Mocha Steamed Birthday Cake

1.Prepare your steamer by filling it with water and bringing it to a boil. Line an 8-inch round cake pan with parchment paper and grease the sides with a little oil.

2.In a large mixing bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined.

3.In a separate bowl, whisk together the cooled brewed coffee, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth.

4.Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring gently until just combined. Be careful not to overmix. If using, fold in the chocolate chips at this stage.

5.Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan, smoothing the top with a spatula.

6.Carefully place the cake pan into the steamer, ensuring it is not touching the water. Cover the steamer with a lid, making sure to trap the steam inside.

7.Steam the cake for about 40-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Check the water level occasionally and add more boiling water if necessary to prevent drying out.

8.Once cooked, remove the cake from the steamer and let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then, invert it onto a wire rack to cool completely.

9.Once cooled, dust the top with powdered sugar if desired, and serve.