I am in love with the idea of this month’s #ForeverNigella challenge: fridge-raiding snacks, Nigella style.
If you’ve ever seen an episode of any of Nigella’s shows, it most likely featured in a satin nightgown raiding the fridge. And if you haven’t seen this surreal (some would say delicious) sight, I bet you’re picturing it now.
When it comes to raiding the fridge, for most of us, it is post-midnight when the pangs cannot be ignored any more. And it is in such circumstances one realizes the true taste and power of a simple piece of cake.
For my midnight indulgence, I baked a Devil’s Food Cake with a tiny twist. I changed two things, one in the cake and one in the frosting. While chocolate is for everyone, I wanted to give it a good balance. I added a heaping tablespoon to the cocoa mixture (you’ll read about it in the recipe) and a generous splash of Kahlua to the frosting. A bite of this after a long day’s work is surprisingly rewarding.
If you read her original recipe, making the frosting can be quite intimidating but I promise you it will eventually come together. Since I was using Kahlua, I reduced the water quantity or you could end up with a runny frosting.
- ½ cup best-quality cocoa powder, sifted (I use hershey’s)
- ½ cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1 heaping tablespoon of ground coffee
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1 stick plus 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, at room temperature
- ¾ cup superfine sugar
- 11/2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- FOR THE FROSTING:
- ⅓ cup water
- 2½ tablespoons kahlua
- 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, cubed
- 2 cups chocolate chips
- decorative sugar (optional)
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Generously grease and flour a 20″ cake tin.
- In a medium bowl, combine the cocoa, coffee and ½ cup dark brown sugar. Pour in the boiling water. Whisk to mix and set aside.
- In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat the butter and superfine sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add in vanilla extract, add in one egg quickly followed by a spoon of the flour mixture.
- Then add in the second egg and beat until combined.
- Then keep adding in the flour mixture slowly while beating until all of it is incorporated.
- Finally mix and fold in the cocoa mixture, scraping its bowl out well with a spatula.
- Pour the batter into a prepared pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean. Let it cool on a wire rack.
- As soon as the cakes are in the oven, get started on your frosting:
- In a saucepan, put the water, 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar and butter to melt on low heat
- Once the mixture begins to bubble, take the pan off the heat and add the chopped chocolate, swirl the pan so that the chocolate melts and you have a nice smooth and glossy chocolate-y mixture.
- Stir in the kahlua and let it stand for about 1 hour, whisking now and again – when you’re passing the pan – by which time the cakes will be cooled, and ready for the frosting.
- Spread the frosting generously on your cake and sprinkle with decorative sugar.
#ForeverNigella is Sarah’s (from MaisonCupcake) brainchild. The month’s challenge is hosted by Karen of Lavender and Lovage. Click here to see other fridge-raiding ideas.
Happy Baking!
OMG i’m in heaven lol got to do this one :)
Oh yum scrummy cake. I do like the idea of that frosting. Quite like the idea of a midnight raid on the cake too – you’d better watch out ;-)
I wish this was in my fridge waiting for a midnight raid!
Ohh.. i am a big fan of that frosting..i use it quite regularly and the cake has been on my to-do list forever!! i absolutely dig the addition of kahlua!!
PS– i’ve been told nigella appearing in that satin nightgown of hers and snacking in the middle of the night is what brings in a disproportionate number of male viewers compared to other cooking shows!! :)
This cake is gorgeous & could be eaten at any time … Great Job :-)
Your cake is so cute with the sprinkles on top. I can just taste the rich chocolate cake with the Kahlua frosting, Yum!
I love devils food cake and with the kahlua in the icing and coffee in the cake this must taste incredible. I’m saving this to try at a later date.
Deliciously decadent and fabulous….so drooling over this one. Nicely done!
Oh my gosh! This cake looks out of this world!!!
Just saw your exceptional adorable cake earlier in fb and google+ and had to pass over for the recipe. Our relatives from bombay usually come down to goa around my birthday and my husbands cousins daugther would go nuts for this cake! thanks for sharing!
I know what you mean about the heavenly shine. This looks SO stunning!
What a divine looking cake. I now have 2 of your cakes to make. The M&M and this one. YUMMY!
This cake would call out to me more than just for a midnight fridge-raiding snack. Love the Kahlua in the frosting. Mmmmm
This chocolate lover approves :D
A rich and decadent chocolate cake!
The Kahlua is just perfect here, I love this cake!
I would just like to say that I am very upset that this not in my stomach. It looks perfect!
This cake is gorgeous! I love how pretty it is, and I bet it tastes just heavenly
Be still my chocolate loving heart!!! This frosting is out of this world yummy! Another great one, An!
this cake has no chance of lasting too long around here. I’d definitely get up and steal a piece just before bedtime
That is one beautifully chocolatey affair :D
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
This beauty sounds like fun to make and eat. It’s very tempting.
What a fantastic Nigella submission! I still have to decide on mine.
I always chuckle when she goes the fridge in her PJs. This cake looks amazing! I can see this being the ultimate indulgence after a long week.
Count me in on the fridge raid for this gorgeous chocolate cake. Of course I’m not in any satin gown… I’m usually in a t-shirt and fuzzy slippers. :)
oh gosh.. this is the perfect Friday morning read ever! I LOVE anything with chocolate and this devil’s food cake is just perfectly sinful. And that Kahlua glaze is making my eyes spin. Uh oh! I have just lost control of my mouth and can’t stop drooling. Seriously.. this is GOOD EATS!! Tra la la.. la..la.. Am skipping with happiness. Hugs, Jo
Who can say no to chocolate? I can’t, I think that is why I don’t make it a lot, because I know I will eat all and I’m not going to share with my family…!!!
Do you wanna momma gain weight just by staring at the screen? That’s how dangerously indulgent this delicious cake looks. Now what the heck I want a midnight slice!
What a lovely looking cake, bet it’s delicious with all the ganache on top! yums!
What a great looking cake! But once again, just give me a bowl of that Kahlua spiked frosting! :)
I adore Nigella + her fridge-raiding ways! =) this cake looks absolutely divine – it would make a great dessert, midnight snack, or even a decadent breakfast treat. yum!
It’s those late night refrigerator raids that are the most satisfying! Such a guilty pleasure! And this is perfect for that – wonderful recipe. Good stuff – thank you.
You know, I cannot resist kahlua in any form. This choco cake is so good it deserves to be raided all day long!
Oh I just love the end of her shows when she raids her fridge and eats with wild abandon! I would do that, too, if I had this in my fridge right now! This looks so outrageously good! And Kalhua added anywhere in a recipe is always a good thing! : )
Aaaahhhh.. that cake, the chocolaty goodness and that sprinkles!!! Want :D
I love the kahlua in the frosting! And all the sprinkles on top :)
Gorgeous looking cake! It looks so great that if I had it in front of me, I almost, just amost, would not want to cut into it.
No way I could resist this cake if it was in my fridge…wouldn’t last more than 2 days! Your pics are excellent!
This is so pretty, and it sounds to-die-for! I remember seeing her make this cake one episode. Talk about mouth-watering!
This devils food cake with chocolate kahlua frosting looks so tempting that I can’t of anything else right now…really, the presentation is sensational. However, looking at the amount of sugar and butter that goes into it has forced me to think again :( I know that some things are meant to be sweet but I would still keep this recipe for special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries.
WOW! What a FABULOUS entry into the Fridge Raid Forever Nigella, thanks so much for baking this cake…..I am on my way down the stairs to RAID a slice now! Karen
Yeah, my fridge would definitely be raided if this beauty sat on its shelves! So beautiful!
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Gorgeous cake & I love the heart sprinkles!!
I have caught a few of her shows and you described it very well. :P Your cake looks like something she would make. :)
oh yeah…Chocolate Kahlua Frosting?! Sounds incredible! :)
oh my! What a pretty cake! Looks divine!