Chocolate Cake

Preheat the oven to a moderate baking temperature and lightly grease a small cake pan with butter or oil, then line the bottom with parchment if available.

In a bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined.

In a separate bowl, whisk the milk, oil, egg, and vanilla until smooth, then pour this mixture into the dry ingredients.

Stir the batter gently until no dry spots remain, then fold in chocolate chips if using.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top, and bake until the cake is risen and a tester inserted in the center comes out mostly clean.

Let the cake cool in the pan briefly, then transfer to a rack to cool further before slicing and serving.