Special Dark Chocolate Valentine's Day Cake

1 cup hot coffee

1/2 cup Hershey Special Dark cocoa powder

3/4 cup mayonnaise (not Miracle Whip or salad dressing)

1 large egg

11/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/3 cup chopped walnuts, pecans or almonds, optional garnish

Heat oven to 330 degrees. Lightly grease bottom of 9-inch square or round baking pan.

In a heatproof bowl or 2-cup Pyrex measure, whisk hot coffee and cocoa powder until smooth. Refrigerate or set aside to cool completely.

In small bowl, whisk mayonnaise and egg until smooth; set aside.

In large bowl, stir flour, sugar, baking soda and chips until combined. Add cooled cocoa liquid, mayonnaise mixture and extract and whisk by hand until combined. Scrape bowl and whisk 1 minute until smooth. Scrape bowl well.

Pour batter into prepared pan. If desired, sprinkle with chopped nuts. Bake 25 minutes until cake tester inserted at center just comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before plating warm cake slices. Top with a dusting of powdered sugar, dollop whipped cream, red berries or caramel sauce.

Serves nine.

Baker's hint: For an adult upgrade, substitute 21/2 teaspoons brandy or coffee liqueur for the vanilla extract. For an 8-inch pan, bake 35-40 minutes.

@Recipe nutrition:Nutrition values per serving (without garnishes): 362 calories, 20g fat (4 g saturated fat), 4 g protein, 47 g carbohydrates, 2 g fiber, 30 mg cholesterol, 191 mg sodium.