When we were kids (and even now!) my Nan would make this Chocolate Sponge Cake whenever it was anyone’s birthday or other special occasion. Recently when my sister and her family were visiting from interstate I decided there was no better time to make this yummy Chocolate Sponge Cake for our dessert.
My sister and I have a bit of a running joke when it comes to our Nan making this recipe, while her Chocolate Sponge always tastes amazing, it also has a habit of being incredibly lopsided (lucky she won’t read this!) and uneven and my sister always likes to take a picture of it to send to me whenever she makes it.
I’ve always been a little intimidated when it comes to making sponges, but they really aren’t that hard to make and touch wood, I haven’t had a fail yet. To ‘fancy’ this Chocolate Sponge Cake up a little I decorated it with a generous amount of whipped cream and chopped up Tim Tams which made it all kinds of amazing. Next time I’m going to add some Tim Tams to the centre layer of the sponge as well – yum!
If you want to make a plain sponge cake, simply omit the cocoa and 2 tablespoons of milk, or you can check out this easy Jam and Cream Sponge recipe.
Chocolate Sponge Cake
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup cornflour
- 1/2 cup self raising flour
- 2/3 cup of caster sugar
- 2 tablespoons of cocoa
- 4 eggs - room temperature
- 2 tablespoons of milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
- To decorate
- 300 ml of thickened cream
- 1 tablespoon of icing sugar
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence
- 4 Tim Tams - roughly chopped.
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 180 degrees (conventional oven) and line the bottom of two x 20cm round cake tins with baking paper and lightly grease the sides.
- Sift the cornflour, self raising flour and cocoa into a bowl and set aside until needed.
- Using an electric mixer, beat the eggs, caster sugar and vanilla for approximately 8 - 10 minutes until the mixture is thick and pale yellow.
- Working quickly, sift the dry ingredients again over the the top of the egg and sugar mixture, add the milk and gently fold the ingredients through to combine.
- Spoon the chocolate sponge cake mixture evenly between the prepared tins and bake for 18 - 20 minutes in your preheated oven until the chocolate sponges have risen and began to shrink away from the sides.
- Carefully remove the cake tins from the oven and let the sponges cool in the tins for 10 minutes before carefully turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once your chocolate sponges have completely cooled, combine the thickened cream, vanilla essence and icing sugar in a bowl and whisk until soft peaks form.
- Spread approximately 3/4 cup of whipped cream on top of one chocolate sponge before carefully adding the second sponge on top of it. Cover with whipped cream and decorate with the chopped Tim Tams.
Does making a sponge intimidate you as well? What’s your favourite way to decorate/fill a sponge cake?
For more great cake recipes, check out my 10 favourite easy cake recipes post.
You can also find more yummy cake (and cheesecake!) recipes in out ‘Cakes for every Occassion‘ eBook – also available in a Thermomix version.
Nicole @ The Builders Wife says
Oh my Lauren, what I wouldn’t do for a piece right now!
Lauren says
Oh me too!
Lucy @ Bake Play Smile says
This looks gorgeous!!! your Nan would be so proud!
Lauren says
Thanks lovely x
Lisa @ Chocolate Meets Strawberry says
So lovely that you have used your Nan’s recipe, Lauren! The Tim Tams and cream really take this to a whole new level. Want!! 😛
Lauren says
Thanks Lisa, Nana recipes are just the best!
Jessica @ Sweetest Menu says
Sponge cakes are THE BEST! This looks magical Lauren!!!
Lauren says
Thanks so much x
[email protected] my2morrows says
Yum! Looks so good. I’ve never attempted a sponge! Must change that! Xx
Simone says
I love food memories and recreating them. Yes, sponge cake does intimidate me! However, so did choux pastry until I actually did it and it really wasn’t too bad. I will have to try this recipe.
Lauren says
Oh me too, it’s my favourite part of baking! Choux pastry is another one which intimidates me as well, we should both try these recipes together!
Lauren says
Oh you really should!!
Shauna 'Round the Corner says
I love sponge cake but have never made one. This looks like a good one to cut my teeth on. It looks divine!
Karin @ Calm to Conniption says
This looks like the perfect weight of chocolate for my chocolate loving husband who always has something to say how much chocolate is in something. Hahaha.
[email protected] says
Yum! So that is what I will be doing tomorrow. On what is supposed to be a cold wet Sunday. Ironing, baking this and baking Lucy’s double chocolate fudge banana cake!
Shari from GoodFoodWeek says
Yum – the Tim Tams and cream make this cake pure perfection!
Jules @ toddlersplusteens says
Oh this looks delicious . I am putting this on my after I have finished writing reports list .
Lauren says
I hope you enjoy it 🙂
Veronica says
Just tried this recipe and the cakes didn’t rise at all. I followed the recipe exactly. What could have gone wrong?
Lauren says
Hi Veronica, I’m sorry the recipe didn’t work out for you. I’ve found if the eggs are a little old or if I’m a bit too heavy handed when folding through all the ingredients at the end and the eggs deflate quite a bit then the cakes don’t rise as much. I hope that helps x