A couple of weeks ago JoAnna emailed me to ask if I had a recipe for a chocolate cake. Her mom used to make this specific cake for JoAnna’s birthday every year, and it was really special to her. The recipe had gotten lost, and all JoAnna could remember was that it involved Karo syrup, Baker’s chocolate and walnuts – and how it looked and tasted, like a rich brownie with a chocolate glaze. She had been trying to find it for ages, even calling the Karo Syrup folks to see if they had it, with no luck. Did I have this recipe, she asked?
I did.
And so I emailed it back off to her, and she kindly told me I could share the email she sent me in reply:
Dear Kate,
I just wanted to tell you that you were an answer to a prayer. That is exactly the recipe I was looking for.
I cried a little myself when I read this message from JoAnna…and then I made this cake for my own mom and daughter for Mother’s Day.
JoAnna told me that when her strong, amazing mom was diagnosed with lung cancer she was given five and a half months to live. She looked her doctor in the eye and said, NO. From that moment on BELIEVE became her motto. She wore jewelry with the word believe on it and bought anything she found with the word on it…and she stayed with her family for three and a half more years.
I had all kinds of ideas about how I was going to celebrate when my blog was a year old, and now I realize that I just did – with JoAnna and Diane’s Chocolate Believe Cake. Here is that very special recipe, and thank you so much to JoAnna, to Diane, and to all of you who have touched my heart so much over the past year.
Ingredients
Directions
Thank you so much- again it means so much to me.
~JoAnna
Touching.
And now I am crying too .
Every time I make this cake , which I definitely will, I will think of JoAnna and her mom .
What a wonderful story. Thanks for sharing!! Do you know if there is a substitute for the corn syrup?
You could try subbing in honey or molasses. Both will result in a cake that is a bit sweeter – and in the case of the molasses it will have a bit of a molasses taste — but that might be an interesting twist.
What a wonderful story. I am so glad you were able to help JoAnna out. This cake looks delicious!
I love the wonderful name too!
jessyburke88@gmail.com
It's not fair to make me blubber like that when all I wanted was another of Emma's favorite runny egg recipe.
Wow, this is a touching story. Congratulations on your blog's anniversary!
This story brought tears to my eyes too. How sad, however it was a nice ending. I'm glad you were able to find the recipe. Happy 1 year anniversary to your blog!
-Nisha (honeywhatscooking)
What a touching story…thank you so much for sharing!
I was very touched….thank you for sharing,
How lovely to be able to help someone in need & celebrate your blogaversary too. Congratulations to you both.
I too lost my mum to lung cancer, nearly 9 years ago now. I too am now battling cancer (colon) but the prognosis is good.
I love chocolate brownies and may just have to make this cake very soon, thanks for sharing.
This looks wonderful!
What a sweet story about the power of the connections that can happen online … especially when so much of it is superficial and inane, this one is extra touching. PS Do you have my grandmother's carrot cake recipe that has been lost for some years now? I'm still looking.
Hi everyone, and thank you SO much for all your sweet comments! I know they mean as much to JoAnna as they do to me.
As for that carrot cake recipe, hey, you never know, describe it for me and I will look!
Thank you for sharing this. I needed a good cry!
What a beautiful story! I'm glad you were able to help JoAnna reconnect with a beloved family member and recipe. I'll definitely be making this cake in the future.
All of your wonderful comments mean a lot to me. I am amazed at how 3 years after her passing my Mom is still busy touching peoples lives.
Miracles happen if you BELIEVE,
JoAnna Kuntz
what a great story! and beautiful cake.
may i ask… are the frosting ingredients included in the main list of ingredients? or are these entirely separate? for instance, is there a total of 5 squares of chocolate or 8?
please do share your secret. i can't wait to make this recipe!
Hi Christa = yes, the frosting ingredients are additional, so you need 8 square of chocolate total. and then those extra tablespoons of Karo and butter and milk. Enjoy!
After reading this story I had to try the recipe. I made it for a group of guys that work at night. When I gave them the cake I gave them a copy of the story. They all read it and started coming back to me with stories of their own about cakes their Mom's baked for them. They loved the cake and request it often. Thanks for the recipe but even more, thanks for the beautiful history behind the recipe.