Sometimes wishes do come true and this recipe for Chocolate Believe Cake is the proof. A rich cake with an easy fudge topping is the perfect dessert, and the story behind this cake is simply beautiful in so many ways.
My blog is almost one year old now, and one of the absolute best things is all the people I have “met” by way of the emails and comments they send me here.
They make me laugh and give me ideas and keep me humble, and every once in a while they completely touch my heart and remind me that behind all these computers are some amazing, amazing people.For example, this is JoAnna and her mom Diane.
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.
My Mother had a recipe that she got either off of a Karo bottle or out of a Karo coupon ad. She made this cake for me every year for my birthday until she was diagnosed with cancer. Right after she was diagnosed my parents finished remodeling their home and the recipe was lost. She could not ever remember the recipe. She died May 27, 2007.
I have been searching the internet and calling the Karo Syrup company often trying to find my birthday cake recipe with no luck what so ever.Today has been a really rough day as it would have been her 58th birthday. I read your recipe and could not control my tears. I began to shake when I realized that this is the recipe that I have been searching for. I found my birthday cake recipe on my mother’s birthday and it is all because of you. Thank you so much- you have no idea what it means to me.
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.
Print
Chocolate Believe Cake
Prep Time: 20 minutes- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop and Oven
- Cuisine: American
Prep Time:
Yield:
Category:
Method:
Cuisine:
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeDescription
Sometimes wishes do come true and this recipe for Chocolate Believe Cake is the proof. A rich cake with an easy fudge topping is the perfect dessert.
Ingredients
For Cake
- 1/2 cup Karo Light or Dark Corn Syrup
- 1/2 cup (one stick) butter
- 5 squares (1 oz each) Baker’s Semisweet Baking Chocolate
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup walnuts (chopped)
For Glaze
- 3 squares (1 oz each) Baker’s Semisweet Baking Chocolate
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 tablespoons Karo Corn Syrup
- 1 teaspoon milk
Instructions
- Grease and flour one 9-inch layer cake pan. Preheat oven to 350.
- In a large saucepan, bring corn syrup and butter to boil over medium heat. Stir occasionally and remove from heat once it boils. Add chocolate, stir until melted.
- Add sugar. Stir in eggs, one at a time, then stir in vanilla, flour and nuts. Pour into prepared pan.
- Bake in 350° oven for 30 minutes or until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes.
- Remove from pan, allow to cool completely.
Chocolate Glaze
- In a small saucepan, over low heat, melt three squares (1 oz each) Baker’s Semisweet Baking Chocolate and 1 tablespoon butter, stir often. Remove from heat.
- Stir in two tablespoons Karo Corn Syrup and one teaspoon milk until smooth. Pour over top of brownie cake and spread over sides. Let stand one hour before serving.
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!
[email protected]
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.
What a touching and beautiful story! Thank you for sharing and have a Happy Mother’s Day.
Thanks Marcia! After 4 years, this is still one of the most amazing experiences that has come out of my blog. Happy Mother’s Day to you too! :)
Awww, this just proves that it is the simple things that bind us all together. Thank you JoAnna, for sharing and Kate… Thank you for a wonderful place to “visit”. Happy Mother’s Day to all.
That is so true, Debby! Thank you for visiting. :)
I think JoAnna’s Mom had her hand in this. What a lovely story. Brought tears to my eyes.
She definitely did. <3
Beautiful story to go along with this beautiful and yummy looking Chocolate Believe Cake. I know someone who is definitely going to love this!! Thank you so very much for sharing.
Thanks Frances! I’m so happy that this cake continues to find its way into so many loving kitchens. :)