Jamie Oliver’s Easy Chocolate Cake
*Updated on 26th November 2009: It seems that this is actually one of my most-viewed posts. I deeply regret that the photo of this cake is really terrible and I hope you will forgive me for showing you such a horrid photo. Don’t trust the photo, okay! It tastes so much better than it looks in the photo. I will try to bake this cake again and take a better photo the next time! (:
I baked this cake during the weekend over National Day. This cake is simply yummy without any frosting or buttercream or what sort.
Chocolate cake has become a very common dessert to be served during birthday parties, weddings or it can simply be a delightful treat. When there’s chocolate around, to me, nothing else can go wrong. :p (Unless you don’t like chocolate that is)
I got this recipe while watching one of my favourite chef’s shows one day. And this guy is Jamie Oliver. I totally adore him. His style of cooking is very much different from other chefs, something that I admire very, very much.
This cake is generally a chocolate butter cake. It is rich and buttery, hence frosting/glaze/buttercream is not really needed. I like this recipe because it’s really easy to make as it requires ingredients that you definitely will have at home (unless you don’t drink cocoa).
And now I present to you – Jamie Oliver’s Easy Chocolate Cake! 
Jamie Oliver’s Easy Chocolate Cake
(adapted from Jamie Oliver)200 grams butter (I used salted butter)
200 grams sugar (I reduced to 175 grams)
200 grams flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 tablespoons cocoa powder, dissolved in a little hot water to form a smooth pastePreheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Grease a 9-inch square tin.
Using an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, 6 to 7 minutes, on medium-high speed. Sift in flour and baking powder and fold with a spatula until just mixed. Stir in eggs and vanilla and then cocoa paste.
Transfer cake batter into tin and bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. Let cake cool in tin on a rack. Slice into squares and serve.
TIP
If top of cake looks like it will get burnt, cover the top with a piece of aluminium foil and continue baking until the cake is done.
I was in a rush hence I only manage to take one good photo of the cake, but nonetheless, enjoy!
Just tried this … and it turned out fantastic for a 1st time baker!
Thanks!
Hi Unpredictable!
Wow I’m glad it worked out for you! =)
Happy baking!
Jasline
Tried this recipe…but my cake was a much lighter colour than yours. Any ideas as to why?
Hello! Hmm I think the photo is not a true reflection of how the cake looks like, because it was taken with an older camera (not my current dslr) and the lighting was not good for food photography. I think the cake would be lighter in colour in real life
i’m making jamie oliver’s easy chocolate cake which flour do i use?
I used plain flour (also known as all-purpose flour).
i’m facing impending doom. a buddy’s bday is up in three days and i promised to bake a cake.
i love jamie oliver too and was this particular programme that you watched the one at the fire house?
hello aurora! =)
I can’t really remember where i got it from, but yea i think there’s a fireman present during the show when he made this cake…
Hope it helps!
Is that 180 degrees for a fan oven ?
Hi guys..i want to try this simple recipe but i have to buy a new oven first..do you have any great tips on choosing the right oven? pliz help me..I’m confuse right now..
Hello
Ummmm… The cake doesn’t look very chocolatey, I mean it doesn’t look like a chocolate cake, Is it not supposed to at the beginning?
I must get hold of one of those `convention` ovens. Sounds wild.
Hi Jasline, I was wondering if the indicated amount of ingrediënts are enough for say 6-8 people?
What texture should the cake mixture be before you put it in the oven? Think, smooth, creamy??? Made the cake today, it was very thick & sticky. It’s still in the oven so don’t know what it will turn out like!!
Thanks
C
Hi
I dont have baking powder. Will self raising flour do instead? :L
do someone remember from which one of jamie’s shows is this chocolate cake receipe?Don’t remember much about that episode,but he said this is jools’favourite cake.He sliced the cake and put some fruits and cream mixed with something else inside.And on top he melted some chocolate and butter and poored over the cake.Can someone remember the exact show and episode,or the composition of the cream from inside the cake and that of the chocolate glaze from outside?Thanx.
Hi Jasline, have tried several recipies making chocolate cake but have failed to impress my fussy 16 year son. Made your recipy yesterday and I was very impressed with how simple the ingredients were and the technique used to make it. My son has just had a piece of cake and said it was the best chocolate cake he has eaten. Thank you again.:)
Nicky
Hi Nicky! I’m so glad this recipe worked for you! All the best to your future bakes! (:
I’ve just made the cake and it was SO DELICIOUS. I tweeked the recipe a bit. I made chocolate rum sauce and poured it over the chocolate cake. I made the cake yesterday and it’s done today.
ive just made this as a birthday cake for a friend of mine,,,, easy isnt the word and yummmyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy it is too
thank you x
Can I make this cake in two 1xpound loaf tins?
What sugar do i use ???
Made this today and followed the recipe completely. It did not rise and came out of the oven as a stodgy biscuit. I was not impressed and had to make some more cakes using a different recipe
Hi,
Is this cake suitable to ice as a birthday cake? The ingredients sound considerably less than other 9 inch square recipes so I am also wondering if the cake is quite shallow?
Thanks,
Claire
Thank you, Jasline, I will try that and let you know how it goes. The cake is for my brother’s 40th – may even post a picture if it turns out ok!
Claire
Thought it needed more cocoa and very thick, I added an extra egg and a little milk. Besides that, it was very easy to make and it was very yummy.
Thanks Jamie
i made this but i doubled the mixture added some nuts and done it in a round 9″ inch cake tin it was lush even though i had to cook it for longer it was a massive hit in my home so much so gonna make it again today
I baked this today and it went down a treat! thank you, found my perfect chocolate cake reciepe!!
Hi Jasline, i have been baking for a while tried few chocolate cake recipe but wasnt 100% happy something always seemed wrong…read ure one and couldn’t wait…it turned out perfect!!!! my 4 and 3 years old boys helped me with the baking .. afterwards they loved it ( as both r fussy eater) . i added 20g cocoa powder instead of 3 tbs and also used flora spreading. i am due to make a birthday cake for my friend’s son next sunday..A huge thank you for saving me from all worries !!
Kind Regards
Tuhin
This is a brilliant recipe. Thank you.
I improvised and used self-raising and light brown sugar and it’s come out really well! Tomorrow I’ll got to the shops and ice it, but for a last minute simple cake, this was excellent.
I’ve spent the last 2 days searching for a chocolate cake recipe! After looking at this one, I’m going to try this. A lot of the others had coffee in them, and I really don’t fancy even a hint of coffee in mine! My 4yr old and I are about to go play in the snow for a hour, then we’ll be back in to make this cake! Will get back to you later to let you know how it turns out! Going to double the mixture so I can do a few cupcakes too
)
Hello Jamie
Just tring your easy chocolate cake for a birthday cake for my son’s 25th. Its in the oven…… Thanks for such an easy recipie. Wish me luck. And welll done.
Luv Julie N
Woops sorry Jasline, cake turned out great!
Thanks very much,
Julie
Well I have just deposited my mix following this recipe into the oven….fingers are now crossed! My attempts at baking have gone down hill in recent years, I used to be pretty good once upon a time!!!
I know this cake and I know how good it is. I also know how difficult chocolate cake is to shoot as I’ve been a food photographer since God was a boy in the 60′s,
Try it
Can I use self raising flour and leave out the baking powder?
Love your blog, and love this cake. Jamie Oliver is one of my favorite chef’s, I really look forward to seeing your posts. Thank you for following my blog also!
Thank you (: your blog’s amazing too! I loved all Jamie Oliver’s recipes! Hope I’ll be able to try out more of them soon (:
your blog is very useful for me, thanks!
Really like your site, and love this dessert. Jamie Oliver is one of my preferred chef’s, I really look ahead to seeing your content. Thank you for following my weblog also!
Thank you! Your compliment will encourage me to blog even more better posts in the future! Jamie Oliver is indeed an amazing cook!
Made this cake today, it turned out a bit dry. I cooked it for 45 mins at 170 fan. Next time I’ll cook it either less time or slightly lower temp, perhaps 160. Also wasn’t chocolaty enough for me, needs more cocoa in my opinion! I made a nice icing though, used 200ml double cream & 200g Green & Blacks 70% chocolate, Heat the cream until simmering then take off heat & stir in the broken up chocolate until completely melted and mixed in. Leave to cool til thick & spread over cake covering top & sides. YUM!
I last made this cake more than a year ago, I guess I need to revisit this recipe soon. Will definitely try out your suggestions! Thanks!
2nd time ive made this and its been perfect both times.I put nutella in the centre and buttercream round the edge.YUMMY and FOOLPROOF!
I’m so happy for you! Nutella filling sounds super yummy!