One bowl. Fast. When it comes to cakes, these words are music to my ears!
I don’t know about you but a chocolate cake craving is one of the worst to endure. And the last thing I want to do is to wash heaps of dishes, switch on the appliances and cream butter. Oh gawd, creaming butter is the worse in winter because it never gets soft enough and then when I attempt to cream it with my psychotic electric beaters, my kitchen gets pummelled with butter projectiles. And no joke, I have a block of butter that has been sitting out for a week and it’s still not soft! This is why I LOVE this recipe oh so much.
Just looking at this cake in all its awesome slabness brings on waves of nostalgia. Even the icing to me is old school (seriously when was the last time I made chocolate icing with icing sugar?). And if the mood takes you, there’s absolutely no need for cake tins, cake stands or cake plates. If you wish, bake this cake in a shallow tray or pyrex dish, dump the icing on when it has cooled then just grab a fork and dig in. Forget the overly rich, fudgy, dense counterparts, get your face into this old-fashioned, crumbly, moist beauty.
This is a no-fuss everyday cake that can be whipped up quickly even at your laziest and just in time for the 4pm blues (after looking at it and tasting it, The Captain now lovingly dubs this the Sara Lee cake. Love it!). It’s the ultimate quick bang chocolate cake for one of those devilish moods, instant gratification guaranteed.
One Bowl Chocolate Cake
150g unsalted butter
220g brown sugar
100g good quality dark chocolate
50g Dutch-processed cocoa
160ml milk
3 large eggs, room temperature
170g plain flour
1.5 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt (skip this if using salted butter)
Method
Preheat oven to 170°C. Grease and line a 20-21cm square tin.
In a large pot or mixing bowl over simmering water, add the butter, sugar, chocolate, cocoa and milk. When butter and chocolate has melted, remove from heat and whisk to combine. Allow to cool for 5 minutes.
Add the eggs to the chocolate mixture and whisk to combine. Sift over the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt then gently stir to mix.
Scrape batter into tin and bake for 45-55 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.
Cool in tin for 5 minutes then turn out and cool completely on a wire rack. Cake will keep for a few days in an airtight container (a quick zap in the microwave will get it all warm, melty and soft again).
Chocolate Fudge Frosting
Ingredients
100g good quality dark chocolate
50g unsalted butter, softened and at room temperature
150g icing sugar, sifted
Pinch of salt
1-2 Tbl of milk
Method
In a bowl over simmering water, melt chocolate then remove from heat. Beat in softened butter (make sure it is room temp. Cold butter is bad news in this case). Sift over icing sugar and salt then beat until combined. Add enough milk until it is a spreadable consistency.
Ice cooled cake and leave to set.
{ 70 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for this simple recipe! Even a non-cook like me can attempt it. :-)
Hi Joey! I certainly hope you do! I don’t think cake recipes can get as easy as this one. Let me know how you go :)
Ahh those chocolate cake cravings, I know them well! Yes it is great to be able to satisfy them with a quick but delicious recipe.
I recently discovered your site and am loving reading it! I moved back to Canada from Sydney after living there for 5 months at about this time last year. Reading your blog is a lovely way to reconnect :)
Hi Jennifer! Thank you so much for your kind words and for reading! I’m glad Sydney left a good impression on you but Canada is a lovely country (that I’d love to visit myself). Any plans to return down under? :)
If I were to do a one bowl cake I’d skip the icing. My go to one bowl chocolate heaven is currently cocoa brownies which just melts everything and mix. Seriously sometimes we just wanna spend 20 minutes on it and eat!
Oooh that’s why I love brownies too because it’s a one bowl dessert too. And to eat it fresh from the oven, oh baby :D
A no-fuss chocolate cake is exactly the kind of cake I like! :D
I’m with you there! :D Anything that doesn’t need creaming is an awesome recipe lol.
First of all, your writing style is hilarious! I was cracking up reading this. Second, the photo of the cake is stunning and makes me crave a piece of this cake RIGHT NOW! Third, what is “icing sugar”? Is that powdered sugar, also known as confectioners sugar? I need to know because this post gives me a strong desire to make this cake.
Hi Maria! You’re absolutely spot on. Icing sugar is just what Aussies call confectioners sugar / powdered sugar. Thanks for your awesome comments, nothing like chocolate to make one loopy when writing lol!
This cake looks sooooooooo good! Yum yum yum. :)
Thanks so much Sara! :D
LOVE!!!
Thanks! xx
Holy shizz that looks ridiculously good. It’s reminding me of that whole Sara Lee cake I ate the other week…but so much better because it’s made from scratch! Would definitely be eating this out of the tin with a fork :)
Hahaha you, me and Rita should form a Sara Lee fan club! Next time I’m making it with your awesome milo ganache! Zomg *drool*
I am down to my last portion of Sara Lee choc pound cake and am looking at this recipe again, thinking, perhaps I should make this and stash it in the freezer…!
Lol Rita, I’ve been thinking the same thing too!
Love the fine crumbs of the cake but I am hesitant about the icing sugar frosting… I would prefer possibly a chocolate ganache fudge..less sweet..:) but yes, this does look like one swell cake to quell a chocolate craving!
Hi Shirley, icing sugar frostings are indeed sweet but I actually reduced the amount here. Nevertheless, normally I prefer ganaches too but since I was on a nostalgic path… :)
wow… this is absolutely divine !
Thank you :D
Can you possibly convert these measurements to standard? Thanks- cake looks divine!
Hi Judy,
Check out this website http://www.traditionaloven.com/tutorials/conversion.html for all of your conversion needs. It’s the one I use regularly. Thanks! :)
I must admit I do like a good chocolate cake. This recipes is super easy and almost everything can be found at home. I will be making this soon, or driving past yours to steal a slice of yours ehehe.
Hi Kath, it’s definitely worth making at home because you’ll never get an easier cake than this :) And if you don’t have chocolate, it’s still lovely with cocoa (just add milk if the cake batter is too stiff). Or in any case, next time I have an overload of cake, I’m gonna call ya! :D
Oh, Ms Candy, this is entirely my type of cake to make! Mainly due to my being lazy and also due to my (sometimes) lack of patience, both of which I use as excuses for my rustic/homely cooking/baking =p
Heh you and me both love! I love beautiful desserts but it’s easy cakes like these that I adore the most :D
AND because this slab o’ cake reminds me of school bake sales. And Top Taste packet cakes. And – the ultimate – pound cake!
Yay great minds think alike because that’s exactly why I love this cake and why it’s nostalgic to me. It’s exactly the type of cake you find at bake sales or the corner bakery (and in my lunchbox!). And SARA LEE! <3
Well, it looks fantastic! Definitely will try it some day.
I hope you enjoy it! :D
Ohhhh I cannot wait to try this! That chocolate cake looks so beautifully moist and delicious.. wow, my mouth is watering.
Hi Tina, thank yooooou! Hope you enjoy it!
Looks like the next best thing for instant gratification outside of ready made cake out of the freezer. Nice that it requires minimal clean-up too :)
Hi Simon, minimal washing up is always a win with me. This cake is definitely a little Sara Lee-esque in the best possible way :)
When I first saw this cake I thought it was a Sara Lee chocolate cake – IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY! Man, I love the icing on those suckers. Can’t wait to try the recipe.
Hi Naomi, oh I LOVE Sara Lee cakes too! Especially the chocolate ones. I was definitely baking this cake with the Sara Lee fairy sitting on my shoulder ;) I hope you enjoy it!
How that is one helluva shexy chocolate cake. So. Moist.
Thanks Helen! MOIST cakes rule :P
I don’t think I’ve ever described a cake like this… but man that cake is sexy……
gotta try making that soon!
Lol wait, you’ve never thought cakes were sexy? Cakes are the sexiest dessert! :D
This cake looks unbelievable! I’ll have to make it soon.
Thanks so much :D
I have the same issues when creaming butter and sugar. I’ve had it flicked up the walls, down the walls, on my hair, in my eye… I have taken to softening my butter a tad bit in the microwave (on low). It helps a bit! No need for creaming kinda cake – intriguing! I think I’m going to have to give this recipe a go. :)
Hi Shirleen, lol curse that cold butter!
Seriously family friendly cake. Made it in a 20 x 30cm tin and it was ready in 20 minutes. Just in time for 3 hungry boys to devour with a glass of milk each. Bring on nostalgic cooking :) Thanks for the very good recipe.
Hi Liza, I’m so happy that you and your family enjoyed it! :)
I have been on a bit of a chocolate kick lately .. actually change that to *binge*. I just wanted to stop by and let you know that I baked this and OMG was it awesome. Love love love the fudge frosting(I halved the sugar content)! Thnx for a great recipe :-)
Hi Sneh, so happy you enjoyed the cake! It’s fast becoming a favourite in my house because of how easy and quick it is :D
I saw this cake on Pinterest, and found time to make it today. YUM YUM YUM!
So glad you enjoyed it Nadine! Thanks!
haii.. i am mieke from Indonesia.. my cousin asked me to help her to make this chocolate cake for her boyfriend’s birthday. I love baking, actually.. but somehow i am not good at it. I have to practice a few time to get it right, sometimes never…
But, i did try your recipe, annddd.. walaaaaa.. the 1st time and it was a success..
And what i love most is that, my 2 kids love it sooo much, the only thing they remember when they opened their eyes from afternoon nap is.. your chocolate cake:P
Hi Mieke, yay!! I’m so thrilled at your chocolate cake success and glad that you and your kids enjoyed it Thanks for letting me know, your comment made my day :D
Oooo this looks very good! I love to bake and have baked pretty much everything (I hope to slowly transform my bit of everything blog into a food blog), but I have NEVER baked a plan chocolate cake! As I write this I am baking a pistachio chocolate cake, but I feel the need to bake a plain chocolate cake!! So I shall keep this one in mind:) If I don’t bake it, I’ll come back to look at the picture Mmmmm!
Thanks so much Miss Kimbers! :D
My second go at this cake is now in its final 10 minutes in the oven. This is the easiest, most visually pleasing and nicely rich and gooey choc cake I have made. As someone without an electronic mix master this recipe is a winner. Thank you!
Hi Sarah, you’re very welcome and I’m thrilled that you enjoyed this cake! Thanks for letting me know :D
this is such a great cake!!!! love the old-school icing, fits perfectly!! this is now my go-to choc cake recipe! thanks!!! =)
Thanks so much Maddie! Glad that you love it as much as I do :D
Hey, I tried this and it was truly amazing. Thanks a ton for the recipe!
Hi Yamini! You’re welcome! I’m so thrilled you enjoyed it :)
this looks sooo good! I want to make it now! quick question: is this bitter? like dark chocolate bitter? or does the dark chocolate just make it more decadent?
thanks!
Hi Zahra! The brown sugar does it job nicely so it defnitely isn’t bitter :) I only ever use dark chocolate in recipes simply because it makes it more chocolate-y and rich and gives it a flavour that you can’t get with milk chocolate. If you’re worried about bitterness, use dark chocolate that is about 55-60% cocoa content. I use up to 70% for extra richness but bitterness has never been a problem for me. Hope this helps!
aww shoot! fresh out of brown sugar! Do you think regular sugar will work?
Ugh…and all this after I went out and bought dark chocolate last night!
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Hi Zahra, not a problem at all! White sugar will still work, it’s an easy going recipe :)
Do you think regular sugar will work? So. Hi Naomi, oh I LOVE Sara Lee cakes too! I certainly hope you do!
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Hi Jo, regular sugar will be fine :)
I certainly had a chocolate cake craving tonight, and I had this recipe pinned on Pinterest, waiting to be made. I am so glad I did. It is perfect. I had some caramel left from a previous chocolate cake, so I melted it and poured it over the cake. Wowsers. Thank you for sharing this yumminess with the world!!
Hi – I just found your recipe and it looks perfect! I’ve been looking for an easy chocolate cake recipe that I can make for my little boy’s birthday -we’re going to be in a holiday house so I don’t want to pack the mixer!! I also want a good cake that is a bit denser than the ones that just use cocoa. I also have to modify it for dairy-free ingredients but with chocolate soy milk, dairy-free chocolate and nuttelex I’m sure it will turn out fine.
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