Ultimate comfort chocolate fudge cake
Chef:
Nigella Lawson
Prep:
20 mins
Cook:
50 mins
This chocolate fudge cake is the ultimate comfort food.
For the cake
400g plain flour
250g golden caster sugar
100g light brown muscovado sugar
50g best-quality cocoa powder
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
½ tsp salt
3 large eggs
142 ml sour cream
1 tbsp vanilla extract
175g unsalted butter, melted and cooled
125 ml corn oil
300 ml chilled water
For the fudge icing
175g dark chocolate (minimum 70% cocoa solids)
250g unsalted butter, softened
275g icing sugar, sifted
1 tbsp vanilla extract
Preheat the oven to 180°C.
Butter and line the bottom of two 20cm / 8 inch sandwich tins.
In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugars, cocoa, baking powder, bicarb and salt.
In another bowl or wide-necked measuring jug whisk together the eggs, sour cream and vanilla until blended.
Using a freestanding or handheld electric mixer, beat together the melted butter and corn oil until just blended (you'll need another large bowl for this if using the hand whisk; the freestanding mixer comes with its own bowl), then beat in the water.
Add the dry ingredients all at once and mix together on a slow speed.
Add the egg mixture, and mix again until everything is blended and then pour into the prepared tins.
Bake the cakes for 50-55 minutes, or until a cake-tester comes out clean.
Cool the cakes in their tins on a wire rack for 15 minutes, and then turn the cakes out onto the rack to cool completely.
To make the icing, melt the chocolate in the microwave - 2-3 minutes on medium should do it - or in a bowl sitting over a pan of simmering water, and let cool slightly.
In another bowl beat the butter until it's soft and creamy and then add the sieved icing sugar and beat again until everything's light and fluffy.
Then gently add the vanilla and chocolate and mix together until everything is glossy and smooth.
Sandwich the middle of the cake with about a quarter of the icing, and then ice the top and sides too, spreading and smoothing with a rubber spatula.
Serves
10
Preparation Time
20 minutes
Cooking Time
50 minutes
Main ingredients
Flour, Chocolate, Eggs, Sugar
Recipe Type
Party Food, Cakes & Baking, Dessert, Cake Stall
Level of Difficulty
Medium