Dive into decadence with this rich, gooey chocolate mud cake!
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What is Chocolate Mud Cake
Chocolate Mud Cake is a rich, dense, and decadent dessert originating from Australia. This cake is known for its moist, fudgy texture and intense chocolate flavor. It's perfect for chocolate lovers and makes a stunning centerpiece for any celebration.
Making a Chocolate Mud Cake involves combining high-quality ingredients like dark chocolate, butter, and espresso, and baking it to perfection. The result is a luscious cake with a deep chocolate flavor, often topped with a smooth ganache for extra indulgence.
Ingredients
Each ingredient in this Chocolate Mud Cake recipe plays a crucial role in creating a moist, dense cake with a rich chocolate flavor.
- Whole milk: Adds moisture and helps create a smooth batter.
- Espresso coffee: Enhances the chocolate flavor, making it more intense.
- Unsalted butter, cubed: Provides richness and a tender texture.
- Dark chocolate: The star of the show, giving the cake its deep, rich chocolate flavor.
- Brown sugar: Adds moisture and a subtle molasses flavor.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the cake and helps it to bake evenly.
- Large eggs: Bind the ingredients together and add structure.
- Vanilla extract: Enhances the overall flavor profile.
- All-purpose flour: Forms the base of the cake and provides structure.
- Cornflour (aka cornstarch): Makes the cake tender and helps thicken the batter.
- Baking powder: Helps the cake rise and become fluffy.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the chocolate flavor.
Ganache
- Heavy cream (aka thickened cream): Adds richness and smoothness to the ganache.
- Glucose or Cornsyrup: Helps to keep the ganache smooth and shiny.
- Dark chocolate: Creates a luscious, fudgy topping for the cake.
Drizzle (Optional)
If you want to add an extra touch of elegance, you can drizzle some melted chocolate or caramel over the ganache for added decadence.
Steps
- Preheat the oven to 140C/285F
- Line the bottom and sides of an 8-inch cake tin
- Combine the milk, espresso, and butter in a small saucepan and heat over medium-low heat until completely melted
- Remove from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature
- Once cooled add the eggs and vanilla extract, and whisk until smooth
- In another bowl sift together the flour, cornflour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and brown sugar
- Whisk until well combined
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined
- Pour the cake batter into the lined cake tin and bake for 70 minutes, or until the cake bounces back when pressed in the center
- Remove from the oven and cool completely
Ganache
- Combine the ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl
- Microwave at 30-second intervals, mixing in between each burst until completely melted
- Cool for 5 minutes
- Remove your cake from the tin and place on a wire rack
- Pour over the top of your cooled cake
Drizzle (optional)
- Combine the chocolate and cream in a microwave-safe bowl
- Microwave at 30-second intervals, mixing in between each burst until completely melted
- Pour the ganache into a piping bag and make a small cut on the piping bag
- Pipe the drizzle of white chocolate over the cake
- Place the cake in the fridge for 15 minutes, or until the ganache is set
- Slice and enjoy!
Tips for Perfect Chocolate Mud Cake
Using the Right Ingredients
Using high-quality ingredients is key to achieving the best chocolate cake. For a rich chocolate cake, choose premium dark chocolate and fresh, unsalted butter. These ingredients will give your cake a dense chocolate flavor and a luscious, fudge-like texture that every chocolate lover will adore.
Baking Techniques
To bake the perfect Chocolate Mud Cake, preheat your oven to the right temperature and ensure your ingredients are at room temperature before mixing. Bake the cake at a low temperature to keep it moist and prevent it from drying out. Check the cake with a toothpick – it should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs for that ideal fudgy texture.
Icing and Decorating
For the ultimate chocolate cake, making a smooth ganache is essential. Heat the heavy cream until it's just about to boil, then pour it over chopped dark chocolate. Let it sit for a few minutes before stirring until smooth.
Apply the ganache while it’s still slightly warm for a glossy finish. Decorate with chocolate shavings or a drizzle of melted chocolate for an extra touch of decadence.
Serving Suggestions and Storage
Serving Ideas
A Chocolate Mud Cake is perfect for any occasion, whether it's a birthday, a celebration, or just a treat for yourself. Serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream to balance the rich chocolate flavors.
For an extra special touch, add some fresh berries or a dusting of powdered sugar. This cake is a hit at parties and makes an impressive dessert for dinner guests.
Storing the Cake
To keep your Chocolate Mud Cake fresh and moist, store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. If you need to store it longer, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for up to a week.
For even longer storage, you can freeze the cake. Wrap it well and place it in a freezer-safe container. Thaw it at room temperature before serving, and it'll taste just as good as the day you made it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use oil instead of butter in my chocolate mud cake?
Using oil instead of butter can change the texture and flavor of your Chocolate Mud Cake. Butter gives the cake a rich, buttery flavor and a tender crumb. Oil will make the cake moist but can result in a slightly denser texture. If you prefer a lighter cake, stick with butter for that classic taste.
How do I prevent lumps in my cake batter?
To avoid lumps in your cake batter, sift your dry ingredients like flour, cornstarch, and baking powder before mixing them with the wet ingredients. Mix the batter just until combined to keep it smooth. Using room temperature ingredients also helps to create a smooth, lump-free batter, ensuring your cake has the perfect texture.
What is the best way to make ganache?
To make a smooth ganache, heat your heavy cream until it's just about to boil, then pour it over finely chopped dark chocolate. Let it sit for a few minutes before stirring gently until the mixture is smooth and glossy. This method ensures a rich chocolate ganache topping for your cake, giving it an indulgent finish.
How long can I store a chocolate mud cake?
You can store a Chocolate Mud Cake at room temperature in an airtight container for up to three days. If you need to store it longer, wrap the cake tightly and refrigerate it for up to a week. For even longer storage, freeze the cake for up to three months. Thaw it at room temperature before serving to enjoy the best chocolate cake experience.
Let's Get Baking
Indulge in this chocolate mud cake—it's an unforgettable journey of rich, gooey delight!
One of the best matcha combinations is with white chocolate. Something about that sweet, creamy chocolate matches so well with bitter matcha. Trust me this will become your go-to matcha cookie recipe!
If you liked this recipe make sure to leave me a comment and rating down below, I would love to know how you went.
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Print📖 Recipe
Chocolate Mud Cake
Dive into decadence with this rich, gooey chocolate mud cake
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 70 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Yield: 1 x 8 inch cake 1x
- Category: Cake
- Method: Easy
- Cuisine: Australian
Ingredients
Mud Cake
- 240ml Whole milk (1 cup)
- 120ml Espresso coffee (½ cup)
- 240g Unsalted butter, cubed (1 cup)
- 200g Dark chocolate (7 oz, 45% cocoa)
- 180g Brown sugar (1 cup)
- 150g Granulated sugar (1 ½ cup)
- 2 Large eggs
- 2 tsp Vanilla extract
- 225g All purpose flour (1 ¾ cup + 2 tbsp)
- 60g Cornflour, aka cornstarch (½ cup)
- 1 teaspoon Baking powder
- 1 tsp Salt
Ganache
- 160ml Heavy cream, aka thickened cream (⅔ cup)
- 1 tbsp Glucose or Cornsyrup
- 180g Dark chocolate (6oz, 45% cocoa)
Drizzle (Optional)
- 40g White chocolate, finely chopped
- 20g Heavy, or thickened cream
Instructions
Mud Cake
- Preheat the oven to 140C/285F
- Line the bottom and sides of an 8-inch cake tin
- Combine the chocolate, milk, espresso, and butter in a small saucepan and heat over medium-low heat until completely melted
- Remove from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature
- Once cooled add the eggs and vanilla extract, and whisk until smooth
- In another bowl sift together the flour, cornflour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and brown sugar
- Whisk until well combined
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined
- Pour the cake batter into the lined cake tin and bake for 70 minutes, or until the cake bounces back when pressed in the center
- Remove from the oven and cool completely
Ganache
- Combine the ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl
- Microwave at 30-second intervals, mixing in between each burst until completely melted
- Cool for 5 minutes
- Remove your cake from the tin and place on a wire rack
- Pour over the top of your cooled cake
Drizzle (optional)
- Combine the chocolate and cream in a microwave safe bowl
- Microwave at 30-second intervals, mixing in between each burst until completely melted
- Pour the ganache into a piping bag and make a small cut on the piping bag
- Pipe the drizzle of white chocolate over the cake
- Place the cake in the fridge for 15 minutes, or until the ganache is set
- Slice and enjoy!
Doris
How to incorporate the 200g dark chocolate in the cake pls? Is it missing from the instructions?