so this is quite literally the easiest chocolate cake ever made… i promise you, other than the hour it takes to bake in the oven and the decoration (your choice… you don’t have to decorate, you could just eat whilst its still warm…) it takes about 3 minutes from counter top to oven… and I invented it!
… as you know I’ve been baking cakes for the Gunby Hall tea room and I’ve been looking for a way to reduce my baking time, without compromising on taste and I’ve been messing around with different recipes and after much tasting and baking I think I’ve finally discovered the way to do it… this cake is kind of like an ‘all-in-one’ sponge with some added pizzaz in the form of some luxury chocolate spread… I’ve also included a layer of home-made marzipan, just this once, so that i can submit it for the we should cocoa challenge, although I quite like this marzipan layer, we’ll have to see how it goes down at the tea room…
Easy Chocolate Cake with a Marzipan layer
first make the marzipan as it needs to sit in the fridge for an hour or two before using…
200g ground almonds
200g golden caster sugar
1 egg – beaten
1 teaspoon almond essence
mix the almonds and sugar, then add the beaten egg and almond essence and fork it through until it comes together, then get your hands in and knead it into a ball. wrap it in cling film and pop it in the fridge for at least an hour.
next make the cake… are you ready… this is going to be fast!
175g margarine
175g sugar
3 eggs
200g self raising flour
1tsp baking powder
2tsp cinnamon
4tbs milk
4tbs luxury chocolate spread (you could use Nutella)
– quite literally bung it all into a bowl and whisk it into a frenzy for about 2 minutes. pour it into a prepared cake tin (i used a 22cm round) and bake for 1hr on 160C
– once it’s cooled you can decorate it… obviously I’ve layered the centre with a spreading of icing and Marzipan, but you can do as you wish
– I’ve iced it with this icing, to which I’ve added 3 teaspoons of cocoa powder
eat and of course, enjoy!
Doesn't sound like it could get any easier. Yes, it does look perfect for a Royal Wedding. If there is cream cheese in the frosting I'm eating it.
OMG, what a perfect dessert for the Royal Wedding! I'll have my slice with tea!
Wow, the cake looks perfect!
I should cocoa too.
http://casarosada-algarve.blogspot.com/2011/04/i-should-cocoa.html
Mine only takes 13 minutes, but yours has undoubtably got more flavours going for it.
You are a genius!! Love how truly easy this sounds…and it looks divine! Thanks for sharing!
I don't know whether I am more excited about the cake or the marzipan payer.
I am so proud at how well things are going for you at Gunby Hall …. WELL DONE!
Wish I were near enough to visit.
Not really into the Royal Wedding myself (!)…. but what was Fergies daughter wearing (the blue)?????? and didn't Zara look great, and how embarrassed will those page boys be in years to come??!!!!!!!!!!!!
This cake sounds like just the ticket … just want you to do something about the whole hour in the oven!!!!!!!!!
Well. It was a great day want it? Tried to avoid it but those hats just threw me and like a moth to a flame I was drawn in. Plus The Mothers here and she insisted on watching!!! Cake went down well with the boys at Gunby. Happy weekend everyone!! X
Lovely cake, Dom. I've been using marzipan as a filling for chocolate cakes for years – if it's layered with a little buttercream, ganache and/or apricot jam (to hold it in place) it gradually dissolves into an amalgamated central layer that is gooey, almondy and chocolatey all at once (if it lasts more than a day!). Fabulous!
Fantastic! The cake looks delicious Dom and perfect for the Royal Wedding indeed. Enjoy your long weekend Dom.
oh and @ BVG – thanks, hopefully it will become something good. Not much I can do about the hour in the oven, I too thought it was a long time but it's a low temp, which accounts for the brilliant rise you get I guess…
Clever clogs! Can you save me a slice of the non marzipan version?
;0)
A royal cake indeed!!! Looks scrumptious and sounds very easy!
Fantastic looking cake – I guess you've got to up the anti a bit now you're selling them. Interesting how many marzipan recipes there are, home made is so much nicer than bought. Thanks for entering, I've added you in as I've only just managed to compile the round up (deadline is 25th of the month).
oh god thanks Choclette… I had no idea there was a deadline… thought it was end of month!… goes to show I never read anything properly!!!! xx
Yum!! Looks pretty, too. Thanks, Dom!
I did the same thing with the deadline, Dom.;p
That cake looks lovely.:D
Great cake – still not convinced about marzipan, though.
What a great cake – easy to make. Perfect as a dessert for friends this week[ but without the marzipan!].
@snowy. Thanks. It's a great cake. A few people have made it over the weekend with great success!