Full question
I would like to make the Chocolate Fruit Cake, but leakproof springform pans are hard to find. Could I use a tall 8-inch cake pan instead, as long as I line it with parchment?
Our answer
Nigella's Chocolate Fruit Cake (from FEAST) is a squidgy fruit cake that contains cocoa. The cocoa doesn't make the cake particularly chocolatey, but does bring out the caramelly flavours of the fruits and other ingredients. The recipe calls for the cake to be baked in a loose-bottomed 20cm (8-inch) cake pan.
The cake batter is not that liquid and we have successfully baked the cake in an 8-inch (20cm) springform pan ourselves. Even if using a springform pan, you should line the base and sides of the pan with a double layer of baking parchment (parchment paper) as the double layer acts as an insulator and helps to prevent the sides and edges of the cake from browning too quickly. However, if you have a deep enough solid-bottomed 8-inch cake pan then you can certainly use this and line the base and sides with a double layer of parchment. Make sure that the cake is completely cold before you remove it from the pan. Invert the cake pan carefully on to a wire rack or plate and lift the pan away to unmould the cake, then immediately turn it right side up onto a wire rack.
Tell us what you think
Thank you {% member.data['first-name'] %}.
Explore more questionsYour comment has been submitted.