This Devils Food recipe is straight from my mother, Angelina Recchiuti, and as a kid I remember snacking on it after school with a glass of cold milk. For a special Valentines twist, you can cut the cake into heart-shaped servings and garnish it with your favorite topping. The individual cakes are perfect for a romantic evening at home or whenever you just want to share some love.

Bake the Cake

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a 9-by-9-inch baking pan with parchment paper. A nonstick pan may be substituted.

Sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt together into a bowl. Stir the baking soda into the espresso in another bowl and then stir in the oil, milk and pure vanilla extract.

Combine the sugar and egg in a medium bowl and whisk together by hand. Whisk in the flour mixture in 2 additions, alternately with the coffee mixture in 1 addition. Fold in the orange zest with a rubber spatula.

Pour the batter into the pan.

Place on the middle shelf of the oven and lower the oven temperature to 325°F.

Bake for 30-40 minutes. Check the cake with a toothpick at 25 minutes and then again every 5 minutes until the toothpick comes out moist. Let cool completely on a wire rack.

Lightly grease a 3-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter and use to cut into individual servings.

Plate and serve with a dusting of confectioners sugar and a drizzle of warmed Extra-Bitter Chocolate Sauce. Garnish with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream (optional.)