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Around the world in... chocolate cake

Permission to smash chocolate cake in every country is granted!

Rum and raisin chocolate cake

Rum and raisin chocolate cake. Source: Murdoch Books / Greg Elms

Could this be our happiest world trip ever?

We think it just might be.

Chocolate cake in all its glorious forms is guaranteed to put a smile on your cake-smeared dial.

Those chocolate
feel-good endorphins
are firing at their best when they double-down with the comfort of cake-baking. 

Chocolate cake is basically everything that's right in the world. As a result, every culture has managed to put its own special spin on this favourite, so start at the top and bake your way down.

The Brits add mint

Chocolate peppermint roulade
The dense roulade is balanced by the lashings of soft peppermint cream. Source: Paul Hollywood Pies and Puds
Peppermint and chocolate have always been firm friends and never more so than in this
chocolate chip peppermint roulade
. It's an after-dinner mint in cake form and we are here for it.

Meringue needs mentioning

Chocolate date meringue cake
This is the cake you roll out when you want to impress. Source: Murdoch Books / Greg Elms
Staying in Australia for a moment, get a load of these 
meringue and mousse layers
. This is the chocolate cake all gussied up for a party.

Argentina likes it layered

Chocotorta (chocolate cake)
Happy birthday indeed... Source: Rachel Tolosa Paz
The
chocotorta
is the birthday cake of choice in Argentina and it's not hard to see why. Chocolate milk-dipped biscuits are layered with dulce de leche and topped off with a dark chocolate ganache. That's right - no oven is needed to turn out this celebration sensation.

France makes it saucy

self-saucing pudding
To ensure your chocolate coma, push a square of white chocolate into the middle of the dough before baking. Source: Hardie Grant
It's French cooking, so naturally, a sauce is involved. In this case, it's the oozy centre of a
delectable chocolate pud
.
READ MORE

For all the times you need chocolate pudding in your life

Austria is all about Sacher

Sacher Torte
Franz Sacher was only 16 years old when he created the cake that went on to conquer the world. Source: Alan Benson
The rich and elegant 
Sacher torte
is perhaps the most famous chocolate cake in the world (shh, quiet Black Forest cake, you'll get your turn soon).

Aussies spike it with a little booze

Rum and raisin chocolate cake
If that icing doesn't make you want to lick the screen, you've no business calling yourself a chocolate cake fan. Source: Murdoch Books / Greg Elms
Rum and raisin is a combination that Australians have always embraced - rum and raisin ice cream, rum and raisin chocolate and, now... 
rum and raisin chocolate cake
. Sweet chocolate gods, we are home.
READ MORE

Banana tarte tatin with rum & raisin ice-cream

It's sticky in Sweden

Swedish sticky chocolate cake (kladdkaka)
You can also chill kladdkaka to firm up its insides for a denser, fudgier bite. Source: Alan Benson
Kladdkaka
 is practically the emblem of Swedish cafes - everyone serves a version. The centre is deliberately undercooked to stay nice and gooey ('kladd' means 'sticky' in Swedish).

The no-bake Bosnia take

Bosnian biscuit cake served in slices, with hot tea
Keks torta is a coffee-soaked, cream-laden, chocolate-infused everyday treat. Source: Tammi Kwok
Chocolate cream is layered with petit beurre biscuits make
a special cake
that can stand up to a strong cup of coffee. There's no baking involved, just plenty of time in the fridge.

America bakes for therapy

Chocolate cake
This recipe makes a GIANT cake, so you can spread the love far and wide. Source: Murdoch Books
Anyone who loves chocolate cake knows it to be true: it can cure all manner of heartache. This rich, extra-chocolatey cake by Ruth Rieichl is literally called "
the cake that cures everything
" and we believe it.

Don't forget the red velvet

Red velvet cake
However it gets its colour, red velvet cake is always impressive. Source: Stockfood
Back in the day, a chemical reaction between unprocessed cocoa and buttermilk gave the
red velvet cake
its distinctive hue. Nowadays it's more likely coloured by food dye or beetroot.
READ MORE

Fudgy chocolate and cherry brownies

Chocolate cupcakes

Morocco adds dates

date-and-almond-chocolate-cake_2122118004
Moroccans are huge tea drinkers and a slice of cake to accompany an afternoon cup is a must. Source: Hassan M’Souli
Mix in some dates and almonds with your
chocolate cake
and you'll instantly add a hit of Morocco to your afternoon tea time.

Germany's favourite

Black Forest cake
Everyone should make a Black Forest cake at least once. Source: John Laurie
Does this much-adored
layered chocolate, cherry and kirsch cake
need an introduction? Didn't think so!
READ MORE

German tree cake

Black forest cake (torta selva negra)

Hungary adds plenty of nuts

Noti's torte (grillazs torta)
Nuts are especially good when turned into praline and piled onto chocolate sponge cake. Source: Alan Benson
The
grillazs torta
from Hungary showcases what sublime addition nuts are to chocolate cake. Who doesn't love some nutty crunch in their choco cake?

Italians love a chocolate torta

Torta gianduja
What makes this coffee-spiked cake particularly alluring is a generous splash of Frangelico.. Source: Silvia Colloca
You'll find many variations on a chocolate torta theme across Italy. The
torta gianduja
hails from Piemonte and is an excellent jumping-off point.
READ MORE

Flourless chocolate torte from Capri (torta Caprese)

Chocolate and cherry torta with mascarpone

Mexico turns up the heat

Chocolate-Chilli-Cake.jpg
This layered chocolate cake is made with ancho chilli paste and chilli-infused icing. Source: Feast / John Laurie
Are you surprised to learn that in Mexico, chilli is added to both
cake and icing
? Neither were we!
Never enough chocolate cake

Two-ingredient chocolate cake

Meet Donna Hay’s magic no-flour chocolate cake

Quick-mix chocolate cake

One-minute gluten-free chocolate cake in a cup

Flourless chocolate cake

Chocolate cake with fennel parfait and candied orange

Beetroot and rose truffle chocolate cake

Hazelnut maple chocolate cake

Everyday chocolate cake

Kidney bean chocolate cake

Chocolate three milks cake (pastel de tres leches con chocolate)

Black sesame chocolate cake

Apple brandy-scented flourless chocolate cake

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SBS Food is a 24/7 foodie channel for all Australians, with a focus on simple, authentic and everyday food inspiration from cultures everywhere. NSW stream only. Read more about SBS Food
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SBS Food is a 24/7 foodie channel for all Australians, with a focus on simple, authentic and everyday food inspiration from cultures everywhere. NSW stream only.
Watch nowOn Demand
Follow SBS Food
facebook
twitter
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tiktok
3 min read
Published 5 May 2022 8:54pm
By SBS Food bite-sized
Source: SBS

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