Chocolate Cherry Layer Cake

Asked by rubyred79. Answered on 18th April 2016

Full question

Hello! If I wanted to adapt the Chocolate Cherry Cupcake recipe to make as one big two tier cake, how should I adjust the quantities and cooking times? Thank you so much.

Our answer

Nigella's Chocolate Cherry Cupcakes recipe (from HOW TO BE A DOMESTIC GODDESS) makes 12 cupcakes and it is usually possible to convert most cupcake recipes to layer cakes. A 12 cupcake recipe should be enough batter for one 20cm (8-inch) cake layer so for a two layer cake you would need to make a double quantity. Bake the cake in two 20cm (8-inch) sandwich pans or cake tins that have been greased and lined with baking parchment (parchment paper). Don't fill the pans more than halfway full with cake batter, any leftovers can be baked as cupcakes. Bake the cake layers at 180c/350F. They are likely to take 25-30 minutes to bake but start checking after 25 minutes and bake until the cakes are risen, firm to the touch and a cake tester inserted into the centre comes out clean.

As we have not tested the cupcakes in this form we regret that we cannot guarantee the results. You may also like to consider baking a chocolate sponge cake, such as Nigella's Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake or Chocolate Fudge Cake. Sandwich the cake layers with a thick layer of morello cherry jam and whipped cream or chocolate buttercream and then icing the top with the chocolate ganache icing from the cupcake recipe.