Nigella Lawson chocolate cake Recipe

Decadent, incredibly damp, and wonderfully rich, this old-fashioned chocolate cake is heavily inspired by Nigella Lawson’s beloved approach to indulgent, stress-free baking. Coated in a glossy, silken sour-cream frosting, it’s a foolproof dessert that aligns perfectly with expert tips for baking the perfect cake while delivering maximum dark chocolate flavor with minimal kitchen effort.

Origin Nigella Lawson chocolate cake Recipe

Nigella Lawson is famous for championing home baking that feels luxurious but accessible, and her iconic chocolate cake recipes have been a staple at dinner parties for decades. This adaptation honors the rich history of the classic devil’s food cake, utilizing everyday pantry ingredients—like boiling water or hot coffee—to bloom the cocoa powder and create an incredibly tender, velvety crumb that stays moist for days.

Why I Love This Recipe

I love how forgiving and straightforward this batter is; it requires no complicated creaming of butter and sugar, making it the ultimate single-bowl miracle. The resulting texture is incredibly fudgy and dense, pairing beautifully with creative cake decorating ideas or simply standing alone with its deeply luscious, smooth chocolate ganache frosting.

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Nigella Lawson chocolate cake Recipe

Recipe by RecipesVillaCourse: DessertCuisine: BritishDifficulty: Easy

Servings

10

servings

Prep time

20

minutes

Cooking time

35

minutes

Calories

450

kcal

Ingredients

• For the Cake:

• 200g plain flour

• 200g caster sugar

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

• 40g best-quality cocoa powder

• 175g soft unsalted butter

• 2 large eggs

• 2 tsp vanilla extract

• 150ml sour cream

• For the Icing:

• 75g unsalted butter

• 175g best-quality dark chocolate (min. 70% cocoa)

• 300g icing sugar

• 1 tbsp golden syrup

• 125ml sour cream

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

• Prep: Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease and line two 8-inch sandwich tins.
• Make Batter: Place all cake ingredients into a food processor and blitz until you have a smooth, thick batter.
• Bake: Divide batter into the prepared tins. Bake for about 35 minutes (check at 25) until a skewer comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes in tins before turning out onto a wire rack.
• Make Icing: Melt butter and chocolate gently (microwave or double boiler). Let cool slightly, then stir in golden syrup, sour cream, and vanilla. Whisk in the sieved icing sugar until smooth. Add a teaspoon of boiling water if you need a thinner consistency.
• Assemble: Sandwich the two cake layers with one-third of the icing. Use the remaining icing to coat the top and sides of the cake in a textured, swirly finish.

Notes

• Pro Tip: Use high-quality dark chocolate buttons (70% cocoa solids) so you can melt them directly without chopping.
• Make Ahead: The cake can be iced a day ahead and stored in an airtight container. Unfrosted sponges can be wrapped and frozen for up to 3 months.
• Texture: If the icing feels too thick or too thin, adjust with a teaspoon of boiling water or a little more icing sugar to reach the perfect spreadable consistency.