Chocolate Fudge Cake

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Chocolate Fudge Cake – a soft, yet fudgy, and exceedingly chocolate sponge filled and covered with a luxuriously, creamy, smooth, intense, yet light, chocolate fudge frosting.

If, like me, you grew up in the 1970s and 1980s, when this cake was made famous, I’m sure that just the name will evoke extremely fond and nostalgic sweet, culinary memories. It could be found on the menu in most restaurants and pubs and was often served warm with vanilla ice cream or fresh cream, or both! This recipe celebrates this iconic cake and if you warm it before you serve it, the dreamy chocolate frosting basically turns into a delicious, luscious chocolate sauce. Soo unbelievably good.

It may be past its peak of popularity, but in my opinion, it is a classic and will always be very welcome on my table.

Where is this recipe from?

Sponge:

The sponge is based on the recipe I use to make Lemon Drizzle Cakes as well as Lamingtons, Biscoff Slice and Upside Down Cakes. The changes I made to this basic recipe were to include:

• cocoa and melted chocolate to make a rich chocolate flavour without drying the sponge.
• instant coffee powder – you can’t actually taste the coffee, but it really enhances the chocolate flavour.

Apricot Jam:

One of my favourite chocolate cakes is a Sacher Torte. A classic Sacher Torte always has apricot jam between the cake and the icing – I love the contrast this adds to the cake as it cuts through yet complements the rich chocolate flavour.

Frosting:

The frosting is a Nigella recipe which she uses on her Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake. It is a wonderful recipe which would work well on any kind of chocolate cake or cupcakes. Indeed, it would also be fabulous on a vanilla or coffee cake too.

How to make Chocolate Fudge Cake

Collect all your ingredients together:

For the chocolate fudge cake –

• dark chocolate, 70% cocoa solids
• unsalted butter, cut into cubes
• coffee powder
• soft brown sugar
• eggs
• vanilla extract
• sour cream
• plain/all-purpose flour
• unsweetened cocoa
• baking powder
• bicarbonate of soda
• fine salt

For the jam layer – (optional)

• apricot jam
• water

For the fudgy chocolate icing –

• unsalted butter
• dark chocolate, 70% cocoa solids
• fine salt
• golden syrup
• instant coffee powder
• vanilla extract
• icing sugar

How to make Chocolate Fudge Cake:

1. Grease and line 2 x 20cm/8in round baking tins with baking parchment.
2. Chop the butter into squares and place in a microwave safe bowl with the chopped chocolate and coffee powder. Melt in a microwave or a bain marie and mix until smooth.
3. Weigh the sugar into a mixing bowl and add the eggs. Beat with an electric whisk until light and fluffy.
4. Pour the vanilla, chocolate and butter into the eggs and sugar and mix thoroughly with an electric whisk until smooth and glossy.
5. Next, fold in the sour cream.
6. Put a sieve over the bowl and add the flour, cocoa, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and salt. Sift directly over the cake batter and fold in.
7. Divide equally between the 2 cake tins and level the surface.
8. Bake in the centre of a preheated oven for 25 – 35 minutes or until cooked. It is cooked when:
   • the centre feels springy when lightly touched with your finger and no imprint remains.
   • a toothpick inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
   • the cake is beginning to come away from the sides of the tin/dish.
9. When cooked, remove from the oven and leave in the tins for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes remove from the tins and transfer to a wire rack. Ensure one cake is top side up – this will be the top of the cake. The other cake should be top side down – this will be the base of the cake.

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The apricot jam layer:

1. Whilst the cakes are cooking, weigh the jam into a small sauce pan and add the water. Bring to a gentle simmer and ensure it is all mixed thoroughly.
2. Push the jam through a sieve and then brush it over the warm cakes. Leave the cakes to cool and the jam to set.

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The fudgy chocolate icing:

1. Chop the butter into squares and place in a microwave safe bowl with the chopped chocolate, coffee and fine salt. Melt in a microwave or a bain marie and mix until smooth. Set aside to cool a little whilst you collect the remaining ingredients.
2. Add the golden syrup, sour cream and vanilla extract to the chocolate and mix thoroughly mix.
3. Next, add the icing sugar and initially fold in with a spoon or spatula.
4. Then, whisk until thoroughly mixed.

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Bring this fabulous cake together:

1. Place the base of the cake on a serving plate and cover with the frosting.
2. Add the top of the cake, and cover this with frosting as well.
3. Make a swirly pattern on the frosting and, if desired, grate over some chocolate.

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Made this recipe?

If you make this recipe, do please tag me on instagram @daffodil_kitchen. You could also leave a comment in the box directly below the recipe.