Pure Indulgence: Chocolate Ginger Cake

I tore the recipe for this cake from a magazine a few months ago and although I’ve been tempted to bake it a number of times, I just haven’t got round to it. Until now. When, for no particular reason, I decided that it was time…

And I must confess that my decision really is an act of pure indulgence. This cake hasn’t been baked it to mark an occasion – for a birthday or other celebration – I haven’t got friends coming round (although it’s possible that some may now appear), and I’m not planning to take it somewhere for a bake sale, or as a gift. These are my usual excuses for making something as decadent as this. Today, I simply had the urge to bake.

I’m often reluctant to try recipes from random magazines, especially when it comes to baking. It’s something I don’t have much experience of, so I generally prefer to draw from sources I’m already familiar with in order to increase my chances of success. But I’m pleased with the results here, and this cake certainly tastes fabulous. Ginger and chocolate is such an incredible combination, and the fresh chilli and coffee all help to cut through the sweetness, offering a well-balanced flavour. It’s also very rich, beautifully moist and should keep well for a few days – although I’m not sure that it’s going to be hanging around for very long.

The recipe is by Lily Vanilli, a baker and cake designer based in East London, whose bespoke creations look absolutely, incredibly stunning. I’ve never been to her bakery but am definitely going to be adding it to my ‘to-do’ list for the next time I’m in town.

Chocolate Ginger Cake

Ingredients

8 oz unsalted butter (at room temperature)

19 ½ oz caster sugar

4 eggs

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp salt

15 oz plain flour, sifted

3 oz cocoa powder, sifted

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

380ml natural yogurt

4g fresh red chilli, finely chopped

1 ¾ oz shredded fresh ginger

230ml strong brewed coffee, cooled

Grated chocolate and chilli flakes for decoration (optional)

For the vanilla buttercream

3 ½ oz unsalted butter, softened

10 ½ oz icing sugar, sifted

1 tsp vanilla extract

75ml double cream

2 pieces of preserved stem ginger, finely chopped (optional – this is my addition)

Method

Pre-heat the oven to 400°F / 200°C / Gas Mark 6. Line two 9 inch sandwich tins with baking parchment.

Cream together the butter and sugar for about 4 minutes or until very light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat on a slow speed, gradually increasing until just evenly incorporated.

Whisk together all the dry ingredients in a bowl. Add half the dry ingredients to the better, followed by the yogurt, chilli and ginger. Then add the remaining dry ingredients, keeping beating to a minimum. Once you have a smooth, even batter, gradually add the coffee – it will be very wet, so beat slowly to incorporate.

Divide the mixture between the two prepared sandwich tins and level out to the edges. Bake for about 35 minutes or until a cocktail stick inserted in the centre comes out clean. Remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tins for 10 minutes before turning out on to a wire rack to cool completely.

To make the buttercream, beat the butter for 4-5 minutes on high speed. Add the sugar, vanilla and cream and beat on low speed to bring it together, then turn up to high speed and beat for a further 2-3 minutes. In order to highlight the ginger flavour of the finished cake, I also added 2 pieces of finely chopped stem ginger at this point.

Spread the buttercream between the layers and over the top of the cake. Decorate with chilli flakes and grated dark chocolate – or with anything else you like.