A chocolate cake is a classic teatime favorite. It also doubles up as a wonderful dessert when served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. However, baking a chocolate cake is mistakenly thought to take great time and effort so the very fear of it unnerves many beginner bakers.
Here is the solution to those fears — two quick and simple dessert recipes that will turn out a cake that can take pride of place on any teatime or dinner table.
The first, “Microwave Chocolate Cake,” is a cake that proves that microwave baking is easy, fun and yields great results. This chocolate cake can be baked in the microwave, making it the perfect dessert recipe for college students and even new moms and wives. It is easy to assemble and takes barely 10 minutes to bake. Put it into the microwave when you sit down for dinner and it will be ready and waiting by the time you finish.
The second recipe, “One-Bowl Easy Chocolate Cake,” is so quick to put together that you can just toss it all up and put it into the oven for an impromptu gathering with friends or for a hungry toddler.
Both the recipes are great for those “must-have-chocolate” moments. Moreover, both the cakes can be frosted with a simple chocolate frosting and can serve as a delicious chocolate birthday cake. So, while you don’t really need a reason to indulge in a yummy slice of chocolate cake, you have plenty. Go ahead. Bake these and enjoy the results.
Microwave Chocolate Cake
Serves 6 to 8.
2 cups flour
½ cup cocoa powder
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
3 eggs
1 ½ cups sugar
¾ cup oil
1 ½ cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
- Sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and baking soda together.
- In a big, dry bowl, beat together eggs, sugar, oil, milk and vanilla. Use an electric beater at the lowest speed for best results.
- Add the dry ingredients to the liquid batter, spoonful by spoonful, beating all the time.
- Pour batter into 9” round microwave-safe baking dish and bake at Full Power or High for 10 minutes. Let it stand in the microwave for 5 minutes before taking it out and slicing it.
One-Bowl Easy Chocolate Cake
Serves 6 to 8.
2 cups sugar (caster or superfine granulated)
1 ¾ cup plain flour
¾ cup cocoa powder
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
2 eggs
1 cup milk
½ cup oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup boiling hot water
- Simply mix the dry ingredients in a bowl. There is no need to sift them together.
- Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients.
- Add the liquid ingredients one by one, starting with the eggs and ending with the vanilla. Beat on low speed for two minutes.
- Add boiling hot water. Beat for a minute. The batter will be thin and watery.
- Pour into greased and flour-dusted 9”round tin.
- Bake at 175 C (350 F) for 35 minutes or till done (a cake tester or knitting needle when stuck into the center will come out clean).
Baking is fun and easy to do. Use these recipes to get started with cake baking or to start baking with a young child. For more on baking and baking ingredients, do read Cake Baking Made Easy and Baking Basics: An Introduction to Baking Ingredients.
Useful Resources for Baking:
Lawson, Nigella. How to be a Domestic Goddess: Baking and The Art of Comfort Cooking. Hyperion (2005)
