Simple Chocolate Sponge Cake Recipe
Written by MasterClass
Last updated: Oct 14, 2023 • 2 min read
Learn how to make the perfect chocolate sponge cake for your next layer cake or Swiss roll.
Learn From the Best
What Is Sponge Cake?
Sponge cake is a light, springy cake made from flour, whisked eggs, and sugar. The defining feature of a sponge cake is the whisked eggs—the foamy structure of the eggs allows the cake to rise without baking powder or baking soda.
In the French tradition, sponge cake made by whisking whole eggs is called génoise, while sponge cake made by whisking the egg whites and egg yolks separately is known as biscuit. Some sponge cake includes the addition of cold butter, but many recipes are butter- and oil-free.
To make a chocolate sponge cake, bakers substitute cocoa powder for a portion of the flour. Chocolate sponge cake is made with cocoa powder, not melted chocolate; the cocoa powder allows the cake to keep its airy texture, but the chocolate sponge is not especially rich with chocolate flavor.
3 Ways to Use Chocolate Sponge Cake
Chocolate sponge cake makes an excellent base for rich fillings like chocolate ganache or chocolate mousse, and it’s also great for soaking up a liqueur drizzle. Some of the most popular desserts featuring a chocolate sponge include:
- 1. Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte (Black Forest cake): This classic German dessert features a layer of shortcrust chocolate pastry, chocolate sponge, cherries, cherry brandy, whipped cream, and dark chocolate shavings.
- 2. Chocolate Swiss roll: A Swiss roll is a rolled cake made from a thin layer of sponge rolled around a filling. Vanilla sponge is often rolled around jam, while chocolate sponge typically pairs with whipped cream or buttercream.
- 3. Bûche de Noël (yule log): This Christmas-themed Swiss roll features a layer of chocolate sponge cake filled with vanilla buttercream and frosted with chocolate buttercream. This dessert resembles a log, perhaps with the addition of some meringue mushrooms or a dusting of powdered sugar "snow."
Chocolate Sponge Cake Recipe
makes
One 8-inch round cakeprep time
20 mintotal time
45 mincook time
25 minIngredients
- 1
Lightly grease an 8-inch cake pan.
- 2
Line the bottom of the pan with a circle of parchment paper, and line the sides of the pan with a strip of parchment paper.
- 3
Lightly grease the parchment paper and dust it with flour.
- 4
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 5
Sift the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, and salt together into a medium bowl.
- 6
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment—or in a large stainless steel bowl using a balloon whisk or a hand mixer—whisk the eggs and sugar on medium-high speed. Whisk until the egg mixture holds a ribbon trail for 10 seconds when the whisk is lifted, about 5 minutes if using an electric mixer.
- 7
Add the vanilla extract and whisk until just incorporated, a few seconds more.
- 8
Sift one-third of the flour mixture over the egg mixture and gently fold to incorporate, being careful not to deflate the egg mixture.
- 9
Sift the rest of the dry ingredients over the batter and gently fold to incorporate. Avoid overmixing.
- 10
Immediately pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake in the preheated oven. Bake until the cake shrinks away from the sides of the pan and a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes back clean, about 25 minutes.
- 11
Leave the cake in the pan until cool enough to handle, then invert onto a wire rack and cool to room temperature.
Become a better chef with the MasterClass Annual Membership. Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by culinary masters, including Dominique Ansel, Gabriela Cámara, Niki Nakayama, Chef Thomas Keller, Yotam Ottolenghi, Gordon Ramsay, Alice Waters, and more.