Spice Cake

I ended up creating a new version of this recipe by accidentally using espresso instant coffee instead of cocoa powder. It actually worked, tasted great. I also like the small size of this cake. I didn't have a cake pan this size so used the smallest bowl of a three-bowl set and it worked fine. I also used regular white sugar instead of the raw sugar. I will make it again but will use the cocoa powder.

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon ground fennel
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup raw sugar
1 cup warm water
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
white sugar for sprinkling

Preheat oven to 350F and oil a 6 by 3-inch round cake pan. In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking soda and cocoa powder. Add fennel, cardamom, salt and sugar and mix well to combine. In another bowl, whisk together water, vinegar and oil and then add to the dry ingredients. Mix well and pour into prepared cake pan. Bake for one hour. The cake is done when a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the centre of it. Cool on a rack and sprinkle the top with some sugar.