Do you remember our old food processor?
The one that I’ve been operating with a chopstick for the last four years?
Well, after nearly a quarter century of frequent use, it finally died.
And Pete bought me a brand new, super fantabulous Magimix 5200 XL…
It comes with a 30 year guarantee on the 1100W motor (three years on parts) and enough kit to require its own shelf in the cupboard.
I’m a very, very happy girl!
One of the first things we made was this easy chocolate cake – a homely, old-fashioned recipe from the lovely Gill…
- 250g (8oz) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 250g (8oz) white sugar (or 125g each of brown sugar and white sugar)
- 4 free range eggs
- 125g (4oz) self-raising flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (I used homemade)
- 60g (2oz) Dutch-process cocoa
- 60g (2oz) hazelnut or almond meal
1. Have all the ingredients at room temperature before starting. Preheat the oven to 160C (320F) with fan. Grease a loaf tin and/or line it with parchment paper (I used this Chicago Metallics tin and these loaf tin liners). I’ve also baked this cake in a 20cm (8″) round springform tin.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sifted cocoa and hazelnut or almond meal.
3. In the large bowl of the food processor (my new machine has THREE bowls!), pulse together the butter and sugar until well combined and light in colour. Scrape down the bowl.
4. Add the vanilla and then the eggs one at a time and continue pulsing to combine. Add a spoonful of the flour mixture each time (if required) to stop the batter from curdling. Then add the remaining flour mixture, pulsing until just combined.
5. Scrape the batter into the lined loaf tin and bake for 60 – 70 minutes, until a cake tester inserted into the thickest part of the cake comes out cleanly. Allow to rest in the tin for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
The second time I made this, I baked it in a 20cm round tin, and topped it with our ever reliable chocolate frosting. It took about an hour to bake. I wasn’t quick enough to take a photo of the whole cake, but here’s a slice…
I’ve been searching for months for a family style chocolate cake – uncomplicated yet flavourful, without being overly rich or heavy. This one ticks all the boxes. Being able to make it in minutes in the food processor is, if you’ll excuse the pun, icing on the cake!
. . . . .
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Looks excellent – thanks for sharing this recipe – I will give it a whirl :) xx
Hope you like it! My boys preferred the round version over the loaf tin, although I suspect that has to do with the frosting. :)
In the round cake, I used almond meal instead of hazelnut, and half brown and half white sugar!
What a lovely new food processor Celia – full marks to Pete! An outstanding choice for a first use too – lovely cake.
:-) Mandy
Thanks Mandy! Pete was insistent that, given how much the FP gets used, and how long the last one lasted for, that we buy the best we could afford!
Hi Celia
Dig your Magimix. Of all the things in all of our kitchens, I believe the most cherished are our food processors. I love mine. I love it so much it goes from kitchen to kitchen with me. I am curently formulating an argument whereby it would be sensible to have 2 food processors. The rationalisation, however, needs refinement. Mine is a Breville and the new Brevilles look divine. I would be interested in knowing why you chose Magimix.
Glenda, my old one was a Breville, and it lasted literally a lifetime. We had four years to look for a new one – Pete was keen to replace the old one for some time now. In the end we were tossing up between the Cuisinart and the Magimix, and it came down to the advice of Christopher and Gilly – both serious foodies working in the food industry – and both of whom without hesitation said, “Magimix”. Christopher has had his since 1978, which I thought was amazing!
I am definitely making this for our lab this week!
I’ve seen recipes using the food processor for cakes, Nigella Lawson is pretty big on that, and I always wanted to try it myself.
this cake seems absolutely perfect!
(your hubby is adorable, what a great gift!)
Sally, he’s a kind soul, my Pete, and he was adamant that we buy the best FP we could afford. He argued that we could make the money back in pastry alone over the next few years.. ;-)
I have the smaller version of that same machine, and I was disappointed that the feed tube didn’t have a little hole it it for drizzling liquids into the bowl. Does yours have one?
Misk, no, which I guess means we have to be a bit more judicious when making mayonnaise!
In the UK, a feed tube with a hole can be bought online at their site. You might try and see if you can buy one, as it’s very, very useful having that little hole. :)
Misk, I’ll check it out, thank you!
I have a Magimix 5200 but the non XL version – only difference is in size of the drop hole in the lid. At the time, I dithered a bit with the price, but have never regretted it for a second. Sharp sharp blades, great at blending, whipping (though we’ve switched to the Kitchenaid for that, now we have it), chopping, crumbing bread, grating cheese. I love it!
Kavey, I baulked at the price too, but I can see now why it’s a good investment. I managed to slice my finger open the first time I went to wash the slicing blade, so I’ve been banned from cleaning it again. Suits me fine.. :D
I’m surprised you managed to save even one slice for the photo ;)
Thanks Peter! I cut the slice and hid it until the light was good enough for a photo.. ;-)
That’s what’s called a ‘hero portion’ by food bloggers/photographers….hidden, sometimes not hidden, instead labelled ‘keep off’!
Oz, you are so right! I do a lot of yelling – “no-one is to touch that plate until I’ve taken a photo!”.. :) Hope you’re having a great Easter, love! xx
Was your original processor a Magimix, Celia? The reason I ask is that I have one roughly the same age as your first one and it is still going strong! I have looked longingly at the newer ones but can’t justify replacing my model when it works well. I do have quite a few accessories with it too, such as extra blades and an extra bowl, useful to keep one for strongly flavoured items such as onions and garlic and one for sweet mixes. Good luck with your new machine!
Jeannette, our original machine was a Breville, but I’m so pleased to hear your Magimix is still going strong! I’m already thinking of an extra bowl – the machine came with three nesting bowls, but I reckon I could use one more large one!
Yay!! Congratulations on your new beautiful processor. It’s a joy, isn’t it? I had an old, old, old hand-me-down from my dad for years, and I was so excited to open a Christmas package and find a brand new beautiful machine a few years ago. :) That cake looks wonderful, and so easy…I must add it to my to-do list!
Thanks Abby! It is exciting to get a new toy, isn’t it? :)
That cake and frosting looks so good! Thank goodness for the new food processor!
Hehehe….indeed! The motor on the old one finally died, and frankly, it was something of a relief! ;-)
Looks Delicious!
Thank you!
I love a simple cake and your chocolate one looks very good. I don’t use my processor very often but when I do it certainly makes life easier. Your machine looks like it will last for years.
Karen, thank you! I had to take a photo straight away, because I have a feeling that it won’t be looking shiny and new for very long. It’s going to be a workhorse!
I haven’t made a cake using my processor for years, preferring to use my trusty Kenwood mixer but I have to say that cake looks damn fine!
Sue, I hadn’t made food processor cakes before either – I’ve always used our Kenwood as well – so I was surprised how well this worked!
RIP old food processor.
What can your new beastie boy do, Celia? That looks like a sausage attachment?
And your cake looks super. Lick-y lippy!
No sausage attachment yet Gill, but there is a citrus squeezer, egg white/cream whisk, mini bowl with separate blade, dough blade, two slicing discs and two grating discs. I’m going to check out accessories now though – thanks for the suggestion! :)
You always need a ‘go to’ chocolate cake recipe. This looks lovely – my teens would approve. Have fun with your new toy
Sally, I’ve been on a bit of a chocolate cake quest – trying to find one without added dairy (they ALL seem to have sour cream or yoghurt or condensed milk these days). This pound cake based version was just perfect. So now I have a chocolate cake for every occasion – one for dinner parties, one for everyday, and one to feed a crowd!
https://figjamandlimecordial.com/2011/11/23/valrhona-chocolate-cake/
https://figjamandlimecordial.com/2009/03/31/chocolate-slab-cake/
That looks a gorgeous fine and moist crumb.
Congratulations on your new processor. I don’t have one yet, but as I grow older it becomes more of a physical strain to do things by hand, so I may have to give in…..
Suelle, I couldn’t agree more – the older I get, the more focused I become on easing the strain on my joints and hands. I still knead bread dough by hand, but have changed how I do it, so it’s minimal these days.
The cake looks delicious,especially with the frosting.
:-)
Congrats on your food processor!
Thanks Sponge. The round cake with the frosting was the boys’ favourite too!
Awesome, Celia! I just retired my mum and dad’s old Kitchen Whizz (circa 1970s?) to the top shelf of the laundry cupboard, it still works brilliantly, but the plastic bowl has a fracture just near the handle and I am afraid that it might snap one day. Replaced it with a bowl and stab blender type processor, and while that seems to work well and takes up less space, I wish I had lashed out for something more robust, like the Magimix. Can’t wait to see what good things you bake now!
Lizzy, I bought a stick blender too, and it’s really useful, but I needed the grunt of the larger machine. You might find a replacement bowl for the Kitchen Whizz on ebay? I know I’ve found old Kenwood mixing bowls there before..
My large old magimix processor is still going but I was wondering the other day if it dies whether I will replace with a Thermomix, I would buy one now but baulk at the price.
Roz, I believe there are now a few Thermomix clones – in fact, I think Magimix make one. Come up to Sydney, and we’ll go to Chefs’ Warehouse and check them out! :)
my magimix is nearly thirty years old..it was a huge outlay for us when we bought it but it’s paid for itself over and over..it has recently needed a new bowl because the repaired handle eventually broke off completely but otherwise i’ve never had a moments problem with it..
i love the look of that cake you christened it with..i’m looking forward to trying it..x
Jane, I’m so happy to hear that, thank you! I’m so glad I didn’t post about this and have a whole lot of people saying, “ooh, our Magimix was crap”. :)
That cake looks very family friendly
I know what you mean about the extra bowls- before you had them they seem superfluous- after you’ve used them you never want to be stuck with one bowl again!
Heidi, I’d love extra bowls – the machine came with three nesting ones – but I’d love an extra large one. The problem is where to store it! :)
Oh yay for new equipment! Congratulations on your new baby! :D
Thanks Lorraine! :)
How exciting Celia! I know what a thrill getting new gadgets is for us kitchen lovers. I can’t wait to see what else you whip up.
Claire, thanks! So far I’ve made about five cakes, a big batch of Syrian hommus, taramosalata, bread crumbs and sliced vegetables!
That does look like a great food processor. Pete was very good to buy that for you. And it will definitely be well used. Your first creation looks delicious. What a wonderful cake. xx
Charlie, thank you, and Pete was very kind to insist we buy it. I wanted a cheaper model, but he kept saying this was an investment, and if we amortized it over the number of times we’ll use it, then it’s a bargain!
I will let you know when another trip to Sydney comes up, love to check them out with you, in the meantime another item to find storage room for is a pain. Took my Kenwood to Tasmania and left it there and getting by with a hand electric mixer and using the processor more often. Was thinking about buying a Kitchen Aid mixer for Brisbane but putting all on hold till I check on the thermomix etc. Roz
Roz, look forward to it! :)
Wonderful, Celia and I’m sure you will get your money’s worth out of it. I have a Thermomix, but kept my Magimix, too. I’m a total sucker for kitchen appliances.
Amanda, me too, although I’ve learnt my lesson about cheap and crappy appliances – I barely used the pie maker or deep fryer… ;-)
Chopsticks come in handy don’t they? I used one in the same way for ages until I finally located a replacement lid. Your new one looks super, the lid and handle seem to be of a strong material.
Any cake with hazelnuts and chocolate would be a hit with me. Could be an idea for the Easter break!
Christine, I’ve now made the cake THREE times, and each time it’s barely last two days! It’s a winner with my family! :)
Lucky you! Your new toy looks amazing, I’ve been operating my food processor with the handle of a teaspoon for about five years since I dropped the lid! I’m very envious!
Linda Maree, hang in there, eventually the motor will burn out like ours did, and you’ll be able to justify a new one.. :)
Wow, that looks awesome. The cake and the new toy.
Thanks Greg! We’re having fun with it!
Oh, well, I think I shall miss the photos of you with your chopstick!! But I’m still happy for you! And just look what came out of that Magimix!!
Smidge, thank you – after four years and several chopsticks, I was well and truly sick of it! :)
Always nice to have a new kitchen toy, yours look awsome, I am sure it is going to be very busy. Chocolate and hazelnut, 2 of my favorite things. If you send me a big chunk of that cake I promise I will return your plate.
Norma, I’m sure you’d not only return my plate, but I bet you’d return it with something really special on it! :)
I liked the chopstick! I have to use a satay stick on my spice grinder, I thought I was the only one who makes do like that. I want a new food processor but the 35 y.o. Phillips refuses to die.
Now I need an excuse to make a cake.
LIz, 35 years! Surely eventually the motor will give out like ours did! :)
PS. You never need an excuse for cake, at least not at our place!
This looks like a wonderful, reliable cake Celia. Your new machine looks very impressive :)
Jane, thank you! I’m really chuffed with them both – the Magimix AND how easy the cake was to put together!
How exciting Celia! There’s no point buying a cheap machine if you’ll use it all the time. I wish I had a HUGE long kitchen bench where I could leave out all my appliancces so they are handy at a moments notice.
What a lovely cake too, nice to have a real cake recipe that’s not very complicated and can be whizzed up in moments :)
Becca, it was nice to find a choccy cake that didn’t have milk/sour cream/yoghurt in it! I wish I had a giant bench too, with lots of power points! :)
I love that you were operating your food processor with a chopstick!! Your new food processor looks amazing. Will you name it? I named my KitchenAid stand mixer when I got it. He’s called Gregory and I adore him! Hope you have years of happiness with your new processor! :)
SK, I haven’t thought of a name yet, but somehow I think it will be something Russian – not sure why, just a gut feel I have. It should, of course, be French (as Magimixes are..)
that food processor looks awesome! A nice addition to your kitchen this month :)
Thanks Tandy! I thought it deserved its own post! :)
Yay, congratulations on your new toy!! You still have extra space in your cupboards? I’ll have to store some of my new toys at your place:)
I’m praying for my small old food processor to die. I’d love to have a new larger one. The cake looks awesome!! I’d love to try it soon, but I’ll have to mix it in my stand mixer, as my food processor is way too small.
Mel, my husband has arranged VERY efficient storage for me! The cake is based on a standard pound cake, so I’m sure you could make it in the mixer. It seemed to bake better in the round tin than the loaf one..
Hey Celia – I have just realised that your OLD food processor is the one I currently have.
Glenda, it was a great machine – we had 20 years of great service from it, then another four years operating it with a chopstick!
Waw, Your new food processor is a really excellent one , big, reliable & huge ! :) What a great present, woehoe! :)
This chocolate & hazelnut cake looks tremendously tasty & that frosting looks equally fab too! ;)
Sophie, it was a great present, I was really happy! :) Thank you!
Yey congratulations, how very exciting for you ( only a person who really loves cooking could be this excited for another to receive a magimix. Good choice so glad you didn’t choose the kitchen aid…Love the choc cake
Oooh Tania, thanks for that – we didn’t even consider the Kitchen Aid one (I didn’t know they made one)!
That cake looks amazing! Congrats on the new machine! I love my Cuisine art, it’s on its last legs too. Your Magimix looks tempting.
Thanks Maz! It works very well indeed…
What a deliciously moist looking cake Celia. I’m on the same sort of quest for a good chocolate cake. I think I’m going to have to stick with the dairy content to add the richness and soft texture that I’m guessing the ground nuts add to your cake.
Lovely new mixer too, well deserved and will undoubtably be very much used in your ever-active kitchen :)
C, the ground nuts add a moistness to the cake – I guess you’re right, it’s either that or dairy!
Hi Celia, I was given the previous Magimix model 5100 for a Christmas present some years ago and it’s been brilliant; you’ll just love it!
The cake looks divine.
Oooh, that’s good to know, thank you! :)
Celia, if I want to avoid the nuts in this recipe, do I just increase the SR flour by the same amount? I’m making this for a friend who avoids nuts. Thanks! :)
Misk, absolutely! The original recipe is a pound cake, so just adjust the flour/dry ingredients to 250g. More here:
https://figjamandlimecordial.com/2012/04/10/food-processor-pound-cakes/
Thank you! :)