If you're going to get started, this is the cake you should begin with. Not just because it's simple - though it is - but because it is, for me, essence of chocolate cake: melting, luscious and mood-enhancingly good. A food technologist would explain this in terms of "mouthfeel" but I don't know quite how that makes me feel. I often describe this cake as a sort of idealised chocolate cake out of a packet, which doesn't sound so very inviting either. But what I mean by this, is that the cake looks and tastes perfect and has that melting, smooth lightness - immensely chocolately but far from rich. The fact that it is scarcely harder than making one out of cake-mix (only worlds better) is an added joy. The recipe itself is an evolved version of a couple of cakes I've done before, and although the amounts and ingredients are slightly fiddled with, the real change, and an improvement in terms of ease, is that it can be made, all in one, in the processor.
Recipe posted by Nigella
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Can you add what size cake tins to use please??? New to cooking lol
Posted by cockerjoe on 29th Apr 2011 at 0.11
That's one great recipe... I've made it a couple of times and it's my friends favorite :) Every time i have to make it double to get a piece of my own.. It's so simple and fun to make. Just have to love it!
Posted by vaaarikass on 1st May 2011 at 12.48
This was as Nigella states, very easy to make, though because it's so chocolatley the kitchen was covered. The icing was delicious and the cake did turn out exact as the picture. My complaint would be that the cake itself was rather dry as though it were a day or two old and needed cream to make it more edible. Now I've only made it once, so I'll try again to see if there is a slight difference the next time.
Posted by LizzieM on 2nd May 2011 at 15.53
I recently entered this cake for a local competition. I WON!!!. I have never won anything. It just goes to show how easy it was to make.!!! This cake was light, moist and was just too easy to eat!!! ( No good for the diet)
Posted by BarbaraTB on 19th May 2011 at 11.50
lovelly cake.. it's just perfect!!.. i'll tray this recipe this weekend..
Posted by michiale on 24th May 2011 at 22.02
This is my favourite cake.
Posted by Dee22 on 28th May 2011 at 6.35
This is a really easy cake to make, and tastes absolutely delicious. Now this is me saying so, as I made it for my daughters 19th birthday and I'm not a chocolate cake lover, but this one.... Yum! If I were to bake it again, I'd probably add a different filling but this one does work very well indeed. Chocoholicks will love it!!!!
Posted by SeagullMagic on 29th Jun 2011 at 9.17
This was srumbumptious. Making it in my KitchenAid Mixer really helped, although I used single cream instead of sour and the icing really is now very very runny! Thanks for this great recipe Nigella. x
Posted by antbonia on 9th Jul 2011 at 20.34
Made this cake for Girls Club 4th Aug 2011 with Charlotte & Summer's help :) So easy to make in the kitchen whiz!
Posted by Sheree Ellen on 4th Aug 2011 at 6.43
200grams plain flour = 14.05 tablespoons Same for sugar
Posted by abdelevan on 7th Aug 2011 at 12.03
I made this cake for my son's birthday. It was fantastic! Recipe very easy to follow & the icing was yummy. Will be making this cake for all my family birthday's from now on.
Posted by Cal on 24th Aug 2011 at 11.06
I have used this cake for the last 2 years as the family birthday cake. It is easy to make and easy to eat, everyone loves it.
Posted by auntieweeza on 10th Sep 2011 at 22.57
I would hate to think how many times I've made this. Don't make it for friends and family unless you love making it...you will be asked to make it again and again and............
Posted by Doudou on 12th Sep 2011 at 9.15
i made this cake and the ladies really enjoyed, my only problem was when i put the icing on the cake split apart. i am making another one today can you please tell me what went wrong. many thanks for a brilliant web page, my wife and i watch tour shows all the time. best regards paul.
Posted by paulsmith147 on 22nd Sep 2011 at 9.53
Hello, can anyone tell me if I could use this recipe for cupcakes instead of cakes?. Thanks V
Posted by coro on 23rd Oct 2011 at 12.11
How long will the cake keep please? I've assumed I can store the sponge for a couple days before icing, but once the icing is on do I need to refrigerate it overnight? No time to do it on the birthday morning!
Posted by LesTroubadours on 28th Oct 2011 at 9.27
Without a doubt, it's the best chocolate cake I've ever made.....the cake is not overly sweet but the lovely "ganach" is. The two combined make an enjoyable end to a meal. Thank you Nigella.
Posted by Doudou on 17th Nov 2011 at 9.05
Hi, What if i do not get the golden syrup?
Posted by Sangee on 20th Nov 2011 at 15.07
Can I use honey instead of the golden syrup? Also, can someone please me how sour cream is prepared?
Posted by felicity.shruti on 13th Dec 2011 at 14.43
Made this cake today for my Daughters birthday. Hopefully will be nice. Only question is as it is very sweet - don't quite understand the need for golden syrup! Also think the icing might be a bit firmer without it. x
Posted by GreatExpectations on 18th Dec 2011 at 18.46
can we substitiute sour cream with buttermilk ! If so please specify the quantity.
Posted by Pratibha on 22nd Dec 2011 at 4.15
This is my son's fav chocolate cake I have made two in the last week as soon as its ready it's gone
Posted by bronsgran on 7th Jan 2012 at 11.32
WOWWW First shot and it was perfect, exactly like in the picture :) I made it for my little brother's birthday and he loved it soooo much. Thanks Nigella for all those amazing recipes :) A french fan :D
Posted by Beybush on 28th Jan 2012 at 23.58
I just made my 1st cake ever..!! Thnk u soo much..!! Made it 4 my granny n she just luved it..!! :D
Posted by Nikki007 on 27th Feb 2012 at 12.45
I made this for Mother's Day to take to my Mum's yesterday, I don't make cakes and I did it all by hand which was hard work. It turned out exactly as described and I took the remainder to the French side of my family and it was demolished within minutes, they have all asked me to make it again. I've ordered myself a Kenwood Kmix, and hoping this might help with the hard work part... :)
Posted by annaoj on 19th Mar 2012 at 20.51
Made double amounts of this cake for friends birthday, so it was four layers high, and blew a vial of edible gold dust all over it after icing the cake. Everyone died in a good way, the look, but most importantly the flavour. It was perfect, and my friend appreciated it as my birthday gift to them.
Posted by manonlescaut on 2nd Apr 2012 at 12.59
After reading all these great reviews I took the plunge and one for an Easter Party I held for my toddler and fellow toddlers. (Well this one was for the mums really) Oh my what a result. This cake is so easy to make and with such a great result. It looks the biz. Had great comments about the look and great ones about the taste too! I am not sure I would change a thing. Have just bought the ingredients to make my second!!! Go for it and Good luck!
Posted by Matildasmum on 13th Apr 2012 at 16.22
Love this recipe!! I found it best to put in for 25mins, because it doesn't go stale as fast- otherwise it's the same!! used it twice this week!
Posted by 10cuddles on 17th Apr 2012 at 10.47
This was delicious, but the texture was dry! It looked amazing though. See my results here: http://stylistontherun.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/hungry-stylist-chocolate-divas-dream.html
Posted by stylistontherun on 10th May 2012 at 13.54
I also tried this recipe and i haven't baked a cake for twenty years or more and Wow !! it came out perfect and so delicious, moist sponge topped off with chocolate heaven and was perfect for my daughters birthday - it tastes better than any bought cake and it was made the night before wrapped in cling film and placed in the fridge and taken out and placed at room temperature - everyone loved it - thank you nigella, I have tried anthony worrall thompsons recipes such as chocolate cookies and had to throw out the stuff i made it was a disaster and did knock my confidence a bit - but this gave me a real confidence boost due to the praises i received - fantastic - nigella's recipes are second to none !
Posted by dolly-daydream on 13th May 2012 at 20.04
After a trip to the UK last year, I was looking for THE chocolate cake recipe. I wanted a moist and tasty cake. I've found it now. This is exactly what I was looking for. I only baked it once but no doubt there will be plenty more. I can't wait to bake it again and let my friends taste it.
Posted by coco2078 on 4th Jun 2012 at 13.12
I'v prepared several cakes! But none have come out this soft and moist! Absolutely loved it! :) I'm so glad i came across this recipe! Will follow the same base for every other recipe henceforth! <3
Posted by foodzy on 20th Sep 2012 at 15.37
This is a really delicious recipe. Chocolate heaven and so light and moist. I can't wait to make it again.
Posted by Auntie Shara on 27th Sep 2012 at 18.35
The cake was fabulous, very moist and not too sweet. I decided to make cake pops with my 4 year old daughter last weekend and we used this recipe. It was very very difficult for both of us trying not to eat it (not very successful;) ) simply as it was. We had to tear it apart, crumble it and turn it into cake pops. It was already almost as moist as it needs to be for cake pops so we added only a spoonful of frosting. Has anyone made cake pops in a baking mold using this recipe?
Posted by pretzel on 15th Oct 2012 at 12.45
I made this recipe in cupcake tins, the same temperature but for 18 mins. They turned out perfect! Delicious and moist!!!
Posted by kiwigirl28 on 19th Oct 2012 at 9.06
Everytime I make this cake, I put on some soft music, sweet-smelling essential oils, and I thoroughly enter a ritual, the making-of Nigella's cake (as my family call it)... I am Italian, I love good food, good wine and good smells, and this cake is the quintessence of "cakeness"! Great to make as it is to eat, thanks Nigella!!!
Posted by Cristiana Scoltock on 5th Nov 2012 at 20.49
Dear Nigella My two little daughters make me watch the youtube video where you are baking this cake again and again. Nobody says "cocoa" in our house anymore :-) It's "gorgeous, gorgeous, GORGEOUS cocoa".
Posted by Cookie Jar on 23rd Nov 2012 at 16.46
The very first time I made this cake - about a year ago, or so - it went terribly wrong. Seems that I had overestimated my oven and its functionality. However, having sorted out the technical issues, it went smoothly and perfectly, and I am now just a couple of cakes and feasts short of a (self-proclaimed) domestic goddess. At least I think so, in case no one else does :-) Wonderful recipe, Nigella - just like all the others!
Posted by QuinnTessential on 28th Nov 2012 at 12.12
I didn't like this recipe at all. I followed it to the letter but I was left with two wafer thin cake halves. The icing was also very runny and I made sure it was cool and even put it in the fridge. I've iced so many cakes before but this one was slipping and sliding. Unless someone can help me I will have to look elsewhere. I think this isn't an easy recipe to make.
Posted by jwillts on 28th Nov 2012 at 17.56
Very first chocolate cake I have made... it was brilliant! So easy. I substituted the sour cream for creme fraiche, and used cooking chocolate. And I used a ready made chocolate icing for quickness. Everyone loved it. First my very first try at this it was great. Just couldn't believe how easy it was. Thanks Nigella. xxx
Posted by brendajean1 on 9th Dec 2012 at 19.15
I've made this cake twice...the first time I followed the instructions regarding blitzing in the food processor. I found the cake to be quite tender, in fact too tender for my liking. Upon unmolding I had one of the layers crumble while the other stayed intact (I attribute this to my handling of the cake, however). The second time I made it according to the directions that state to combine the wet and dry ingredients separately before mixing with electric beaters. This time, however, I added an extra egg white for some (what I thought was) much needed toughness. I found this rectified my texture qualms. Overall, I would make this again with the additional egg white.
Posted by justinb on 13th Jan 2013 at 19.37
Can you use free standing mixer to mix this recipe?
Posted by judithshelley on 16th Jan 2013 at 6.35
Just baked this cake and it's gorgeous! So easy and turned out perfect! Thanks nigellla.
Posted by Ktbaby on 19th Feb 2013 at 19.27
I made this cake today and it came out fantastic! After one fairly hefty slice I feel like I do not need to eat for a fortnight.
Posted by PeterBaldry on 20th Feb 2013 at 13.22
Nigella, you're a star! Just spent a fortune on a shiny new food processor only to discover it's not so good at cakes. I was directed to this recipe and it is amazing! It worked! And it's delicious! Yum yum yum all round x
Posted by blondenurse on 22nd Feb 2013 at 16.32
The cake tastes delicious! But do not refrigerate it, because it becomes too dry. The icing has a perfect texture, but the taste didn't surprise me, next time I will make a simple ganache with a spoon of Grand Marnier.
Posted by bcavallieri on 24th Feb 2013 at 19.57
I made this chocolate cake this week - my very first attempt at chocolate cake and it was absolutely delicious - brought the cake into my work since it was my birthday and everyone agreed that it was really tasty and light - I would recommend this recipe if you want to try baking chocolate cake for the first time and every time after that after you taste it. Thank you Nigella!
Posted by Lighty11 on 8th Mar 2013 at 11.58
Instead of sour cream, can I use mascarpone cream??
Posted by Ellabxx on 10th Mar 2013 at 11.27
I've made this a few times and it's always a hit. I cut the sponges in half and have three layers of icing plus icing on top as otherwise I find each layer of icing is a bit thick.
Posted by BAmy on 6th Apr 2013 at 11.16
I wonder if I would be able to carry this cake on the train from Manchester to London. I want to bake this cake for my mother as a little surprise. The total journey time would be just under three hours from my Manchester apartment to my mother's front door. Do you think this would tarnish the appearance or taste? Thank you.
Posted by Mizmiah on 21st Apr 2013 at 16.04
I tried this yesterday and didn't have 2 similar sized cake tins, so I put the mixture into paper cases instead...and ended up with 2 dozen delicious fairy cakes (not all for me I hasten to add!) Then, I topped with the icing. Absolutely scrumptious moist sweet cake, beautifully offset with the dark almost bitter chocolate icing. I also added chopped roasted hazlenuts to the top for texture. So delicious - and will make these again.
Posted by Vix01 on 15th May 2013 at 9.55