decorate an eight inch one. I often love to make a smaller cake make a batch of cupcakes with the extra batter. Just to be clear though the recipe makes 3 nice eight inch cake layers!#chocolatecake SUBSCRIBE ►https://www.youtube.com/channe....l/UCTvYEid8tmg0jqGPD ME ON:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PreppyKitchenInstagram: http://instagram.com/PreppyKitchenPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/PreppyKitchenWebsite: http://www.PreppyKitchen.com