Easy Chocolate Button Cake is a super simple recipe for a rich and delicious cake. This chocolate cake makes a great birthday cake and is always a hit with all the family. Perfect for beginning bakers, the simple decoration with giant chocolate buttons is something that anyone can do.
Why make Easy Chocolate Button Cake?
I really love this chocolate cake recipe, it is has everthing going for it.
- It tastes rich and full of chocolate.
- Make it ahead of time, it keeps well because it is made with oil.
- You can make it without an electric mixer, a bowl and a wooden spoon will do the job.
- Decorate it simply with giant chocolate buttons for a great finish.
What ingredients do I need?
- Plain (all-purpose) flour
- Cocoa powder
- Bicarbonate of Soda (Baking Soda)
- Baking Powder
- Caster (superfine) sugar
- Golden Syrup
- Eggs
- Vegetable oil
- Milk
What kind of chocolate should I use?
There is no block chocolate in the cake. The intense chocolate taste comes from cocoa powder. Do not use drinking chocolate powder because it does not have enough cocoa solids and is also pre-sweetened. US readers should use dutch processed cocoa.
What is Golden Syrup?
Golden Syrup is a thick, translucent amber coloured syrup made from cane sugar. It is a sugar syrup made by breaking down white sugar into fructose and sucrose. It’s ideal for baking and is sometimes called light treacle. US readers can substitute corn syrup although this is sweeter.
I use golden syrup in many of my favourite bakes like Scotch Pancakes, Sweet Gingerbread Men and Mini Gingerbread with Lemon Glaze.
What kind of oil should I use?
Use a flavourless vegetable oil like sunflower oil, rapeseed (canola) oil or a generic vegetable oil.
I can’t find giant chocolate buttons what else can I use?
Here are some ideas for alternative ideas for decoration of the chocolate cake:
- Smaller chocolate buttons
- White chocolate buttons
- Sugar-coated chocolate beans (Smarties)
- Crumbled chocolate flake
- Grated block chocolate
How long will the chocolate cake keep?
Keep the cake without buttercream in a sealed container for up to 3 days. If you are layering the un-iced cakes then put a piece of baking parchment between them because they may stick to each other.
Add the buttercream and decoration the day before serving or on the day you plan to eat the cake.
How to make Easy Chocolate Button Cake
Follow the simple step by step guide to see just how easy it is to make this celebration chocolate cake.
- Pre-heat the oven and grease and line two 20 cm sandwich tins
- Sieve the flour, cocoa, bicarbonate of soda, baking powder and caster sugar into a large bowl.
- Put the syrup, beaten eggs, oil and milk into a jug and mix well.
- Pour the liquids into the bowl of dry ingredients.
Beat the ingredients together with a wooden spoon or spatula until they are fully combined. Divide equally between the prepared sandwich tins.
Bake until firm to the touch. Leave in the tin to cool for 5 minutes then turn onto a cooling tray. Remove the paper from the bottom of the cake and leave until completely cold.
Make Chocolate Buttercream and decorate the Easy Chocolate Button Cake
- Beat the butter until it becomes a lighter colour. Use softened butter for best results.
- Mix the cocoa powder with the hot water and mix to a paste.
- Add the sieved icing sugar and cocoa paste and beat together with the butter until the mixture is smooth and there are no streaks.
I use my electric hand mixer to make the buttercream, but if you don’t have one then you can still make the buttercream, however, it is even more important to have soft butter for this to be a success.
- Place one layer onto a plate or cake stand and use half the buttercream to cover the top of it.
- Place the second layer on top and use the remaining buttercream to cover the top of the cake.
- Open the packet of giant chocolate buttons onto kitchen paper. Use a piece of kitchen paper to wipe off any crumble of chocolate or scuff marks. They don’t have to be perfect but it does look nicer on the cake.
- Start at the outside of the cake and place the Giant Chocolate Buttons around the edge. When one circle has been completed start again until the cake is covered.
How do I serve Easy Chocolate Button Cake?
This is a soft moist cake so serve in generous slices with cake forks. This chocolate cake makes a great birthday cake, simply add a few candles between the chocolate buttons.
Easy Chocolate Button Cake
Ingredients
FOR THE CAKE
- 190 grams (1.5 cups) plain flour
- 2 tablespoon (2 tablespoon) cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) bicarb of soda
- 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) baking powder
- 150 grams (0.75 cups) caster sugar superfine sugar
- 2 tablespoon (2 tablespoon) golden syrup
- 2 (2) eggs beaten
- 150 millilitres (0.6 cups) vegetable oil
- 150 millilitres (0.6 cups) milk
FOR THE BUTTERCREAM
- 50 grams (0.6 cups) cocoa powder
- 2-3 tablespoon (2-3 tablespoon) hot water
- 50 grams (0.2 cups) butter
- 200 grams (1.6 cups) icing sugar confectioners sugar
TO DECORATE
- 119 grams (0.6 cups) Giant Chocolate Buttons
Instructions
FOR THE CAKE
- Heat the oven to 160C, grease, and line two 20cm sandwich tins.
- Sieve the flour, cocoa, bicarbonate of soda, baking powder and caster sugar into a large bowl.
- Mix the syrup, beaten eggs, oil and milk in a jug and add to the dry ingredients.
- Beat well and pour into the tins.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until firm to the touch.
- Turn onto a wire rack, remove the paper and leave to cool.
FOR THE CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM
- Mix together the cocoa powder and hot water in a bowl.
- Beat the butter in a bowl until smooth.
- Sift in the icing sugar and cocoa paste and beat to make a thick buttercream.
- Fill and top the cake with the buttercream.
- Decorate with chocolate buttons.
Hannah says
Happy birthday to your son! Sorry you don't get to go and see him, though.I haven't seen sponge done that way before – with the syrup and oil – but I can see how it would keep lovely and moist and it looks absolutely delicious!
A Trifle Rushed says
I'm sure he'll have a great birthday, with such a splendid cake on it's way. Great idea about the vegetable oil, I must remember next time I'm baking ahead:-) Jude x
FOODESSA says
I was lured on my first visit due to the title of your post and of course my curiosity. Not what I assumed and yet, such a lovely surprise. Those chocolate buttons are a great decorative idea. Thanks for sharing and Happy B-Day to your son ;o)
Flavourful wishes,
Claudia
Mrs M says
Is it wrong I really want to eat this now? At just gone 9am?
Dom at Belleau Kitchen says
how could he not love his mum… adorable cake!
Corina says
This reminds me of my mum's chocolate cake – She always used to put chocolate buttons or smarties on chocolate cake when we were younger!
laura@howtocookgoodfood says
This is just my sort of cake. I love buttons and the sponge looks very good. I also agree on the tip about using oil, works wonders!
Choclette says
Ha ha, I make all of my cakes with just a wooden spoon – or nearly all anyway! Your cake looks lovely and I bet it will be appreciated by the birthday boy.
Cakeboule says
Lucky son! Sad you did not get to see him though but a new flat how exciting! Love the way the icing is oozing out just makes you want to lick it! Yummy yum yum.
Gardenteacakesandme says
Cake and Chocolate = Chocolate Cake which makes for a perfect birthday cake in my books. Hope your son enjoys it and his new flat, what a shame you won't get to share a slice with him.
Baking Addict says
Happy birthday to your son! A chocolate cake is the best birthday cake 🙂 I love the chocolate buttons too 🙂
Helene Dsouza says
ahhh… your son is lucky! I love the buttons on the cake, so gorgeous and I surely love chocolate too!
thx for sharing =)
Jill Colonna says
What a wonderful birthday cake. I'm sure your son must be over the moon. Janice, just to say that I posted the ticket winners up on le blog today and so if you could drop me a line with your address, Waverley can send you a couple of tickets to the macaron event. Cheers. J xo
Karen S Booth says
I am a chocolate button addict and I would just LOVE this cake! It looks fabulous Janice and a happy birthday to your son too…..
C says
Looks great – what a lucky boy! And what is it with chocolate buttons – just so addictive!
Fabulicious Food says
Ooh how lovely! Love chocolate buttons and this looks soooo yummy!
Annes S says
Oh dear I don't think could trust myself with an open bag of giant buttons!
The cake looks delicious, really dark and chocolatley!
Distressing Delilah a.k.a. jenn says
I want some! That loos delicious!
i-lostinausten says
Wow! Another yummy recipe that I can't resist! Looks fab especially with those chocolate buttons. Happy belated birthday to your son! 🙂
Veronica says
That looks lush!!!!! I sooooo love a moist and gooey chocolate cake. I’ve never made one with golden syrup before – definitely going to give this one a try.
Janice Pattie says
Thanks Veronica, it is a lovely easy cake and very tasty!
Karen Booth says
Thanks for adding this rather delicious looking chocolate cake to #CookBlogShare Janice, it’s a stunner! Karen
Corina Blum says
This cake looks delicious with such a lovely texture. It also reminds me of my childhood as my mum always decorated cake with chocolate buttons!
Nic | Nic's Adventures & Bakes says
Thanks for sharing, this cake looks amazing 🙂
Janice Pattie says
Thanks Nic
Cat says
So delicious! Fluffy sponge with rich buttercream and chocolate buttons?! What could be better! My perfect cake.
Janice Pattie says
Thank you, it’s a great cake for all occasions.
Kat (The Baking Explorer) says
Chocolate heaven! This reminds me of my childhood so much!
Janice Pattie says
My mum used to make this kind of cake for bake sales 😊
Clare says
This looks delicious – yum
Pass me a slice please x
Janice Pattie says
Thank you, I wish I could!
Eb Gargano | Easy Peasy Foodie says
Aw, this looks like a fab birthday cake! It reminds me of my Dad’s favourite cake – chocolate smartie cake… same idea but with smarties not buttons – very delicious! Eb 🙂
Janice Pattie says
Yes, those simple cakes are the best!
Jacqui – Recipes Made Easy:Only Crumbs Remain says
What’s not to love about a chocolate button cake. It reminds me of when I first started baking I made a cake very similar to this I think it may have been by mary Berry in was in the Hamlyn all colour cookbook . sorry, You have me reminiscing I might just have to make this for another trip down memory lane.
Janice Pattie says
It’s definitely a retro cake but none the worse for that. Tried and tested by generations of bakers and families 🙂
Rebecca - Glutarama says
What a wonderful cake, the decoration is so simple yet super effective. This is also really easy to make dairy free too with a few simple subs. I reckon once show this to my son he’s going to want this for his birthday this year hahaha.
Janice Pattie says
Oh, that’s great to know, Rebecca. I guess the oil in the cake really helps in that regard. It is a great cake for birthdays, there is something about chocolate buttons that brings out the kid in all of us!
Sisley White says
Thank you so much for linking up to the first CookBlogShare of 2021. This button cake is definitely my style. I could dive right in to the photos.
Janice Pattie says
My pleasure, you can’t go wrong with chocolate cake!
Edward Munn says
Hi Janice, can I ask, did you change something in this recipe over recent months? Was the icing always with butter? It’s delicious in any case, but I was just interested since my cake looks a little different this time around!
Janice Pattie says
Hi Edward, I did update the post and take new photos, but the recipe is the same. I’m glad you enjoyed it 😊