Tag Archives: decadent

Decadent chocolate cake


IMG_4369If you think i am exaggerating when i say this is the best basic recipe for a chocolate cake, try it and prove me wrong! I am sure you will be checking this recipe over and over and over….

If you remember my spectacular chocolate cake with red fruits i did a year go, you will find that this is the same recipe of the chocolate cake, but this one with nutella butter frosting.

Trust me with or without frosting, ganache or fruits, it’s a staple chocolate cake for all the occasions and times.

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To bake the cake you need:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 3/4 cup, unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 11/2 tsps baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla essence
  • 1 1/2 tbsps instant coffee powder
  • 1 cup hot water
  • 2 large eggs

Preheat oven on 180ºC. In a large bowl, sieve the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Add the sugar and mix well with the dry ingredients.

Make a well in the center and add the milk, oil, vanilla essence and eggs then mix. Finally add the hot coffee melted in the cup of hot water.

Pour the cake batter into the prepared cake pan and bake for 40 mins or until a skewer comes out clean. Start checking from 35 mins onwards.

I should mention that my little baker helped me to prepare this cake!

my ittle baker

For the frosting you need:

  • 200g nutella
  • 200g butter
  • 1 cup icing sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 1 tsp granulated sugar

Beat the butter until light and fluffy. Gradually add the icing sugar, then vanilla and pinch of salt and mix until combined.

Add nutella and beat until fluffy. When ready to use stir in the granulated sugar without over mixing, it will give you a light crunchiness effect later when savoring the cake.

I used 1M Wilton tip to create the swirls, and decorated it with some cherries. You can replace the cherry with strawberry or chocolate sprinkles if you want.

IMG_4368I put it couple of hours in the fridge before serving. But guess what?! the next day was even better!

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By the way, this was my birthday cake (last week) but i didn’t find the urge to post it, I was enjoying reading and over reading, everyday and many times for the whole week, the surprise post my husband did.

Again thank you babes for the beautiful unexpected surprise! Love xx

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Decadent dark chocolate “fleur de sel” and caramel tart


dark chocolate caramel tartA decadent chocolate and caramel tart, cures the cravings of all chocolate lovers. Fleur de sel chocolate and caramel are a winning combo, anyone who is into dessert will be totally thrilled with this indulgent tart!

Yesterday was my hubby’s birthday, i wanted this tart to look as romantic and as sinful as it tastes, one bite and he is in another realm! I guess i succeeded.

dark chocolate caramel tartdark chocolate caramel tart

To make the crust you need:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 tbsp dark cocoa powder
  • 1/4 cup caster sugar
  • 200g butter cut in cubes
  • pinch of salt

Mix flour, cocoa, sugar and salt. Add the butter and mix with your hands. At the beginning while adding the butter it will resemble the breadcrumbs and by the final cube of butter it will form a big clump.

Wrap it and let it rest in the fridge for half an hour before rolling in a mold. I used a rectangular one of 36x11x2.8 cm (14″x4 3/4″x1″). Preheat oven to 180°C. Poke the dough with a fork (it will prevent the dough from getting puffy). Baking for 20 mns.

Let it cool to room temperature before applying the first caramel layer. you will need almost 5 tbsp of caramel(i used a ready made caramel from bonne maman). Put it in the fridge for 2 hours then pour the chocolate ganache over and return it to chill in the fridge for another 4-6 hours before serving.

dark chocolate caramel tart

dark chocolate caramel tartTo make the ganache you need 100g chocolate fleur de sel chopped, 150 ml cream and one tbsp butter. Heat the cream for 2 minutes in the microwave, add the chopped chocolate and butter and whisk until u get the glossy ganache. Usually i don’t use butter in the ganache unless i want the glossy effect to chocolate. If you want to booze it up you can add 1 tbsp of fine whiskey or rum, depending on your preference.

dark chocolate caramel tart

dark chocolate caramel tartHappy birthday Antoun and many happy returns, Nady and I, have been waiting for this day since a week to sing for you: hapababa da to you… hapababa da to you 🙂 ❤ xx

dark chocolate caramel tart