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Chocolate cake with slice removed from centre
Chocolate cake on a white plate with bite missing
Close up of a cake being smoothed with buttercream icing
Chocolate cake mix being whisked in a bowl surrounded by baking ingredients
4 mini chocolate cakes on a plate with raspberries on top, beside a white bowl of raspberries

Classic Chocolate Cake Recipe

PREP

15 mins

BAKE

50 mins

TOTAL

1h 5m

Serves 12

Easy

About the bake

One taste of this decadent chocolate cake and you're sure to have found a firm favourite. Dark and rich in appearance, and even richer in taste with the delicious caramel undertones that using Billington's sugar brings to chocolate bakes. Made in 8 simple steps, this easy chocolate cake is a classic recipe to enjoy with all the family - after all, who doesn't love a generous helping of chocolate cake?

Substitutions and Variations 

Mini Chocolate Cake

Make it mini? - To make smaller versions follow these instructions.

- Bake the cake in a 30x20cm tin for 45-50 minutes at 160°C fan.
- Use a 8cm round cutter to stamp out the cakes (this will make 6-8 mini cakes in total)
- Cut each mini cake horizontally to make two layers, then sandwich together with the buttercream and decorate with grated chocolate and a fresh raspberry

Top Tip: Use the leftover cake crumbs to make cake pops/cake truffles.

Ultimate Chocolate Brownie

Chocaholic's rejoice. If you love to bake chocolate cake, then you must to master our Ultimate Chocolate Brownie Recipe! They're gooey, fudgy and so easy to whip up any time!

10 Ingredients

9 Steps

Ingredients

For the cake

  • 200g Billington's Dark Brown Soft Sugar
  • 4 Medium eggs
  • 150g Allinson's Self Raising Flour
  • 1 tsp Baking Powder
  • 50g Cocoa Powder
  • 200g Butter (softened)

For the filling

  • 25g Cocoa Powder
  • 3 tbsp Water (boiling)
  • 300g Silver Spoon Icing Sugar
  • 175g Butter (unsalted, softened)

Nutritional information per 114g serving

  • 429kcal Energy
  • 13g Fat
  • 7.8g of which Saturates
  • 72g Carbohydrates
  • 57g of which Sugars
  • 5.1g Protein
  • 0.29g Salt

Method


  • Step 1

    Grease and line the base of two 20cm (8") deep cake tins. Preheat the oven to 180c (170c fan, gas mark 4)


  • Step 2

    Put the softened butter and sugar in a large bowl and beat until soft. Add the eggs a little at a time, beating well between additions. You can add a small amount of flour with each egg to avoid splitting.


  • Step 3

    Mix the flour, baking powder and cocoa together. Gently fold in the flour mix into the butter and sugar until fully incorporated.


  • Step 4

    Divide the mixture evenly between the tins. Level the surface using a spatula or the back of a spoon. Bake for 25–30 minutes. The tops of the cakes should spring back when pressed lightly with a finger. Leave the cakes to cool in the tins for 5 minutes. Run a small palette knife around the edge of the tins, then carefully turn the cakes out onto a wire rack. Peel off the paper and leave to cool completely.


  • Step 5

    Choose the cake with the best top, then put the other cake top-down onto a serving plate.


  • Step 6

    To make the buttercream, mix the cocoa powder with the boiling water to make a paste.


  • Step 7

    Cream the butter to soften it then beat in the icing sugar using a food mixer or electric hand whisk. The longer that you beat it for the lighter and fluffier your buttercream will be. Stir in the cooled cocoa mixture. 


  • Step 8

    Spread a third of the chocolate buttercream on top of one sponge and place the other sponge on top to sandwich the buttercream in the center of the cake. 


  • Step 9

    Spread the remaining chocolate buttercream over the top and sides of your cake. You can personalise your cake with decorations to your own taste and style. 

“Amazing and scrumptious! This is such a delicious chocolate cake and is super easy to make. My family have all said I have to make it again. Perfect!”