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Because even in summer, you can always go for a chocolate cake.

Do you remember on Monday when I said I had chocolate on my mind?

Well, I really was not kidding. I just needed cake, and it needed to be chocolate. I mean, of course it needed to be chocolate.

I have been all wrapped up in summer foods, no bake desserts and even trying my hand at few fruit desserts. Thus I’ve let way too much time pass without having any chocolate cake and/or chocolate like things in the house. How I could do this I have no idea.

Plus, the day I made this cake, my mom, who I had not seen in over a month, was coming home the next day. I figured what better time for chocolate cake? If there is a chocolate cake lover in the world, it is her. Without doubt.

As I was shooting the cake (c’mon – photographing it!), I actually got so exited about it that I sent my mom photos just to so she’d know what she was coming home to.

She was beyond happy. Especially knowing that this time she would actually be able to eat the cake.

See, for the past month I have been emailing my mom photos asking her what she thought because I can never just be happy with a photo I take. I have to have a second opinion. So I sent her multiple photos almost every day for the last thirty some days. I know, it’s so crazy, but well, that is just me. I can own the craziness. Needless to say, they are quite happy to be home now.

And especially happy when they returned home to chocolate cake. I mean, who would not be?

Now let’s talk about the fact that I did indeed add corn to this chocolate. Yes, real corn, right off the cob. Well, I did caramelize it first to give it an even sweeter flavor, but it is real corn.

You guys, DO NOT freak out that I put corn in the cake and that I actually made healthier cake. I promise that this cake is nothing short of pure indulgence. Dare I say it is one of my favorite cakes to date? Yep, I do.

It passed the test of all the family members. I of course never told any of the boys there was corn, whole wheat flour and flax-seed in it. That would be a stupid thing to do. Although, now that I think about it, it probably would have been a smart thing to do. Less cake eaters = more cake for me. Gotta think smarter next time.

Ok, so how did I think to put corn in chocolate cake?

Well, I was hiking (all the best ideas happen then) and thinking that I really just wanted to make a chocolate cake. A really chocolatey, chocolate cake. But then I thought I needed to make it a little summery because I want everything to be summery this month. Gotta go out with a bang.

I really dislike fruit and chocolate together, so then what?

At first I was all, well maybe zucchini, but then I thought, everyone is doing zucchini. That’s when corn came to mind. I figured if I could put corn in ice cream, why not chocolate cake?

Yes, I thought is was weird too, but trust me, it works. And it works SO well.

Just like zucchini, adding corn keeps this cake incredibly moist. I mean, like it’s actually fudgey it is so moist, and that’s a hard thing to get when using whole wheat flour in a cake. I am telling you, corn is my new secret weapon when it comes to cake. You have to try it.

I also added a little hazelnut liquor to help the chocolate flavors really pop. It’s so good.

Oh and um, the popcorn sitting on top! I figured with corn actually in the cake, what better way to top the cake than with some crunchy caramel popcorn. It just melts in your mouth while still adding a little crunch to the soft and fudgey cake. Holy yum, I need another slice.

And the ganache, yeah so I guess this really isn’t that healthy. Although it’s just cream and chocolate. I personally don’t see that as being unhealthy because cream is natural and chocolate is full of antioxidants. Yep, still healthy in my mind.

Anyway, the whole cake is covered in ganache, both whipped and un-whipped. I know I already said this, but… so good.

So enjoy these last remaining Friday’s of summer… with umm, cake. Lots of cake.