Chocolate loaf cake
Chocolate loaf cake is a delicious treat for anyone who loves chocolate, and loves cake but perhaps doesn’t want to make a full on layered chocolate cake.
This easy chocolate loaf cake is truly divine. It’s moist and rich, but not too sweet and the perfect size for a homemade chocolatey treat. Somtimes, a bit double layered chocolate fudge cake, is too much so this offers a great alternative. It’s a bit smaller, a bit more managable, but still equally delicious in it’s own way.
The chocolate topping, as well as making it look a bit more special, is an easy way of adding a bit of texture. As well as chocolate flavour, it dries to give a nice hard topping to contrast against the soft loaf cake.
How can kids help make the chocolate loaf cake?
As in a lot of things we bake, there are a lot of steps kids can help with making this chocolate loaf cake.
From measuring out the ingredients, to cracking the eggs and mixing it all together, there are jobs for older kids to take charge of or younger kids and toddlers to help with.
The decoration on top of the loaf is also really simple, so is something kids can easily help with. As always, with my kids more is more, their help does mean a lot of chocolate on top (which is no bad thing)!
What is a loaf cake?
A loaf cake is simply a cake baked in a loaf tin. Making the cake batter follows the same steps as if you were making a cake, but you bake it slightly differently. I find them much easier to portion and simpler to decorate so they’re great for small afternoon teas or bake sales.
What size is a 2lb loaf tin?
Dimensions of a 2lb or 900g loaf tin will vary slightly, but are generally about 24cm x 14cm x 6.5cm (9.5 x 5.5 2.5 inches). If you want to check the size of your tin, but don’t have a ruler you can fill it with water then pour the water into a measuring jug. A 2lb tin should hold at least 1.2 litres.
If you only have smaller tins, for this recipe, you’re best to fill each tin with half the mixture and adjust the baking time down.
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How long will this chocolate loaf cake last?
This loaf cake will keep in an airtight container for a few days. If you want to keep it for longer, wrap it well in cling film/glad wrap and pop it in the freezer. It will keep in the freezer for up to three months. Make sure you defrost it fully before you serve it.
Other chocolate cake recipes you’ll love
If you want to try one of our other chocolate cake recipes you’ll love these:
Chocolate fudge cake
Boston cream pie
Nutella cupcakes
Chocolate Victoria sponge
Chocolate cupcakes
Easy chocolate cake with a chocolate ganache
Chocolate traybake
Chocolate fudge cupcakes
And if you want to make use of your loaf tin, why not try one of these delicious loaf cakes:
Tea loaf
Chocolate chip loaf cake
Apple loaf cake
Madeira cake
Banana bread
Banana and blueberry loaf
Caramel banana bread
Raspberry and white chocolate loaf cake
Useful equipment
You might need the following baking tools/gadgets to make this chocolate loaf cake:
Digital scales
Freestanding mixer
Measuring cups
Spatula
Measuring spoons
2lb loaf tin
Wire rack
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Ingredients
175g golden caster sugar
175g butter
3 eggs
200g self raising flour
½ tsp baking powder
100ml milk
4 tbsp cocoa powder
To decorate
50g chocolate chips
100g chocolate (white, milk, dark or a mixture)
How to make a chocolate loaf cake
Preheat your oven to 160C/140C Fan and grease and line a 2lb loaf tin.
If you tear off a corner of a butter packet, rub some on it and get your kids to smear it all around your loaf tin. Then cut some baking/greaseproof paper to size and line the base and sides of your loaf tin to make it easier to remove.
Beat the butter and sugar together
Get your kids to measure out the sugar and add it to a freestanding mixer or large mixing bowl.
Measure the butter and cut it into small pieces. This is a good job for small kids and one mine always enjoy, as they can do it with a blunt/butter knife.
If your butter isn’t soft (ours never is), pop it in the microwave for a few seconds just to make it easier to mix.
Beat the butter and sugar together with the k paddle of your mixer, a hand held mixer or some wooden spoons. Do it until it is light and fluffy, scraping down the sides of your bowl if you need to.
Add the eggs
Get your kids to crack the eggs into a small bowl before adding them to your large mixing bowl.
I normally have another small bowl handy to put the shells in to, to reduce our mess a bit.
Mix the eggs in. Once they’re all mixed in the batter will be quite runny.
Add the remaining ingredients
Get your kids to measure out the self raising flour into a small bowl, then pour it into your mixing bowl.
While they are doing that measure out the baking powder. Or if they want to help with this, get them to help level the top of the spoon with their finger.
Measure the milk. The easiest way of doing this is using the ml setting of some digital scales. Once you’ve done that get your kids to pour it into your mixing bowl.
Finally, spoon in the cocoa powder – your kids can do this themselves or help by levelling the top ofeach tbsp with their finger.
Mix the loaf batter
Mix everything together until it is well combined and there are no lumps.
Bake the chocolate loaf cake
Get your kids to pour the chocolate loaf batter into the prepared loaf tin.
Smooth down the top with a spatula or the back of a wooden spoon.
Bake the chocolate loaf in the oven for around 50 minutes. Everyone’s oven is a little different so keep an eye on it and cook it for longer/shorter as needed. It’s ready when the sides are starting to come away from the sides and a skewer or sharp knife inserted in the centre comes out clean.
Remove it from the oven and leave it to cool in the tin for a few minutes before taking it out the tin and putting it on a wire rack to cool completely.
Decorate the chocolate loaf cake
Get your kids to break the chocolate into pieces then put them in a large heat proof bowl. Heat the chocolate gently over a pan of simmering water (double boiler). Keep stirring it until it has all melted and is smooth.
We decorated our loaf cake with two different chocolates, just to vary the colour, but you can choose any chocolate you like.
If you’re using two different chocolate, drizzle the first chocolate over your loaf cake, then repeat the process with the other chocolate.
While the chocolate is still a little warm, sprinkle over the chocolate chips, then leave to set.
Serve and enjoy.
Chocolate loaf cake
Ingredients
- 175 g golden caster sugar
- 175 g butter
- 3 eggs
- 200 g self raising flour
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 100 ml milk
- 4 tbsp cocoa powder
To decorate
- 50 g chocolate chips
- 100 g chocolate white, milk, dark or a mixture
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 160C/140C Fan and grease and line a 2lb loaf tin.
Beat the butter and sugar together
- Measure out the sugar and add it to a freestanding mixer or large mixing bowl.
- Measure the butter and cut it into small pieces.
- Beat the butter and sugar together with the k paddle of your mixer, a hand held mixer or some wooden spoons. Do it until it is light and fluffy, scraping down the sides of your bowl if you need to.
Add the eggs
- Get your kids to crack the eggs into a small bowl before adding them to your large mixing bowl. Mix the eggs in.
Add the remaining ingredients
- Measure out the self raising flour and baking powder into a small bowl, then pour it into your mixing bowl.
- Measure the milk. The easiest way of doing this is using the ml setting of some digital scales.
- Finally, spoon in the cocoa powder.
Mix the loaf batter
- Mix everything together until it is well combined and there are no lumps.
Bake the chocolate loaf cake
- Pour the chocolate loaf batter into the prepared loaf tin. Smooth down the top with a spatula or the back of a wooden spoon.
- Bake the chocolate loaf in the oven for around 50 minutes. It's ready when the sides are starting to come away from the sides and a skewer or sharp knife inserted in the centre comes out clean.
- Remove it from the oven and leave it to cool in the tin for a few minutes before taking it out the tin and putting it on a wire rack to cool completely.
Decorate the chocolate loaf cake
- Break the chocolate into pieces then put them in a large heat proof bowl. Heat the chocolate gently over a pan of simmering water (double boiler). Keep stirring it until it has all melted and is smooth.
- If you're using two different chocolate, drizzle the first chocolate over your loaf cake, then repeat the process with the other chocolate.
- While the chocolate is still a little warm, sprinkle over the chocolate chips, then leave to set.
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Similar recipes
If you liked this chocolate loaf cake, you’ll love our other easy cake recipes, our chocolate traybake and our favourite easy bakes for kids.
This recipe was first published in May 2020, and republished with new pictures in January 2024.
An easy recipe that wasn’t only easy but was also absolutely delicious!! I cut the loaf into 2 halves, spread the icing on top of one then sandwiched back together then iced the top. This recipe is a keeper as it delivers on all fronts.
Thanks so much! I’m glad you liked it and that’s an excellent tip for maximising the icing!