Enlightened Chocolate Basil Cake with Chocolate Sour Cream Frosting

Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9-inch round cake pan with nonstick baking spray with flour.

Place the sugar and basil in a food processor. Process until basil is chopped fine and uniformly green in color (it will look slightly wet).

In a large bowl whisk the melted butter, cocoa powder and basil sugar until well-blended. Whisk in the eggs, 1 at a time, until blended and smooth. Stir in the baking soda, vanilla, and salt.

Gradually add flour to bowl, stirring just until blended (do not overstir). Add hot water to mixture, stirring just until blended. four batter into prepared pan.

Bake 22-25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes on a wire rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cut into squares. Cool completely. Prepare sour cream frosting. Spread over cake and garnish with basil leaves, if desired. Makes 9 servings (serving size: 1 wedge).

Light Chocolate Sour Cream Frosting
In a medium bowl whisk the powdered sugar and cocoa powder; set aside. In a separate medium bowl beat the sour cream and melted chocolate with an electric mixer on low speed until blended. Gradually add sugar mixture to sour cream mixture, beating at low speed until well-blended. Add vanilla and beat well for 1 minute until very smooth and creamy.

Nutrition per Serving (1/9 of frosted cake): Calories 281; Fat 8.9g (poly 2.6g, mono 4.7g, sat 1.1g); Protein 5.3g; Cholesterol 1mg; Carbohydrate 50g.