I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I didn’t know who Nigella Lawson
This cake recipe is also available on The Food Network’s website here and is also from Nigella’s book Feast
I don’t agree with those reviewers that said the cake was tasteless. I thought it tasted great and the frosting was fabulous. I will definitely make this again. Someone on my Facebook page said that the frosting was pure food porn. I agree. :)
If you would like to watch the video and hear Nigella’s lovely accent, click here.
Nigella’s Old-fashioned Chocolate Cake
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons vanilla
2/3 cup sour cream
1 1/2 sticks unsalted soft butter
1/3 cup cocoa
2 eggs
Frosting:
6 ounces good-quality semisweet chocolate, broken into small pieces
3/4 stick unsalted butter
2 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon good-quality vanilla extract
Take everything out of the refrigerator so that all ingredients can come room temperature.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Put all the cake ingredients: flour, sugar, baking powder and soda, cocoa, butter, eggs, vanilla, and sour cream into a food processor and process until you have a smooth, thick batter.
Divide this batter, using a rubber spatula to help you scrape and spread, into the prepared tins and bake until a cake tester comes out clean, 22-25 minutes. Remove the cakes, in their tins, to a wire rack and let cool for 10 minutes before turning out of their tins.
To make the frosting, melt the chocolate and butter in a good-sized bowl either in the microwave or suspended over a pan of simmering water. Cool.
Place confectioners’ sugar into the food processor and blitz to remove lumps. Add remaining frosting ingredients and process until smooth.
Spoon about 1/3 of the frosting onto the center of the cake-half and spread with a knife or spatula until you cover the top of it evenly, leaving about 1/2″ from the edges. Sit the other cake on top, normal way up, pressing gently to sandwich the 2 together.
Spoon another 1/3 of the frosting onto the top of the cake and spread it in a swirly, textured way. Spread the sides of the cake last of the icing.
More Chocolate Recipes
- Chocolate Lasagna
- Chocolate Whoopie Pies
- Chocolate Icebox Cake
- Chocolate Texas Sheet Cake
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
- Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies
- German Chocolate Cake
Nigella’s Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake
IMPORTANT - There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Rate ItIngredients
- 1 ½ cups flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- ⅔ cup sour cream
- 12 tbsp unsalted soft butter 1.5 sticks
- ⅓ cup cocoa
- 2 large eggs
Frosting
- 6 ounces good-quality semisweet chocolate broken into small pieces
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 ½ cups confectioners' sugar
- 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon good-quality vanilla extract
Instructions
- Take everything out of the refrigerator so that all ingredients can come room temperature.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Put all the cake ingredients: flour, sugar, baking powder and soda, cocoa, butter, eggs, vanilla, and sour cream into a food processor and process until you have a smooth, thick batter.
- Divide this batter, using a rubber spatula to help you scrape and spread, into the prepared tins and bake until a cake tester comes out clean, 22-25 minutes. Remove the cakes, in their tins, to a wire rack and let cool for 10 minutes before turning out of their tins.
- To make the frosting, melt the chocolate and butter in a good-sized bowl either in the microwave or suspended over a pan of simmering water. Cool.
- Place confectioners' sugar into the food processor and blitz to remove lumps. Add remaining frosting ingredients and process until smooth.
- Spoon about 1/3 of the frosting onto the center of the cake-half and spread with a knife or spatula until you cover the top of it evenly, leaving about 1/2" from the edges. Sit the other cake on top, normal way up, pressing gently to sandwich the 2 together.
- Spoon another 1/3 of the frosting onto the top of the cake and spread it in a swirly, textured way. Spread the sides of the cake last of the icing.
Nutrition
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Amanda Davis
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Diana Taylor says
i only eat chocolate cake and i have made all kinds of them this one was okay my kids didn’t like it at all it took over 25 min to cook and i wont make it again wasn’t for me but thanks for sharing
Amanda Formaro says
Thanks for the feedback Diana :)
Heather Davis says
Nigella is an institution here in the UK. I have a lot of her books but her Domestic Godess one is my all time fav. Lot's of great baking recipes in that one. This cake looks amazing. I have Feast too so will have to try it.
Avanika [YumsiliciousBakes] says
P.S – How did you manage to keep the cake plate so clean? I can never do that :(
Avanika [YumsiliciousBakes] says
What a perfect way to be introduced to Nigella. I love her :)
The shot of that batter is pure sin. Oh my! Yum. Bookmarked :)
Sue says
Well Amanda, You definitely know who Nigella Lawson is now:) The cake looks classic and beautiful!
Elle says
Gorgeous! I love Nigella-her writing, her style, all of it. Never tried this cake, though! It seems as if I must. :)
Erika says
That frosting looks divine. You are clearly much better with an offset spatula than I am – I can never get the sides of my cakes that smooth!
BigFatBaker says
I made this for my parents anniversary with a blackberry buttercream. Wow…that is by far one of the best chocolate cake recipes I have had the pleasure of making. It's definitely a keeper. You look like you did a wonderful job with yours. I love the swirls in your frosting.
Cooking Rookie says
Beautiful cake! I just had a dessert, but I could still fit in a slice of this chocolate heaven (or two slices…)
alison @ Ingredients, Inc. says
wow . Heavenly!
Audrey Ellen @ My Scene and Herd says
the way you swirled that frosting is so nigella, casual yet classy.
Maria says
Looks good to me!
Lauren at Keep It Sweet says
That cake looks outstanding! I love that it doesn't skimp on the icing:-)
Kathy - Panini Happy says
I absolutely love Nigella! Glad you've found her. :-) Dry or not, the cake definitely looks beautiful!
Nichol says
I have watched the video but haven't made it around to the cake yet. This looks wonderful so that means I must make this asap!
Lana @ Never Enough Thyme says
Love Nigella Lawson! I could just sit in front of the television and listen to her talk. That accent blows me away! I've also seen her make this cake and thought it looked divine. This means it must make it for myself very soon!
Katrina says
Looks great! My dad used to walk around the house sometimes just saying "Chocolate cake". He'd say it in such a way that everyone wanted chocolate cake. I'd always end up making him one (I'm sure just a box mix). I'll have to try this one.
I love Nigella. She bugs my husband, but I think she's pretty cool.
Cooking With Abandon says
I am going to try this one! (see my recent cake failure on my blog)