Nigella Lawson’s Dense Chocolate Loaf Cake
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Nigella Lawson’s recipe for dense chocolate loaf cafe, well traversed in the blogosphere, needs no tinkering. Moist, rich, tender, chocolatey — what’s to improve?
Well, when my box of Fair Trade treats arrived, and I saw the bag of coffee and chocolate nestled together, I couldn’t help think that coffee, known to heighten the flavor of chocolate without imparting much coffee flavor at all, might make a subtle difference.
And because a splash of booze is often a nice addition to quick breads/loaf cakes, what would be the harm in replacing the final two tablespoons of water with brandy? And because every cake needs a pinch of salt, a pinch of salt would be added, too.
The result? Intense chocolate, subtle coffee and booze, perfect sweetness, complete deliciousness. This cake gets better by the day and is as impossible to resist with morning coffee as with postprandial cordials. Coffee, booze, salt — somehow I think you (and Nigella) would approve.
So, Friends, as you know it is October, when we celebrate all things Fair Trade, from chocolate to coffee to quinoa. Let’s review what Fair Trade means:
What is Fair Trade?
- Products that bear the Fair Trade logo come from farmers and workers who are justly compensated.
- Fair Trade helps farmers (more than 1.2 million worldwide) in developing countries build sustainable businesses that positively influence their communities.
- Fair Trade ensures that farmers follow internationally monitored environmental standards and also provides financial incentives and resources for organic conversion, reforestation, water conservation and environmental education.
- Fair Trade empowers women to play an active role in their families and in their co-ops by starting businesses with guaranteed access to health care, certain job rights and freedom from harassment.
- Fair Trade supports education with revenues set aside to build schools and maintain enrollment.
In Nigella’s cake I used Guittard semi-sweet chocolate, though bittersweet works well, too, and Equator Mocha Java coffee:
Don’t be tempted to pour the whole batter into one 8.5×4.5-inch loaf pan — it will overflow. That said, if you have a 9×5-inch or 10×5-inch loaf pan, you can fit the entire batter in it.
If you can resist, let it rest for a full day before cutting:
Nigella Lawson’s Dense Chocolate Loaf Cake
- Total Time: 60 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf
Description
Source: Nigella Lawson’s How to Be a Domestic Goddess
Changes I’ve made include:
- Reducing the brown sugar from 1 2/3 cups to 1 1/2 cups. I find dark or light works just fine.
- Replacing the water with coffee and booze. I use my Nespresso machine to make espresso, which I add water to to make 1 cup. If you don’t feel like adding booze or coffee, simply use 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons boiling water instead.
- Upped the vanilla.
- Added salt.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (228 g) soft unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 cups (300 g) brown sugar
- 1 1/3 cups (170 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon (5 g) baking soda
- 1 teaspoon (4 g) kosher salt
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 4 ounces (113 g) best bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, melted
- 2 tablespoons (28 g) Brandy or Bourbon or Grand Marnier, see notes above
- 1 cup (227 g) brewed coffee, see notes above
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 375°F. Line a 9×5-inch or 10×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper. Grease the inside ends of the pan if they are exposed. If you only have an 8.5×4.5-inch loaf pan, prepare it along with another small vessel with parchment paper — do not be tempted to bake the entire batter in it as it will overflow.
- Cream the butter and sugar, either with a wooden spoon or with an electric hand-held mixer, being sure not to overbeat it.
- Meanwhile, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- Add the eggs and vanilla to the butter-sugar mixture and beat until combined.
- Next, fold in the melted and now slightly cooled chocolate, taking care to blend well but being careful not to overbeat. You want the ingredients combined: You don’t want a light, airy mass. Add the brandy and coffee mix to combine.
- Finally, add the flour mixture and mix only until the flour is absorbed. The batter should be smooth and fairly liquidy.
- Pour into the lined loaf pan, being sure the batter does not come closer than 1 inch from the rim of the cake pan or it risks overflowing. Bake for 30 minutes. Turn the oven down to 325ºF and continue to cook for another 15 to 20 minutes more. (If baking some of the batter in a small pan, remove after the first 30 minutes.) Remove the pan from the oven. The cake will still be a bit squidgy inside, so an inserted cake tester or skewer won’t come out completely clean. Place the loaf pan on a rack, and leave it to get completely cold before turning it out. (Leave it for a whole day if you can resist.) Don’t worry if it sinks in the middle — it will do so because it’s such a dense and damp cake.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Quick Bread
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
225 Comments on “Nigella Lawson’s Dense Chocolate Loaf Cake”
This is all so great. I wish I had a slice of that chocolate loaf cake right now! It looks just perfect for coffee.
thanks for keeping us informed!
I absolutely adore your blog!! I will be making this cake for a friend this week.
I love fair trade!
The restraint to leave it untouched for a day seems impossible. Looks super tasty.
OMG the chocolate loaf looks super yummy! What a fun fair trade bundle!
This loaf cake looks absolutely amazing. Can’t wait to make it.
The cake definitely looks dense—densely luscious! I am a BIG proponent of Fair Trade. Good Post.
yum!
I love your posts. Thanks for the giveaway
yum! Inspiring and delicious. This post makes me want this cake, coffee and good company. 🙂
I miss you Amanda! I hope one day I get to eat donuts with butter with coffee with your family in MN. Big hugs!! xo
I really like fair trade products and would love to use them more. I had no idea Guittard is fair trade, so I may be switching!
Looks soooo good – my daughter and I are both huge fans.
Thank you so much for featuring all these great Fair Trade brands. I drink Fair Trade coffee, but often forget to look beyond coffee for Fair Trade.
Oh my gosh, this looks intense. I don’t think I could wait a day to slice into this cake. I’d have to hide it from myself! :-).
O mercy does that ever look yummy!
Making that cake this weekend for sure.
Stunning and delicious, as usual. You’re starting a baking itch!
Great giveaway!
Looks delicious!
this cake looks amazing! I can’t wait to make it for my next family get-together.
This cake looks sooo yummy
ufg8trj at yahoo
Nigella’s chocolate loaf cake has been the go-to in my kitchen for years, but I actually believe – gasp! – that you may have improved upon it with the booze and coffee. Cannot wait to try it.
It was my mother that showed me to add a little espresso every time I make brownies. They are semi-famous brownies, I might add — that brag is all on her! This loaf sound wonderful! I adore Nigella. I kind of want to be her when I grow up 🙂 Thanks for sharing with us your farmer’s story! What an amazing testament to Fair Trade.
Ooooh, Sophie, is that recipe on your blog? I might need those in my life immediately.
This looks amazing! And what great giveaways!
This cake would definitely brighten up my morning coffee! Can’t wait to try it!
The cake looks amazing! Also, thank you for sharing about the fair trade goodies! It’s always great to discover new products!
Thank you for supporting fair trade products! It is so important to consume responsibly.
I want that loaf cake! You always find the best recipes.
Making this now! And the batter tasted so dreamy. Prettttty excited to taste the finished product. xo
Yay! So happy to hear this Megan! I hope all is well…it has been ages 🙂 xo
Thanks for the recipe. I buy things at Greatergoodstore.com which gives food with your purchase.