Thin Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake

Asked by Jade81. Answered on 22nd November 2016

Full question

I made the Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake today and although I haven't baked in a while I am fairly knowledgeable in the principles of baking. After I made up the mixture, there just wasn't very much mixture to split into two tins and then they barely rose. I followed the recipe to the letter and my other half checked for me as well and neither of us can see what I did wrong. I will try it again but I am very confused.

Our answer

Nigella's Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake (from FEAST) is an extremely popular chocolate sponge cake with a rich chocolate ganache frosting. The sponge itself usually rises well and there should be enough batter to fill two tins approximately 1/4-1/3 full each. We just wonder if larger sandwich tins were used as the quantity of batter is sufficient for two 20cm/8-inch diameter round cake tins. Larger tins would mean that the batter would be a thinner layer and it would look as if the cake did not rise as well.

The ingredients include baking powder and bicarbonate of soda as the leavening agents. The agents become less active over time so check that they are still in date. They should be measured as accurately as possible using 1 teaspoon (5ml) and 1/2 teaspoon (2.5ml) spoons. Using too much raising agent could cause the cake to rise up in baking but then sink quite a bit on cooling, and too little would mean the cake does not rise properly.