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Treat yourself to this classic chocolate cake, then try other decadent chocolate cake recipes such as our chocolate birthday cake, easy chocolate cake, gluten-free chocolate fudge cake and vegan chocolate cake. No time to bake? Try our speedy yet indulgent chocolate mug cake. Also check out our healthy chocolate cake for a lighter version of this classic treat.

Ingredients

  • 250g self-raising flour
  • 50g cocoa powder
  • 250g dark chocolate, broken into pieces
  • 250g light muscovado sugar
  • 250g unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

BUTTERCREAM

  • 200g icing sugar, sifted
  • 200g unsalted butter, softened
  • 200g dark chocolate, melted

TOPPING

  • 50g dark chocolate
  • cocoa powder, for dusting

Method

  • STEP 1

    Heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Line 2 x deep 20cm springform cake tins with baking paper. Stir together the flour and cocoa in a bowl. Melt the chocolate, sugar and butter with 100ml water in a pan until smooth, then leave to cool.

  • STEP 2

    Once cooled, transfer to a mixing bowl and whisk in the eggs one by one until combined, followed by the vanilla extract. Slowly whisk the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until fully combined.

  • STEP 3

    Divide the batter between the cake tins and bake for 30 minutes or until a skewer poked into the middles comes out clean. It may crack a little on top but this will be covered by the icing. Leave to cool.

  • STEP 4

    To make the buttercream, use electric beaters to whisk together the icing sugar and butter for 5 minutes or until light and fluffy. Mix in the melted chocolate until smooth and the buttercream becomes spreadable. Put a thick layer of buttercream on top of one of the cakes, then sandwich the other sponge on top. Spread another thick layer on top, then use the rest to cover the sides. Leave to set in the fridge for 20 minutes.

  • STEP 5

    To make the topping, use a large knife or peeler to scrape across the surface of the chocolate to create curls and shards. Use these to top the cake along with a light dusting of cocoa powder.

Try these six twists on classic chocolate cake:

Chocolate drip cake

Chocolate sponge is slathered in chocolate buttercream then topped with glossy ganache to make a gorgeous drip cake.

Chocolate cake with a glossy chocolate ganache dripping down the sides, sat on a white cake stand on a green background

Chocolate birthday cake

This birthday traybake works brilliantly as a base for any children's birthday cake. It's actually a 'sheet cake', a standard baking treat in Texas. We've added chocolate frosting, but you could personalise it any way you like.

Children's Chocolate Birthday Cake Recipe (Sheet Cake)

Easy chocolate cake

This chocolate fudge cake recipe is super easy and quick to make so it is perfect for when you need to bake a last minute simple yet decadent cake for a special occasion. You don't need to use a chocolate with a high % for this, just standard dark chocolate is fine.

Easy Chocolate Fudge Cake Recipe

Master the art of a perfect chocolate drip to finish off your cakes . Here, chocolate sponge is slathered in chocolate buttercream and topped with a layer of glossy ganache

Chocolate cake with a glossy chocolate ganache dripping down the sides, sat on a white cake stand on a green background

Chocolate orange cake

Treat yourself to this indulgent chocolate cake laced with orange curd and zest, slathered with moreish chocolate orange buttercream.

Chocolate Orange Cake Recipe

Ferrero Rocher cake

This heavenly chocolate and hazelnut cake combines a silky Nutella buttercream with a crunchy Ferrero Rocher topping and chopped hazelnut coating – perfect for a celebration

A cake on a white cake stand coverd in chocolate buttercream and topped with 12 Ferrero Rocher

Chocolate mug cake

Ideal for when you fancy something sweet but don't want to bake, this clever microwave chocolate mug cake for one is ready in just five minutes.

two rustic, handmade mugs on a side plate filled with chocolate sponge
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