These days, I buy almost all my books on the Kindle.
Unlike some people who are attached to the physical aspects of a book (my friend Michelle adores the way they smell), I’m incredibly happy not to have to store any more in my house. The Kindle is easy on my hands, and I love the fact that e-books are a planet (and tree!) friendly option.
The exception to date has been cookbooks. Kindles are designed to facilitate reading from start to finish – they automatically open to the last page read – and the basic model I have is best suited to photo-free text.
All this changed recently when I discovered that it’s possible to read Kindle books on my PC and iPad via the Amazon Cloud Reader and Kindle App. Suddenly, I could flick back and forth through the book, and view all the photos in glorious high-res colour. My darling husband is delighted – finding storage for my cookbooks has been an ongoing issue for years.
One of the first Kindle cookbooks I bought was Alice Medrich’s Sinfully Easy Delicious Desserts. Apart from saving over 60% on the price of a paper copy, I also didn’t have to pay for shipping…
Ms Medrich’s recipes are detailed and very reliable – I don’t think I’ve had one fail yet. She writes in a precise, clear tone, and provides a swag of options for customising a recipe to the reader’s own tastes.
Those of you who’ve been reading along for a while now will know about my chocolate cake quest. I’m perpetually on the look out for the perfect cake, and over the years, I’ve come across quite a few that I’ve been delighted with (which I’ll list below in case anyone is interested). This latest one is easy and economical, yet tender and delicious. It’s definitely a keeper!
The batter is made in a single bowl, using a whisk. It was supposed to be baked in a 20cm (8″) round pan, but I poured it into a lined loaf tin instead and it worked very well. I’ve topped it with a half batch of my ever reliable Jamie Oliver icing. Get the scales out for this one, and make sure you use natural (not Dutch processed) cocoa – Ms Medrich says so!
- 128g (4.5oz) plain (AP) flour
- 35g (1.25oz) unsweetened natural cocoa
- 225g (7.9oz) white sugar
- ½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
- good pinch of fine sea salt
- 115g (4oz) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
- 2 large (59g) free range eggs
- ½ cup (120ml) hot water
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (I used homemade)
1. Preheat oven to 175C/350F or 160C/320F with fan. Line a loaf tin with paper, or grease and line a 20cm/8″ round tin. I used this Chicago Metallics tin (21.5cm x 11cm or 8½” x 4½”).
2. Sift the flour, cocoa and bicarb soda into a large mixing bowl. Add the salt and sugar, and whisk to combine.
3. Add the eggs and butter and stir to combine, then whisk vigorously – Ms Medrich recommends “30 to 40 strokes”. Make sure you don’t pour boiling hot butter over the eggs, or you’ll cook them! The batter will be very thick and stiff at this point.
4. Using a silicon spatula, stir in the hot water and vanilla. Keep stirring, gently, until the batter is just smooth and silky – don’t whip too much air into it. The batter will now resemble a thick hot chocolate. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes (the loaf pan took 40 minutes) until a cake tester inserted into the centre comes out cleanly. The cake is quite soft, so I let it cool mostly in the tin before taking it out and placing on a wire rack. Once cool, top with icing.
Icing:
In a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, combine 50g (1¾ oz) each of chopped dark chocolate, sifted icing sugar and unsalted butter. Add 1½ tablespoons of milk, and stir constantly until well blended.
I didn’t think a cake flavoured with cocoa (and without melted chocolate in it) could taste this good. But I made it on faith, because as I said, I’ve never had an Alice Medrich recipe fail. I’m really pleased with how well it turned out!
Tell me, are you a fan of e-books? Or do you prefer hard copies?
. . . . .
Our All-Time Favourite Chocolate Cake Recipes
- Chocolate Slab Cake
- Chocolate Guinness Cake
- Chivas Regal Chocolate Cake
- Valrhona Chocolate Cake
- White Chocolate Bundt Cake
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
You ARE a Cake Queen for sure! I can testify to the White Chocolate Bundt Cake as being the best cake I’ve ever made!
the one from this post seems absolutely moist and decadent, just from the picture… I am tempted.. ;-)
Sally, it’s surprisingly easy, and the boys love it! It uses one bowl, a saucepan, a whisk and a spatula only.. :)
I am a fan of ebooks- mostly for the same reasons you stated- plus I read so much- so fast- especially when I have a headache to disarm the pain- that I can go through 2 or 3 books a day. I can’t keep up with paper books- they cost too much and take up too much space. I just got a kindle fire and have picked up a couple of cookbooks- I really like the ease of use and I had promised Frank that I wouldn’t buy any more- the shelves are filled!
This cake looks very good and moist and well- yum!
Heidi, good that there’s someone else who likes them, judging by the comments below, it sounds like we’re in the minority! :D
Hi lovely… I adore my books… and like your other friend, I love the smell of them, old or new. I also love the feel of them in my hands.
Thank you for sharing a great recipe, Celia.
Your cake looks A-MAZING! Definitely one to pin and bookmark!
Lizzy, it’s a very nice recipe, the boys have asked me to make it a second time! :)
Oh yum! That’s better than really good. :)
Maureen, I made it as a sheet cake as well, and they’ve been wolfing it down! :)
I love a physical book. And I have that one :) I love being able to hold it, flick through it and absorb it. But I am coming around to the idea of ebooks when on holiday. They take up no space, which leaves me loads of room for other goodies.
They’re amazing for traveling, aren’t they? I take both my Kindle and my iPad whenever we go anywhere, they’re both much easier to pack than books! :)
Celia ~ Good Sunday afternoon! Now I have been an avid book collector all my life [small house, over 3000 volumes [800 cookery!!!!] and still growing – not feasible!] Even tho’ I too love to hold a ‘real’ book in my hands!!] And we all know we can get eBooks cheaper!! May I ask [and I am fully aware I am showing abysmal ignorance] which of the Kindles you use? ‘Cause I believe one of them does not count as ‘computer’ and one does not have to bundle it with phone, computer, iPAD et al for an extra fee – just pay for the books: the one I have looked at at Amazon is usually about $A199 . . .?
Hi Eha, I just have the base model Kindle (black and white), which is now $89 from Amazon directly:
https://figjamandlimecordial.com/2012/01/30/my-cool-things-12-amazon-kindle/
I also use the free Kindle app on my iPad, which lets me look at all the cookbooks in colour! :)
Thanks absolute heaps, Celia ~ it seems I have been looking at Kindle Paperwhite 3G which does not need all the extra monthly payments I could not at the moment sustain! Yea, impossible, but can’t quite make it to an iPad ~ well, maybe next year :) !! When I think of what all my US ‘real’ friends are reading I turn absolutely peagreen as many of them actually get ’em for ‘free’!!!!
Eha, if you have a regular PC computer, you can always read your books online in the internet browser using the Amazon Cloud reader. You don’t actually need a kindle at all if you don’t want the extra expense! :)
Thanks dearheart ~ since I work on my desktop computer in a rather small library all day and most days, I do love to take a ‘book’ to bed at night :) ! Kind’of ‘separate’ the different parts of life!!!!
I have tried to like ebooks, Celia but it just hasn’t worked for me…..I have cut down on the number of books I buy by making good use of the public library. I do continue buying the odd cookbook tho if I find I keep renewing it. I have always loved books–the look and the feel of them in my hands…..
Fair enough, Debby, it’s not for everyone! :)
Celia I want to bite the screen!
I have a super basic Sony ereader which I like but I also like to read real books. Sigh. I don’t know if I’m cutting down on physical book consumption or if I’ve just found a new way to feed my addiction!
Rose, even if it does feed your addiction, it feeds it in a more environmentally friendly way! :)
The cake looks delicious. I have never used a kindle before so don’t know how I’d like it. I do prefer a printed catalogue over the online versions for comparing and flipping through though! I look online for my quick research. Then switch to printed catalogues for more detailed comparisons. I find it relaxing and I love to hold a good book to read! Space is getting to be a problem!lol
Manuela, space is a big issue here too – we never seem to throw any books out, so we still have the kids’ cardboard books on the shelf! :)
that look fantastic!
Thank you!
I have been an avid Kindle adoptee ever since the 1st one emerged- I now have the Paperwhite (Kindle) & the easy to read backlit screen rocks. Caveat though is I have been slower to adapt to cookbook purchases because of the lack of color & the way I flip through a cookbook. This is truly where the IPad shines is with cookbooks!
I’m the same – didn’t buy a single cookbook until I figured out I could read them on the PC. My kindle is a simple black and white one too, and I love it because it’s so light!
Hi Celia – I love my kindle and have just come to Sydney for a week without a paper book – oh the freedom of it … But I had been buying cookbooks. Hadn’t occurred to me that I could use them on the iPad – thank you, thank you, thank you …
Jenny, hope you like the format as much as I do!
Looks luscious. I recently relented and bought my first cookbook for iPad too. Not that thrilled with it but will have to persevere and practice, I think. I seldom buy any other book except as a Kindle book to read on my iPad. Like you, I just had no more space to store books, plus the savings for the cost of the book is considerable. Enjoyed the post, thank you!
Ardys, plus the cost saving for the planet! For every book we buy, it’s a bit of a tree we didn’t need to use, and fuel that was saved in processing and delivering it!
I like books, but really like the convenience of having my ‘everyday’ cookbooks on my tablet, as it can make shopping and (lack of) planning much easier. But I do like the feel and smell of well made books…
You baked in this weather?? That’s some dedication to chocolate cake! The closest I got this week was making Vietnamese iced coffee (which isn’t very close at all)!
Have to bake, I’m still feeding wolves! :) It hasn’t been all that hot here though – we’ve been so lucky compared to the rest of Oz!
Just like you, I have been on a quest for the perfect chocolate as well! :) my current favorite is one I found on the bbc website and I have shared it on my blog as well. But the quest always continues and I would love to try yours! Thank you for sharing!
Laila, it’s a noble quest we’re on! I’ve actually found a few that I thought were “perfect”, but that doesn’t mean I don’t keep looking. I’ll check yours out, thank you.
Looks fantastic Celia! I was so dubious about water in cakes until I tried it but it really makes for a fantastic, moist and rich crumb. Lovely recipe, definitely going to try this one :)
PS – I’m a total hard copy addict. I kind of agree about the smell haha
AJ, it’s amazing what the hot water does, isn’t it? I make a couple of other cakes like that, and the tenderness of the crumb always surprises me!
Hi Celia
I am a Kindle convert for most things but have been resistant to getting cookbooks due the black/white format and also the sequential nature of reading on a Kindle. I do not have an iPad but maybe one day. I will look at ‘reading’ Kindle cookbooks on the computer.
I have never been big on cookbooks and I cook fairly simple meals. I have gradually culled most of my cookbooks and this year my plan is to scan and digitally file all of the recipes that I would consider using from the remaining books. I think I will probably end up with about 6 (at the most) physical cookbooks by the end of 2014.
Fairy, you’re very disciplined! I can’t imagine ever getting down to six cookbooks! :)
I actually gasped when I saw that photo of your cake. Yum! By the way, do you get goo all over your Kindle while baking?
I usually use my iPad when cooking, and yes. :) I have a little stand to put my cookbooks/iPad on in the kitchen, but I still have to wipe it down afterwards.
I’ve been looking at those stands here in the UK. Very clever.
Alice Medrich is one of the best. Great book to choose too.
Thank you! Her recipes are amazing!
Could you double check the amount of butter please 40z ? I think it should be 4 oz.
Yes, it should be 115g, which is 4 ounces. I typed 0 instead of o. Thanks.
Thanks!
I love the feel and smell of a real book. I like to pass them along when I’m through with them. I think that’s not possible with a Kindle version of a book.
Great looking cake by the way!
Pamela, you’re right, you can’t share or pass on a Kindle book. But it often costs 20% of a hardcopy, AND you don’t have to pay for shipping! :)
That is so exciting!! :-) I love Alice’s books so much, and to know I can see the lovely pics on my PC Kindle thrills me no end. :-)
Don’t forget that it costs $10 instead of $25 plus shipping! :)
Yum yum yum Celia! I’m the same, haven’t been a huge fan of chocolate cakes flavoured with cocoa but I’ll take your word for it. It looks so rich and heavenly.
I’m a real-book girl!
Claire, this one really surprised me! And the family’s reaction surprised me even more, they’re really taken with it!
mmmm, the simple pleasure of a good chocolate cake :)
Which do I prefer? e-books or hard copies… Both, of course. I love the tangible-ness and security of seeing a stack or shelf of books eyecandy, and flicking through them but I love the simplicity and proximity of the Kindle cloud – I can access books via my phone or UltraBook :)
ED, that feeling of never being far from something to read is very nice, isn’t it? Nice to see you back, heading over to your blog now to see what you’ve been up to! :)
The cake looks so moist and wonderfully delicious! I am suddenly craving something with chocolate. :-) I do love my Kindle. I never thought it would be possible to prefer it to reading a physical book, but I think I do! And I’ve bought a few cookbooks that are stored on the Kindle. I have found that more difficult for me. I miss the “feel” of a cookbook. But I will adjust. In all, I agree with you that it’s nice not to have to give so much space to a physical book presence!
I like the physical Kindle more than books too! I find it much easier on my hands, plus I can put them on a stand and not have to pick it up all the time to turn a page! :)
That really does look like one delicious, beautiful chocolate cake…
Thanks Nick! Frugal too, as it’s made with cocoa! :)
You can never have too many good chocolate cake recipes in my book and I love the one bowl types…this is definitely a keeper! I have not converted to Kindle yet but am building up to it ;-)
Danielle, I know a lot of people who don’t own a Kindle, but read Kindle books on their PCs and iPads! :)
I’m sorry Celia but I have to agree with your wise friend Michelle on loving the hard copy or soft cover of a REAL LIFE book in my hands. In many ways, the chocolate cake is much the same. One must have the reality in the palm of their hands to actually appreciate & enjoy the essence of it….Enough said! I just stole your recipe & will make double portion tomorrow. Half for us & for whoever God puts on our heart to give it to…..thank you! (off to read a real book now..LOL)
Lina, enjoy! And how lucky is the person you share it with, good on you! :)
My cookbook collection is getting huge as well Celia so I really try to think twice before among too it. I have started downloading books to read, but I need the tactile experience with my cookbooks.
Gorgeous chocolate cake indeed and I do love a one bowl wonder! Xox
Becca, e-books are much easier on your hands, darling! xxx
I read fiction on my Kobo or ipad and would happily not buy another paperback or magazine but just download them. The problem with following a recipe from a tablet is that I have to put it far enough away not to get splashed (so I have to keep walking over to check it) and of course I smear the screen with my mucky fingers when I scroll down. What I really want is an index on my ipad listing every recipe in my cookbooks, notebooks, cuttings …
Anne, I do that to my cookbooks to though – they end up sticky and pages glue together. When you get your iPad listing sorted, please do let me know how you did it.. :)
Sadly I haven’t read much either on kindle or an old fashioned paper book for ages.
I wonder how well this recipe will adapt to cupcakes – think I shall have to give it a try to find out.
Have a beautiful day.
:-) Mandy xo
Mandy, I think it will adapt to cupcakes, but I don’t think you’ll get a domed top? Hope all is well in your part of the world, love.. xxx
I’ve missed you, Miss C! I am torn between books and e-books. I love not having to store more books which is why a device like a Kindle is so good, but I also love flicking through pages and making notes and being able to quickly turn to the section I wanted and I never have to charge them or find the charger etc, etc. I think I’m only going to slowly adapt to e-books. I would say, (by the looks of your images) that you have definitely found the perfect chocolate cake! xx
Hi Charlie! Sounds like you’ve been having a wonderful time! The chocolate cake is a winner, we’re definitely adding it to the list! :)
For me, the perfect chocolate cake depends on my mood … sometimes dense and fudge-y spells perfection, other times light and moist is what I’m looking for. But I suppose the delicious part is trying them all to be sure! ;) The chocolate glaze on this cake is what got my attention, that would be dangerous stuff around here — YUM!
Judy, thank you – the chocolate glaze is a house staple, I pour it over most of our chocolate cakes, as it’s not nearly as dense or caloric as a whipped frosting!
OK i am going to come out and say it… I HATE the Kindle thing. I hate the flicker, black/white (like old fashioned Daleks exterminating people special effect _ Dr Who pre colour telly) thing it does when it changes pages, I hate the thing it does to photos in cookbooks. And I think in general reviews of Kindles downplay this thing it does and they should all say, go and check one out in a shop before you buy one, or look at a friend’s. The only advantage I can see is that it is light in weight. Anyway it made me feel quite migrainey and I haven’t had a migraine for many years. Brian got me one for Christmas and it went back the following day, I thought it would look like Kindle books on the iPad and it doesn’t. And I don’t really like cook books on the ipad, because it is always going to sleep and then I have to put the code in and wake it up again. Though it is useful I don’t use it nearly as much for kitchen stuff as I thought I would. I nearly always print out a copy to work from.
But… I love your cake…. and I love you! xx
Hehehe…that’s why I took lots of photos of my Kindle when I wrote my post all those years ago. I’m the reverse, I don’t like paperbacks, I find they give me headaches from the faint small print, whereas the Kindle lets me resize and adjust brightness etc.
I’m very grateful I like the interface though, because my big concern with hard copy books is environmental. It takes a lot of natural resources (trees, energy – even recycled paper books take a lot of energy to make, water, chemicals) and even more to mail and ship them, or to drive to buy them. I think this is often (but not always) reflected in the end cost of the e-book. I read a great blog post on this recently:
http://www.nrdc.org/thisgreenlife/0807.asp
Love you too! :)
Celia xxx
You and I couldn’t agree more regarding e-books. I have a Nook, and all of my books and magazines are stored there. Except, like you said, my cookbooks. I did try a couple of cookbooks on my Nook, but it’s just not the same. I need the actual book in hand, on my work space as I’m preparing the recipe. I’ve since bought the hard copies of the books I have on my Nook. Lessons learned. :-)
This cake looks absolutely delicious… Everything about that cake is calling my name!! :-)
I don’t think we can get a Nook here – I’ve noticed I can’t buy ebooks from BN. Shame you don’t like the cookbooks on them! I find them terrible on my Kindle, but pretty good on my PC and iPad! :)
I’d have to disagree with you on one thing Celia my friend – that looks like a really AWESOME chocolate cake, not just really good. Look at the texture! I can picture myself enjoying that with a nice cold glass of milk.
I love reading on my Ipad, mainly because I love being able to look up definitions or pronunciations of woods. I read so much though that I’d go broke buying books so I make my weekly run to the library unless it’s one of my favorite authors that I don’t like waiting for.
Thanks Diane! A lot of libraries now loan Kindle books – does yours? Might save you a trip! :)
It does on some but there’s been a petition signed because a lot of publishers are fighting libraries over that. When I was a kid, the local library was one of my favorite places to go & I just wander around looking for new authors.
I agree, I think cookbooks are the exception to ebooks! Having said that I’m off to the library this afternoon to borrow some books! :)
I really need to get better at libraries. I’m really not very good at using them!
I prefer to feel the pages of a book. Stopped adding to my collection by making better use of the public library.
Good on you, Norma! I’ve never been a big library user, must try harder…
I made this today, but in cupcakes/muffins. The mix was the perfect amount for a 12 hole muffin tray. I wasn’t sure they would be firm enough, being a cake recipe, but they came out great. Topped with a chocolate buttercream, they are ready for a play date tomorrow.
Pam, thanks for letting me know, that’s great news! :)
I’ve made this twice in 24 hrs and 4 people asked for the recipe.. Definitely my new go to chocolate cake recipe – and we prefer it without any icing. Delicious.
I’m so glad to hear that! Thanks for letting me know! Alice Medrich recipes never fail, her book is definitely worth getting! :)
Sounds good Celia. I’m impressed you’ve honed your favourite cakes down to only 5. I keep thinking I’d like to do a post on my top ten, but can’t decide which ones were the best.
Choc, it’s a work in progress – I keep adding new ones to the list! :)
[…] Celia’s newest chocolate cake recipe I made a batch of mini mini cupcakes in truffle cases for our New Years mahjong session and they […]
Thank you for sharing this recipe. This cake is so simile and delicious. Everyone loved it!
Hi Charmaine! I’m so glad you enjoyed it, thanks for letting me know! I haven’t been on Twitter much of late, hope you’ve been well!
Surfing and ended up here, coveting a slice of this glorious looking cake! Celia – what are you doing to me? I had completely forgotten that I could read in glorious colour on the Mac and iPhone…off to Amazon now….
[…] This recipe has been adapted from several recipes including Celia from Fig Jam and Lime Cordial’s recipe for A Really Good Chocolate Cake. […]
I made this last week for the first time and then gave the recipe to 2 others in the office. It really is a fabulous cake. I’ll be making it often. Thank you!