Baking · serves 2

Chocolate Fudge Cake

Boiling water poured into the batter at the end. It looks wrong and makes the cake.

70 min Some work Vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 140g self-raising flour
  • 60g cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • A pinch of salt
  • 100g butter, melted
  • 215g soft brown sugar
  • 110ml milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 110ml hot water
  • Ganache: 160g dark chocolate, 160ml double cream, 1/2 tbsp sugar

Method

  1. Sift flour, cocoa, baking powder, soda and salt together.
  2. Whisk melted butter, sugar, milk and vanilla in a large bowl.
  3. Dry into wet, stirred to a batter.
  4. Now pour the hot water in and stir. The batter turns alarmingly thin — that is exactly right, and it's what makes it fudgy.
  5. Lined 20cm tin. 180°C for 35-40 minutes.
  6. Ten minutes in the tin, then onto a rack to cool completely.
  7. Ganache: simmer the cream, pour over the chopped chocolate, whisk smooth, then whisk in the sugar.
  8. Pour warm over the cake, spread top and sides, and leave an hour to set.
  9. Swap the vanilla for 1/2 tsp orange extract and the zest of half an orange for a chocolate-orange version.

Questions people ask about Chocolate Fudge Cake

How long does Chocolate Fudge Cake take?

About 70 minutes from starting to sitting down, and it is a bit of work. A good part of that is unattended, so you can get on with something else once it is going.

What can I use instead of maida in Chocolate Fudge Cake?

Use plain atta for a denser, nuttier result, or a 50/50 mix if you want to keep some lift.

Can I make Chocolate Fudge Cake ahead of time?

You can prepare it a few hours ahead and reheat gently. It keeps two days in the fridge, though it is best on the day.

Is Chocolate Fudge Cake vegetarian?

Yes, it is vegetarian. It is not vegan as written because it contains dairy; swap the dairy for a plant alternative and the rest of the method is unchanged.

Do I need an oven for Chocolate Fudge Cake?

Yes, this one needs an oven. If you do not have one, look at the no-oven filter on the baking page: eleven of the bakes here are built for a cooker, a pan or the fridge.

What do you serve with Chocolate Fudge Cake?

On its own, warm, with tea or coffee. Baking is chemistry, so scale it by weight rather than by eye: double every quantity, use a tin with roughly double the area, and expect to add ten minutes or so. Judge it by the skewer, not the clock.

Don't know what to cook? Let it decide →

If you liked this

Eggless Banana Bread
60 min · Easy
Lemon Drizzle Cake
60 min · Some work
Coffee Walnut Cake
60 min · Some work
Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
60 min · Some work
Date and Walnut Loaf
60 min · Easy
Bounty Cake
60 min · A proper cook