Tuesday 12 June 2012

Eggless Chocolate Cake with Fudge Frosting

The beauty of a mother-daughter relationship is that, as time progresses, a relationship that begins with the conventionality of a parent-child bond blossoms into a beautiful friendship between two women. Like fine wine, it gets better with age, with the ties of love and blood strengthened each day with mutual admiration, trust, respect, tenderness and camaraderie. In my life, it is the one relationship where I can confide without the fear of judgement, cry without the fear of pity, fight without the fear of recrimination, love without the fear of restraint and of course, gossip without the fear of contempt!!

A few days back, it was my mother's birthday and this cake that I share with you is one of her favourites. Ever since I've discovered it, I make it for her birthday each year and am pretty convinced that once you give it a shot, it will be a regular at your home too!!


For the cake, I turn to this absolutely gorgeous, egg less cake recipe that I discovered on one of my favourite blogs, 'Barbara Bakes'. Not for a minute should you think that the lack of eggs compromises the final product of this cake in any way. If any thing, this recipe produces one of the most moist, chocolaty cakes that I've come across. This recipe dates back to the post-War era of rationed supplies and thus, it is does not use butter but oil.

It is also one of the easiest cakes to make. It follows the 'quick bread' method - where the dry ingredients are simply combined with the wet ingredients, there is no creaming, no beating, no sifting .. all you need is a hand whisk to bring together the two sets of ingredients... that simple!!


While not a big fan of butter cream frosting, I turned to this uber-simple, uber-chocolaty and uber-gorgeous fudge frosting by Nigella - my one-stop destination for easy, fuss-free, no-fail and delicious recipes!!

Once made, there is not a single fault that one can find with this cake. The cake is beautifully moist, chocolaty and light. The frosting just takes it up a notch higher on the scale of 'chocolate love'. This cake holds its own even without the frosting as I usually keep the frosting only for special occasions.


Every time I make this cake, it has always been appreciated and complimented. Considering the ease with which this cake is made, it makes this recipe even more of a winner. And don't just take my word for it....

A while back, I sent this recipe to an old, school friend who was looking for an easy chocolate cake recipe. She mailed back, effusive with gratitude and appreciation and in her words..."this cake has become the biggest hit with all my friends and family.... it has also set a high standard of what people expect from me...!!!". With such high praise, this cake demands that you give it a shot!!


And before I sign off, I share with you three important lessons of life that I've learnt from my mother -- Live your life truthfully with no pretence, face adversity with dignity and no matter how old you are, never stop in your quest to learn new things and expand your horizons!!!

Happy Birthday Mama .. While I might be the single biggest cause of all your white hair, I am simply blessed to have you as my mother!!


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Eggless Chocolate Cake with Fudge Frosting
Minimally adapted from this recipe from the blog 'Barbara Bakes'

serves 10-12 people
** This recipe can easily be halved and serves 6-8 people.
Ingredients
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 tsps baking soda**
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 cups hot water
  • 3/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 tbsp white vinegar
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract

** If baking soda is not regularly used in your kitchen, it is preferable to buy a fresh packet of it, when you bake. Else there is always the danger of the old soda powder leaving an aftertaste in the cake.
Cooking Directions
  • Pre-heat the oven to 180 deg c. Line one large 9-inch spring-form pan or two 9-inch round cake tins. I prefer using 2 separate pans. For half the quantity of this recipe, use smaller tins.
  • In one large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients - flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt, with a hand whisk.
  • In another bowl, whisk together all the wet ingredients - hot water, vegetable oil, vinegar and vanilla extract.
  • Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and with a hand whisk, combine the two set of ingredients. Do not over mix the batter. Do not use a hand-mixer for this, a simple whisk will do the job. A few lumps are OK.
  • Carefully pour the batter into the prepared cake tins and bake immediately for 40-50 minutes or until an inserted skewer comes out clean.
  • Remove from the oven and transfer the cake to a wire rack. When it cools a bit, remove the sides of the tin and leave to cool completely and get on with making the frosting.
Fudge Frosting

Minimally adapted from this recipe by Nigella Lawson.

Ingredients

  • 125 ml water 
  • 30 gms demerara sugar
  • 175 gms unsalted butter, cubed
  • 300 gms dark chocolate, finely chopped

Cooking Directions
  • Put the demerara sugar, butter and water in a saucepan on low heat until the butter is completely melted.
  • Once bubbling, take the saucepan off the heat and add the chopped dark chocolate. The heat from the mixture will be enough to melt the chocolate.
  • Do not stir the mixture with a spoon but rather swirl the pan around to help the chocolate melt.
  • Once melted, whisk the mixture until smooth and glossy. At this stage, it will be very liquid.
  • Leave the mixture for about an hour. It will thicken as it cools down. This suits us just fine as the cakes have to cool completely before we use this frosting.

Assembling the Cake
  • If you've baked one layer, then cut the cake into two layers.
  • Take a third of the frosting and sandwich it between the two layers.
  • Spread the remaining frosting over the top and the sides of the cake in a manner of your choosing.
  • Tip : If you've baked your cake in two layers, then let the cake that you put on top be placed upside down, as that gives the top a flat look.


74 comments:

  1. This looks heavenly!!

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    1. Thanks!! and trust me.. you wanna give this one a shot.. because it tasted pretty heavenly too!!

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  2. Wow, this cake looks great! Happy Birthday to your mom!

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    1. Thanks Sara!! :)) This cake has become my go-to recipe whenever I need to make a chocolate cake..its just one of the best recipes I've come across!!

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  3. So impressed that this recipe is eggless!

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    1. I know.. and no butter too!! and yet so moist!!! this cake was such a revelation!!

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  4. I'm not a big fan of buttercream frosting too so this one sounds just perfect for me! This cake looks incredibly delicious. Happy Birthday to your mommy dear. :)

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    1. Thank you Anuradha!! :) Do try this frosting.. its even easier to make than chocolate ganache!! You'll love it!!

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  5. I love this post and not just because you said I'm one of your favorites. Your cake looks scrumptious. It was so sweet of you to bake it for your mom for her birthday. Thanks for the sweet comments and link love!

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    1. Oh Barbara.. i am more than grateful to you for this beautiful recipe! Its a favourite at home.. and I no longer go looking for a chocolate cake recipe anymore.. just use this one.. all thanks to you!! And surely by now you know how loved your blog is!!!:)) its such a beautiful blog with such easy recipes that guarantee stupendous results!! Thank you so much Barbara for sharing it with us!! :)

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  6. Now that's the one we veggies were waiting for.
    In my daughters words, "yummy in my tummy"!
    loved the post, the pics... Your blog is a real 'feel good' factor.. Way to go!!!

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  7. Vinvin!!! thats such a lovely thing to say... Thank you!!! :) Infact you are one of the few people who's even tasted this cake!!! :))

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  8. its looks rich, creamy & so very chocolaty...!! Mom must be thrilled??

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    1. Its chocolaty alrite!! although more fudgy than creamy to be precise!! Oh mom loves this cake.. its almost become a staple at our home for birthdays!!!

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  9. Oh what a sweet post for you mom.. Happy Birthday to her. The cake look incredible.

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    1. Thank you Hena!! the beauty of this cake lies in its simplicity!! Thank you for dropping by!! come again!! :)

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  10. First time to your blog...you have a beautiful one. I love the cake..it looks so moist and chocolaty:) I would love to bake this one.Bookmarking it. Will keep visiting often:)

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    1. Thank you Nina!! :) Please do make the cake.. you'll enjoy it!! Thanks for stopping by and please do come by again!! :)

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  11. Your first paragraph put a big smile on my face, you are so right, a mother daughter relationship gets better with the passing year and becomes a wonderful friendship that is very special
    Happy bithday to your mum and I can't wait to give your cake a try

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    1. Thank you Sawsan!! :)It IS a special friendship that we have with our mothers.. don't we??!! Please do give this cake a try.. it is simple and you and your family will enjoy it!!

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  12. 1 word for this post of yours. "Awesomeness" :P

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  13. This cake my friend, truly rocks. With such great pictures and that amazing write up, this post is an out and out winner. I will be trying this cake soon. Will let you know how it turned out :)

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    1. Hey! Thank you so much Nandita!! :) and please please do try out this cake.. its so easy, hardly takes any time and gives amazing results!! and then please do tell me how yours turned out!!! :)

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  14. Saru Baba !! I tried my hand at baking this cake and it was such an instant hit!! Brought it into work and everyone loves it. Thank you soooo much for sharing this. XOXO Moya

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    1. Moto!!!! perfect perfect perfect!!!! am sooo soo happy you tried the cake and it turned out great!!! Yay!!! and the beauty is that it is so simple to make..and the results are just the best!! big big hug moto... and now i am missing you!!! much love...

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  15. hi
    just saw ur receipe for the cake its awesome and i knw it wld taste even better wen made could u please give me the exact half proportions to the ingredients to bake for 6 to 8 people.as i wld be trying my hands for the first time on baking a cake and i just want it to be perfect.thanks in advance.

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    1. Hi!! Could you please mail me at bakerindisguise@gmail.com .. It would be easier to list the ingredients in a mail than in this response box!! Waiting for your mail.... and you wont be disappointed with this cake!! :)

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    2. thank u sooo much much appreciated.emailing u right away

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  16. Hey Saru! I recently made this cake for hubby dearest during Ganesh Chaturthi as he was vegetarian, to lighten the 'I'm deprived' mood and it worked so well :) Its incredibly easy and the result was fantastic for an egg-less recipe. Although I think it definitely needs frosting of some kind, which I had skipped as I didn't have any chocolate at home on that day. On another note, great blog and its always a treat to read :) x

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    1. Poonam.. Thank you sweetie!!! I can't tell you how happy I get when one of my friends drops by and tells me they've been reading the blog!! Thanks! :)

      Oh..the frosting definitely takes it to a new level... when you get the time.. do give this fudge frosting a shot.. its ridiculously easy!! And i love this eggless cake.. because it hardly takes any time.. and it turns out really well.. and I think every Indian needs to have an eggless cake recipe in their kitty for all those vegetarian days!! :) Come by again!

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  17. I just tried this recipe tonight and the cake turned out to be the most awesome cake I've ever made!! It is super moist and delicious. I finally have the perfect recipe for an eggless chocolate cake. Thank you so much :)

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    1. Oh awesome!! yay!! Thank you so much for writing in and telling me how it turned out..much appreciated!! :)

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    2. Hi again,
      I wanted to try the same cake using butter/ghee instead of oil. Do you have any substitution guidelines? And also, if I want to make this cake as a pound cake or mini-cupcakes, should I follow the same recipe or make changes to any of the ingredients?
      Thanks again :)

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    3. Honestly, I am not sure of the substitutions.. the only thing I will say is that the butter should be melted before you use it!! I guess the melted butter should be the same measure as the oil.. I think it should work! As for a loaf cake/ cupcakes.. you could try the same recipe.. I don't see any problem!! :)) PS -- do tell me how the experiments turned out!

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    4. Hi again and thanks for your response! I will be experimenting cupcakes in a little while when my 3 year old wakes up ;)... I will let you know how it turns out.
      BTW, if I were to use eggs in this recipe, do you have any idea how I should go about doing it? Which ingredients should I omit to accommodate the eggs?
      Thanks again :)

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    5. Hi!! If you want to make a cake with eggs, you'd be well advised to look around for another recipe.. there are tons of recipe out there.. nigella's cake should do the trick.. you can try her website!! don't mess around with this recipe with eggs.. this is specifically made to be a cake without eggs!! Hope this helps!!

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  18. Gorgeous pictures! There is something so unbelievably sexy about even the simplest chocolate cake, no?

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    1. Thanks Revati!!! You know simple bakes.. like this chocolate cake is what home baking is all about for me.. I leave all the fancy-ness to the professionals.. something simple like this cake..friends, family and coffee.. what more does one need!!! :))

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    2. Not to steal your thunder, but thats exactly what I strive to do too. Simple homely baking that reminds you of the pound cake your mom made at tea time. And I think thats what drew me to your blog. Even the fancier stuff you make look so simple and homey..

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    3. Am so glad you think so.. because that's what I am attempting to achieve with this blog.. simple stuff that keeps baking enjoyable.. frankly I don't have the patience to go fancy!! :)) And I have seen that people appreciate the simplest cakes the most.. I think simple cakes makes everyone feel nostalgic and warm and fuzzy inside!! :)

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  19. Hello! I want to give this recipe a try, it looks tempting. But I am a bit skeptical as I have tried various eggless chocolate cake recipes in the past - but they turned out to be bitter. Could you please tell me which cocoa powder did you use.

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    1. Hi!! I used regular shop bought cocoa powder.. Cadburys.. nothing fancy..and it worked well.. and I know a number of people have made this cake.. and no one's complained till date!! so I think u can go ahead and give it a shot.. hopefully it shouldn't disappoint you!! :))

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  20. Hi ,
    Yummy chocolate cake....want to try it out:). You had mentioned sugar in the recipe ,is it powdered sugar or granulated sugar ?

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    1. Hi Vanditha.. sugar is regular, granulated sugar. Please do try it out and do let me know how it turned out!!

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  21. Hi ,
    The cake came out very well...everyone luved it. thank u for awesome recipe

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    1. Hi Vanditha, thank you so much for the feedback!! Am thrilled that it came out well and everyone enjoyed it!! and isn't it just the simplest recipe too?!!! thanks again for getting back!!

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  22. thanks dear for the recipe ..m goin to try it soon

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  23. Hi,
    Can I use apple cider vinegar instead of white vinegar in this recipe? Lovely pics by the way!!

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    1. Well, you need the vinegar because it reacts with the baking soda and helps the cake to rise. Although I've never tried it, I don't think it should be an issue to substitute. the only thing is that some of the flavour of the apple cider vinegar may come through but with the cocoa I doubt it should be a problem.

      Thanks for dropping by!! :))

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  24. Hi,
    I wanted to know if I can use orange juice instead of water in the icing.
    I'm planning to make a chocolate orange cake.

    Cheers,
    Candy

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    1. Hi Candy, I dont think it should be an issue to substitute water with orange juice...another thing you could do is to add the zest of one orange to the original recipe..that shoudl also give you orange flavoured chocolate frosting!! Hope this helps and sorry for the late reply!!

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  25. Hi is it possible to get the measurements in grams rather than cups for serving 8 people. Thank you

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  26. Also forgot to ask is it okay to make this cake one day in advance and is it okay to leave it in the fridge? will it get dry?

    Thanks

    Diya

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    1. Hi Diya,

      am assuming the earlier question was also from you. I am sorry I have the recipe only in cups .. you could probably go to an online conversion chart (google it) to convert the cups into grams.

      As for your second question, the cake has oil in it, so it does not dry out in the fridge. You could make it a day in advance, there should be no problem.. but I think, it would be better, if you apply the frosting on the day itself.. it will just seem fresher to the eye! Make the cake and frosting a day earlier and then microwave your frosting in 30 second interval till it is spreadable and then apply it to the cake! Hope this helps!

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    2. Thank you so much….great tip for the frosting…i will definitely do that on the day so its fresher. I'm going to be trying to make this cake for my mum's birthday. So hope all goes well.

      Thanks

      Diya

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    3. Oh great.. then please do tell me how it turned out.. hope your mum likes it!! Yup.. make the cake a day earlier.. and the frosting on the day itself sounds like a good plan. But do cover the cake in a clingfilm or foil when you put it in the fridge or in an airtight box!!

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  27. hi there just wanted to ask is it okay to use salted butter for the frosting? also does the frosting come out sweet enough to compliment the cake?

    thanks

    Seema

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    1. Well, till date no one's complained that the frosting was not sweet enough for the cake. Everyone who has made it has been happy with it. If you feel, you want to make the frosting sweeter, replace the dark chocolate with milk chocolate as that is sweeter.

      I am wary about using salted butter..it will impart a salty tinge to the entire frosting,..so do try and get your hands on some unsalted butter. hope this helps!

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  28. Just wanted to check can i mix maida and wheat flour instead of using all purpose flour

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    1. I'm sorry I haven't experimented with mixing the flours (have always used only maida)... so unfortunately can't be of any help!

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  29. This cake is awesome. Can i add semi sweet chocolate chips to this recipe and get better results in the chocolaty taste? Can i add coffee?

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    1. Hi Vidya! Of course, you can add all these things! But it will be up to your discretion how much you want to add.. Please do let me know the results as and when you play around with this recipe! Cheers! :)

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  30. Hi! Can I use baking powder instead of baking soda. If so, what would be the measurement? Thanks

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    1. No.. am sorry..you can ONLY use baking soda for this recipe. The baking soda reacts with the vinegar and hot water and helps the batter rise. You wont get the same result with baking soda.

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  31. I must be doing something wrong. This is my friends and family favourite recipe. But every time I make it it falls apart. The big chunks still get eaten but presentation isn't great. I've tried turning it out when it was warm, not turning it out until it's cold. Leaving it overnight...

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    1. Hi Dina!! I can only think of two things: 1) check that the cake is completely baked..that is the skewer should come out clean before you take the cake out of the oven.
      2) wait 10-15 minutes after you've taken it out and then turn it out..
      Check with an experienced baker near you...I dont think its a problem with the recipe..it must be something minor that you are overlooking. Sorry, Thats all I can help with.

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  32. Hello :) Do you think apple cider vinegar could be used instead of white vinegar?

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    1. I've been asked this question before and honestly, I dont know. We use the vinegar so that it reacts with the baking soda which helps the cake rise. I dont think it should be an issue if you use apple cider vinegar but I do wonder if it will affect the taste! Maybe you could give it a go and tell me how it turned out!

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