Well, when my box of Fair Trade treats arrived, and I saw the bag of coffee and chocolate nestled together, I couldn’t help think that coffee, known to heighten the flavor of chocolate without imparting much coffee flavor at all, might make a subtle difference. And because a splash of booze is often a nice addition to quick breads/loaf cakes, what would be the harm in replacing the final two tablespoons of water with brandy? And because every cake needs a pinch of salt, a pinch of salt would be added, too. The result? Intense chocolate, subtle coffee and booze, perfect sweetness, complete deliciousness. This cake gets better by the day and is as impossible to resist with morning coffee as with postprandial cordials. Coffee, booze, salt — somehow I think you (and Nigella) would approve. So, Friends, as you know it is October, when we celebrate all things Fair Trade, from chocolate to coffee to quinoa. Let’s review what Fair Trade means:
What is Fair Trade?
Products that bear the Fair Trade logo come from farmers and workers who are justly compensated. Fair Trade helps farmers (more than 1.2 million worldwide) in developing countries build sustainable businesses that positively influence their communities. Fair Trade ensures that farmers follow internationally monitored environmental standards and also provides financial incentives and resources for organic conversion, reforestation, water conservation and environmental education. Fair Trade empowers women to play an active role in their families and in their co-ops by starting businesses with guaranteed access to health care, certain job rights and freedom from harassment. Fair Trade supports education with revenues set aside to build schools and maintain enrollment.
In Nigella’s cake I used Guittard semi-sweet chocolate, though bittersweet works well, too, and Equator Mocha Java coffee: Don’t be tempted to pour the whole batter into one 8.5×4.5-inch loaf pan — it will overflow. That said, if you have a 9×5-inch or 10×5-inch loaf pan, you can fit the entire batter in it. If you can resist, let it rest for a full day before cutting: 5 from 23 reviews Changes I’ve made include:
Reducing the brown sugar from 1 2/3 cups to 1 1/2 cups. I find dark or light works just fine. Replacing the water with coffee and booze. I use my Nespresso machine to make espresso, which I add water to to make 1 cup. If you don’t feel like adding booze or coffee, simply use 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons boiling water instead. Upped the vanilla. Added salt.
