Mixing Chocolate Olive Oil Cake

Asked by Yellowbird. Answered on 18th October 2016

Full question

I want to make the Chocolate Olive Oil cake but not sure the order of these ingredients (sugar, olive oil & eggs) are being whisked. Which ingredient should come first & whisk for how long? I am an amateur so really appreciate your advice.

Our answer

Nigella's Chocolate Olive Oil Cake (from NIGELLISSIMA) has a base of whisked eggs, olive oil and sugar. These three ingredients are whisked together and you just put all three in a bowl and whisk, there is no particular order in which you whisk them.

The reason for whisking is to combine the ingredients, help to dissolve the sugar and to add in a little air. The mixture will not increase in volume that much, so the colour of the mixture is the best guide as to when you have whisked enough; the mixture should be a pale yellow colour. It will also have thickened slightly and the sugar crystals will be partially dissolved, though there will still be a little graininess. This will take about 3 minutes with a free-standing mixer on medium speed or slightly longer with a hand-held mixer. If you don't have a mixer then you can whisk by hand with a balloon whisk and plenty of elbow grease, however it will take quite a bit longer.