Skillet Chocolate Dumplings

Directions

1. For sauce, combine brown sugar, cocoa, cornstarch and salt in a large, heavy cast-iron or other ovenproof skillet. Stir in water; cook, stirring constantly, until mixture begins to boil and thicken slightly. Add butter; mix well. Remove sauce from heat.
2. For dumplings, sift together flour, baking powder, salt, sugar and cocoa. Cut in butter until mixture resembles a fine meal. Combine the egg, milk and vanilla; blend gradually into flour mixture.
3. Return skillet to heat; bring the chocolate sauce to a boil. Drop dumplings by tablespoons into hot sauce. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer until just set, about 20 minutes. Serve warm with whipped cream or ice cream.