First Time Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake

Our answer

Nigella's Old Fadshioned Chocolate Cake (from Feast and on the Nigella website) is a popular cake and is relatively easy as it can be made all in one go in a food processor, or can be made with a mixer or even a wooden spoon, a bowl and plenty of energy. However it is difficult to scale cakes and half of the recipe won't necessarily make a 10cm/4-inch cake. Leftover cake will however keep in an airtight container in a cool place (or the fridge in hot weather) for up to 5 days.

If you are new to baking then we suggest that you follow the first few recipes that you make very closely so that you become familiar with the equipment and how to treat the ingredients. Try to weigh or measure the ingredients as accurately as possible and use a proper set of mesuring spoons (5ml teaspoon and 15ml tablespoon) for baking powder and bicarbonate of soda (baking soda). Also all ovens vary slightly and you need to get a feel for your own oven and how it bakes; it may be a fan oven that needs temperature adjustment or an older electric oven that can bake slightly slowly. The oven should always be preheated before you start making the cake and cakes should be baked on the centre shelf.