Do you love chocolate cake? Do you want to impress your friends and family with a delicious dessert? If you answered yes, then you need to try this Gordon Ramsay chocolate cake recipe. It’s rich, moist, and decadent, with a smooth and creamy frosting. Gordon Ramsay is a famous chef and TV personality, known for his high standards and exquisite dishes. His chocolate cake recipe is one of his most popular and easy to make.
I’ll show you how to make a Gordon Ramsay chocolate cake, with all the ingredients, steps, and tips you need.
Ingredients
To make this chocolate cake, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- For the cake:
- 200 g (7 oz) of unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing
- 200 g (7 oz) of dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids), chopped
- 4 large eggs, separated
- 175 g (6 oz) of caster sugar
- 50 g (2 oz) of self-raising flour, sifted
- 50 g (2 oz) of ground almonds
- A pinch of salt
- For the frosting:
- 300 ml (10 fl oz) of double cream
- 150 g (5 oz) of dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids), chopped
- 2 tbsp of honey
- A pinch of salt
You can substitute the dark chocolate with milk chocolate or white chocolate, if you prefer. You can also use gluten-free flour instead of self-raising flour, if you have a gluten intolerance.
Chocolate Cake Recipe
Here are the steps to make the chocolate cake:
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan) / 350°F (320°F fan) / gas mark 4. Grease a 20 cm (8 inch) round cake tin and line the base with baking paper.
- Put the butter and chocolate in a heatproof bowl and set over a pan of simmering water. Stir occasionally until melted and smooth. Remove from the heat and let it cool slightly.
- In a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks and sugar with an electric mixer until pale and thick. Gradually fold in the chocolate mixture, using a spatula.
- In another bowl, whisk the egg whites with a pinch of salt until stiff peaks form. Carefully fold in the flour and ground almonds, using a spatula.
- Gently fold the egg white mixture into the chocolate mixture, until well combined. Pour the batter into the prepared cake tin and smooth the top.
- Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. Leave the cake to cool slightly in the tin, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Gordon Ramsay’s tip: Don’t overmix the batter, as this will make the cake dense and heavy. Fold the ingredients gently, until just combined.
Frosting Recipe
Here are the steps to make the frosting:
- Put the cream, chocolate, honey, and salt in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth and glossy.
- Transfer the frosting to a bowl and let it cool slightly. Then, refrigerate it for about an hour, or until thickened and spreadable.
Gordon Ramsay’s tip: Don’t boil the cream, as this will make the frosting grainy and split. Heat it gently, until it’s just hot enough to melt the chocolate.
Assembly
Here’s how to assemble the cake:
- Cut the cake horizontally into two equal layers, using a serrated knife.
- Place one layer on a cake stand or plate and spread half of the frosting over the top, leaving a small border around the edge.
- Place the other layer on top and press lightly to sandwich them together. Spread the remaining frosting over the top and sides of the cake, using a palette knife or spatula.
- Decorate the cake with chocolate shavings, fresh berries, or edible flowers, if you like.
Gordon Ramsay’s tip: To make chocolate shavings, use a vegetable peeler to shave thin curls from a bar of chocolate. Refrigerate them until ready to use.
FAQ
How do I make the cake more moist?
To make the cake more moist, you can poke some holes in the cake layers with a skewer and drizzle some simple syrup over them, before frosting. To make simple syrup, boil equal parts of water and sugar in a small saucepan, until the sugar dissolves. Let it cool slightly, then add some vanilla extract or liqueur, if you like.
How do I make the frosting more fluffy?
To make the frosting more fluffy, you can whip it with an electric mixer, after it has chilled in the refrigerator. This will incorporate some air into the frosting and make it lighter and creamier.
How do I make the cake vegan?
To make the cake vegan, you can use vegan butter and vegan chocolate, and replace the eggs with flax eggs. To make flax eggs, mix 4 tbsp of ground flax seeds with 12 tbsp of water, and let it sit for 15 minutes, until thick and gel-like. You can also use coconut cream instead of double cream, and maple syrup instead of honey, for the frosting.
