“Chocolate is the only aromatherapy I need.”
Jasmine Heiler
I have a special love for layered cakes, and find them charming and whimsical. Some months go by without an anniversary or birthday and ‘no party cake‘ months makes me sad, as April seemed to be! There was a cake I longed to bake, an old fashioned chocolate cake on Barbara’s beautiful blog. Old fashioned always makes a connect with me, telling tales of days gone by in old stone kitchens and huge ovens where ladies gathered together to bake, sharing recipes and experiences, strengthening friendships that would last a lifetime …
Cut to now. Visiting food blogs always leaves me INSPIRED! The quintessential question … What to make and what not to? This one cake was high on my list, and then came along The Secret Recipe Club, the brainchild of the very talented & sweet Amanda of Amanda’s Cookin’. The idea behind the club – Each month you are “assigned” a participating food blogger to make a recipe from. It’s a secret, so don’t tell them you are making something from their blog!
The blog assigned to me was one of my favourite food bloggers – sweet, generous, fun girlfriend Barbara @ Barbara Bakes. I was THRILLED, and knew just what to bake – her Old-Fashioned Chocolate Cake with Maraschino Cherry Filling. I had 2 boxes of lush, red strawberries, so I decided to go with a balsamic strawberry filling. I knew they would pair well too!
What caught my attention about the cake when I saw it first was that it was EGGLESS, yet so moist and delicious looking. I am often asked by my readers for eggless cake recipes. I’ve posted 2 eggless recipes a while ago, both cakes very nice. Yet this one is special because it is a layered cake, eggless, no butter and chocolaty moist! I filled it with a balsamic strawberry and cream filling, and slathered it with a deep decadent chocolate ganache using a 65% dark chocolate – divine!
Eggless cakes always seem challenging to me as I’m impatient to get to the other end. Will they ‘deliver’ the promise of a good moist cake, rich in taste and flavour? Is there something I can offer my readers who often ask for an eggless cake recipe? This cake lived up to the promise and DELIVERED a wonderful cake, good to the last crumb {a cake that didn’t last long!} Strawberries and chocolate are a fantastic pairing and this is a great make ahaed cake as the flavours get mature over a couple of hours. I set the cake out about an hour before it had to be served.
Mr PAB has not stopped singing praises of it as yet. This was immensely enjoyed by everyone and is certainly one not to be given a miss! If possible make it in 2 cake tins. I trimmed the cake with an 8″ dessert ring, and trimmed off a sliver thin slice from the top and bottom, and then sliced the cake ito 4 even layers. As the weather has turned very very warm already, I layered the slices with the filling and left it to set in the dessert ring for an hour {while we had lunch}.
The rest of course was just a simple ganache to cover the cake, and the quickest way to dress it up that I know of, a web. Thank you GF for blogging this absolute winner, and thank you Amanda for assigning me Barbara’s blog. This is my first ‘secret‘ recipe of The Secret Recipe Club, and it’s been a FUN beginning. Here’s to many more!!
Old Fashioned {Eggless} Layered Chocolate Cake with Balsamic Strawberries & Cream
Summary: This recipe is adapted from Cuisine at Home, taken from Barbara Bakes. This is an old fashioned eggless chocolate cake, which turns out moist and delicious. It’s a great one to make for vegetarians, or people who are allergic to eggs. Use a filling of your choice. I used seasonal strawberries to make mine.
Prep Time: 1 hour
Cooking Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 2 hours
Cake
Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 3/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups hot water
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Preparation
Preheat oven to 180ºC with rack in the center. Line the bottom of 1 9″ spring form tin.{If you can, use two 9×2 inch round cake pans}
Whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl. {Don’t use a mixer.}
Combine water, oil, vinegar, and vanilla in a large measuring cup. Add to the dry ingredients and whisk just until combined, a few lumps are OK. Turn batter into prepared tin {or divide batter between pans if using 2}, then bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 50-60 minutes for 1 or 35-40 minutes for 2.
Cool cake on a rack for 15 minutes, then invert them onto the rack.. Leave cake upside down (this flattens domed cakes) to cool completely.
Slice into 4 layers, and sandwich with filling {recipe follows}. Allow to rest in the fridge for about 30 minutes, and then frost with the chocolate ganache {recipe follows}
Filling
Ingredients
300ml low fat cream
200gm strawberries, chopped
1/4 cup sugar
1tbsp balsamic vinegar
1/2 vanilla bean scraped
1-2 tbsp powdered sugar
Preparation
First prepare filling: Place strawberries, sugar, scraped vanilla bean and balsamic vinegar in a sauce pan, and simmer till it becomes thick and jam-like. Cool completely.
Beat cream to medium stiff peaks, and gently fold in cooled strawberry mixture, taking care not to release the volume of the cream.
Chocolate Ganache
Ingredients
200gms dark chocolate, room temperature
150ml low fat cream, room temperature
Preparation
Place the chocolate and 100ml of cream in a heatproof bowl and microwave for 30-40 seconds {if the weather is warm as it is here, else try for minute}. You can also simmer it in pan until the chocolate melts. Stir well to combine both into a smooth ganache.
Give the cake one basic thin coating with this ganache, and reserve some for piping decorations. Add the remaining 50ml cream and mix until smooth.
Just got a mail from Babble.com – “Congratulations! You are a Readers’ Choice Mom Food Blogger for 2011! Your blog has been nominated by the public as a supplement to our Top 100 Mom Food Blog list. Clearly your blog is a fan favorite when it comes to the best family-friendly recipes on the web, and we are so happy to recognize your achievements!” {Vote here}
Don’t miss a post 
Also find me on The Rabid Baker, The Times of India
Can I have a slice? NOW???
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Your cakes are always gorgeous and enticing and this is no different. Don’t mind me if I have a slice or two or the entire cake.
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How beautiful Deeba! This looks so delicious! I am so glad you joined the fun, can’t wait for next month!
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It can’t get better or more beautiful than this. But you know, sister, I say that each and every time I visit! What an absolutely stunning cake and scrumptious! Wow, chocolate with cream and berries. Absolutely the best! xoxo Sometimes, Deeba, I am just too overcome that I am at a loss for words!
Deeba, this cake is just stunning! Although I do not usually care for baking cakes I think I must bookmark this cake to make for our anniversary in June. I love strawberries in balsamic so the filling sounds perfect. Thanks for the idea and for the gorgeous photos that inspire me to dust off my cake pans!
Your cake is perfect and professional looking! I bet it tastes divine.
Cheers,
Rosa
Oh MY GOD Deeba!!! That is one heavenly looking cake. I am not a very chocolate person but this cake of yours has got me drooling. Just yummy!! The pictures does complete justice to the dessert
This cake is a showstopper and I bet it tastes as good as it looks! Love your photos, Deeba
Happy Monday!
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That looks divine and what a fun group that sounds like! Barbara aka mum is such a wonderful baker isn’t she!
Wow, I don’t know that I could make this half as pretty, but I really want to make it.
Greg´s last [type] ..“S” is for strawberry
Thats a yummy visual treat… Can I have a big slice.. Feel like drooling over it the entire day…
Vimitha´s last [type] ..Awards r raining Cats and Dogs!!!
Cant take my eyes from ur clicks, cake looks simply out of the world, feel like having that inviting slice..
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Your site is a delight to the eyes! Just want to bite into that piece of cake!
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Wow, lovely work, absolutely perfect.
I would never be able to make something so beautiful, you have a create skill.
Awesome photos too ♥
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This is beautiful.
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wow! I would never think that this cake is eggless! it looks fab!
Does not look eggless. I like baking layer cakes also but does not do it often. Beautiful as always.
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Sheesh–that looks divine! As your posts always do. What I love about this one and must try it is that it is eggless–which for me means less fat, which is what I need!
Can’t wait for more secrets coming up!
Katrina´s last [type] ..The Secret Recipe Club—Hamburger Stroganoff
This I am so making Deeba! Eggless and Butterless is a dream cake for me. And it looks completely moist and delicious too. What more cld one ask for in a cake?
) Beautiful shots as always and congrats on being voted to the Top Mom food bloggers 
) You deserve it . 
This is beautiful Deeba! You make me long for a chocolate cake now!
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I’m so happy you loved the cake. Mine never looked as fabulous as yours. I love how you changed it. Such an honor to be called your friend. Congratulations on you well deserved nomination!
Barbara Bakes´s last [type] ..Cinnamon Coffee Cake
Stunning cake Deeba. I almost licked the screen
beautifully done delicious looking cake
What a beautiful cake! I love multi-layered cakes, because it means I get to eat more filling.
Eggless???? Nooooo way! Stunning pictures as usual Deeba! The secret club sounds like so much fun!!
Amazing cake – it’s hard to believe that it has noo eggs and butter… Beautiful, beautiful photos.. And as a bonus I also learned about the secret recipe club
.
Thanks!
For some reason, for the last couple of days, I couldn’t get this page to load. I’m glad I was persistent though, I wouldn’t have wanted to miss out on such a beautiful cake. Now, If only I could reach into my screen and take a slice…
*kisses* HH
My CPU is throttling your highness…that’s what they tell me {and I can’t seem to do a thing about it!!}. Thank you for your perseverance… I am touched! xo
You have the best strawberry recipes Vindee.And you never run out on ideas to picture them differently every time.I love everything about this eggless cake.Always on a look out for eggless recipes.Have quite a few relatives who have egg allergies.Congratulations on the nomination.
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You really know how to make a beautiful cake, always very impressive. The first time I tried an eggless chocolate cake like this I wasn’t sure it was going to work, but lo and behold it came out nice and moist.
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen´s last [type] ..lemon raspberry tart simple elegance and a guest post
Gorgeous! What a fantastic job you’ve done and now I’m inspired!!!
This cake looks amazing. I love the balsamic strawberry filling. Thanks for sharing.
This cake looks amazing. I love the blasamic strawberry filling. Thanks for sharing
This looks incredible! Do you think coconut oil could be subbed for the vegetable oil? Thanks!
Wow! Cake looks scrumptious with moist looking perfect crumb . Deeba, do you have a recipe for eggless vanilla cake ?
Thanks Mamta. Here’s a link to an eggless vanilla cake. http://www.passionateaboutbaking.com/2010/08/baking-eggless-cake-vanilla-chocolate-and-chocolate-walnut-eggless-cake.html
GORGEOUS! BEAUTIFUL! As always!!!:)
This looks so delicious!! I am printing 2 copies, a coworker has a granddaughter that is allergic to eggs, so I am giving her a copy too. So that she may make a special cake for her occasionly
I can’t wait to try it too :~)
Thanks.
This is looks absolutely delicious! I can’t wait to try it! I printed off 2 copies…. one for me & one for a coworker, as she has a granddaughter that is alergic to eggs, this way she’ll have a special recipe for a special little girl! :~)
Sounds like such a fun group to be a part of! This cake looks absolutely decadent and delicious!
Oh, and congrats on the nomination! You have my vote!
Thanks you so much for posting this recipe. I tried it out and my son who is allergic to eggs proclaimed it as the “best cake ever”.
It looks fantastic!
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hi deeba have come over to my mom’s place in Indore and just saw this cake and i knew i had to make it!!! oh but woe is me i used amul cream and the damn thing judt wouldn’t beat stiff and then i just plonked the strawberry mix into it anyways, as i type am getting ready to do the ganache. Deeba what could i have done wrong pls., tell me, am soo sad!!!
Hi Gajra, whipping cream in India is quite a pain. Hang on, will just mail you with some cream FAQ.
Deeba, your description make me rush right over here to check out this incredible cake…I’m shivering with chocolate delight! I have just created an intensly chocolate cake (flourless) that I top with fresh strawberries and vanilla whipped cream! Now I’m going to make yours this weekend!
That is one truly gorgeous layer cake!
This looks perfect! This is art baby! I love your cake, because I’m also passionate about chocolate and strawberries. Lovely and delicious!
Now that is a stunner. YUM!!
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This cake was absolutely delicious and so so easy to make. The only problem I had was that it cracked a lot on the top. Am wondering if using a dark, non-stick cake pan has anything to do with it??
Cheers,
Laura
Oh my, this is BEAUTIFUL! I have a cousin visiting this weekend who has allergies, and this cake just might be the dessert I’ve been searching for. So glad I found your site. I have a burning question, though. Please share how you made that web and what you used. I tried for a similar effect on a cheesecake I made recently and it didn’t work out as I envisioned. I wanted it to look like the design on your cake. Please share!!
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Oh wow… this cake looks SO delicious and so professional and fancy!
My husband would love it for his birthday because he’s a chocoholic… and I would love it because it satisfies my longing to make pretty and complicated recipes
-Carissa
What did you use to make the white icing/piping on top of the cake?
Hi Jen,
I used a tbsp of whipped cream from the filling that I popped into a baggie, snipped the corner off and feathered it on top.
Made this today…. divine.
Dee, how did I miss this.. it’s LOVELY and one that I must try asap.. thanks much
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Hi Deeba
Want to try this next week for my in-laws anniversary. But again, i am not sure how Amul cream would whip! i feel its too thin to be whipped..any tricks? roughly how long will it take to form peaks with amul cream? im scared to overwhip or worse make it all curdled!! your filling looks all silk and satin! if you can help me with whipping cream demon, you have no idea how i would worship you!
Thanks
Pooja
Hi Pooja,
Amul cream issue is a perennial problem for us in India.
I use Amul cream for my cakes, which whips up with difficulty these days because the weather in Gurgaon is hot. I have a post here – http://www.passionateaboutbaking.com/2010/06/baking-swiss-black-forest-cake-whipping-up-low-fat-cream-into-submission.html that talks about how to reintroduce the fat in low fat cream so it can get whipped up. Also, I try using only small tetrapaks. The big 1 ltr one always fails for me…
Not sure how the weather is where you are, but Amul cream just does not cooperate in hot humid weather. When it is cooler here, I keep the tetrapak in the fridge, at least overnight, till chilled. Then snip off the top, drain off the clear liquid, & whip the cream to peaks with castor sugar. Oh, and I keep the steel bowl etc in the freezer too for about 15 minutes. Ideally try and whip the cream in the early morning while the weather is still cool {or in an airconditioned room}….
Thank you so much deeba, this is what I was looking for, I could never find the post, believe it or not I have come to your blog so many times before the T & T,( just to look through the recipes, can I say I forget to bake anything but just drool over your photos and writing
,), everytime I search for this recipe and I have never found it, I really want to try this out, thanks again for your time to do this for me.
Thank you for this wonderful recipe! I made this cake a couple of weeks ago, using a chocolate balsamic vinegar — absolutely fantastic! Thank you!
Thank you! This cake was delish! I used a wonderful chocolate balsamic vinegar & it turned out amazing. Thank you so much!
wonderful recipe.I will try this .thank you very much for your time and efert.
Deeba,
The cake looks fabulous!
Would you recommend using cherries instead of strawberries here, since its the cherry season? Also, should I make any alterations if I’m substituting them with cherries?
deeba … i love ur blog…. the recipes are awesome and pictures are simply beautiful…. i love this cake , but i have a problem that what should i use instead of balsamic vineagar because it has wine in it, and as a muslim i dont want to use the balsamic vinegar…i live in london and i checked it everywhere, but cant find balsamic vinegar that has no wine in it… plz help… thank u soo much
Hi Deeba,
Congratulations on the most informative and appealing blog on baking.
Hailing from India, I never did much baking myself until I came to US. I always felt I was missing something until I really started baking and looking for recipes online. I landed on your blog looking for a egg less recipe for a vegan friend….May I say that you truly inspired me to keep on baking!!
I am going to try this recipe tomorrow for a friend’s birthday………Hope it turns out good.
One question though, do you have any suggestions for high altitude baking?
hi deeba….i have tried this cake for my freind who is allergic to eggs and this cake turned turned out simply great and beautiful… everyone just loved it… but deeba if i dont have to make an eggless cake again , can i make a simple choclate cake and layer with this strawberries and cream… does it goes with that…. or if there is any other choclate cake recipe of urs in this blog, which can go with this.. plz help and thank u soo much
OH my gosh, that is beautiful!
OMG…just made this…this cake is the best eggless choclate cake I have ever made.
Hi Deeba,
Made this cake for my mother’s birthday and it turned out to be a big hit. Its Moist and fudgy sans the egg smell. I had 1/4 cup coco powder and so added 100gm melted dark chocolate along with coco powder. The result was fantastic. Thanks a lot for the recipe.
Soumya
delicious recipes, low calorie recipes and Traditional Romanian food at
ralus-recipes. blogspot . com/
Have a nice day
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Hi Deeba!Have to say, your blog is the one stop shop for anything to do with baking.
I made this one for my hubby yesterday and it was lovely, there was only problem, the cake cracked a lot, in fact broke, while I was sandwiching, plus later it tasted like cardboard:(.
The only change I made was to use butter instead of oil, bec I dont like the taste of oil in cake.Can you please tell me where I went wrong?
Oh I didnt have vinegar also:(
Hi Nivedita, I think oil keeps this particular cake moist, and it doesn’t taste ‘oily’ once sandwiched with cream. Cardboard? I guess because you left the vinegar out. Baking soda and vinegar react in this cake to work the magic; I think you left the effervescent effect out altogether.
Hi Deeba!Thank you so much for replying:). I made another cake from your blog and this time I stuck to everything and you said, this times things were fine:)
Hello there, simply became aware of your weblog through Google, and located that it is really informative. I am going to watch out for brussels. I will appreciate if you happen to proceed this in future. A lot of folks might be benefited out of your writing. Cheers!
Belgian Chocolates Online´s last [type] ..1
Hi Deeba, can u plz guide on how to level a cake…since most of my baking has a doom shape when i take out from oven…:((…i dont hv a cake leveler and have not seen any thing like that in India. Give some tips plz..
Nivedita
I tried this cake last month and it was absolutely fantastic!!!! Friends who don’t like chocolate cake: loved it!!! It was super moist and decadent!!! Thanks Deeba!
Yay…glad you and the friends enjoyed it! Thank you for taking the time for letting me know!
As soon as I saw the picture of your cake I started to drool! It looks amazing! Wish you could just send me a piece, right now!!!
That looks so divine! I’ve made that cake recipe before, but the balsamic strawberry filling is such a creative update – yum!
Anne @ Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy´s last [type] ..Coming Next Wednesday to a Blog Near You…
Deeba, I love this recipe so much I have saved the picture of your cake as my desktop background so that I look at it all day and droooolll.. hahah!
Luv ur desserts so much! <3
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You make me smile! How sweet are you!! Hugs!!
Hi Deeba!
I just tried this cake today and it tasted good with the filling, however, it was a little dry and dense. Can you please suggest where could I have gone wrong? If I use one 9 ” pan, will it make a difference? I have to bake a cake for a friend’s anniversary and I was thinking of baking this one. Do you think adding sugar syrup will help? Please advise.
I am also a fellow Secret Recipe Club-er and I thank you for a great recipe! It inspired me to use it on my blog as well for The Crazy Cooking Challenge, come check it out !
-Heather http://itsyummytomytummy.blogspot.com/2012/02/egg-and-dairy-free-chocolate-cake.html
Deeba, I made this cake few days ago and it tasted divine! literally finger lickin’ good!
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe and much much love! <3
Deeba, thank you very much for a really great recipe! I tried it last month and it was absolutely fantastic! I used the recipe on my blog. It’s in Russian but there are many pictures.
http://gourmetgrey.livejournal.com/21288.html
Wil be trying this cake for the first time. my hubby loves black forest & this seems close enough to an eggless blackforest cake. one quick qsn- can i use cherries instead of strawberries?
Nive´s last [type] ..Weekday Wonders
Hi Nive. Yes of course you can use cherries. Drain them well first if using canned ones. Do let me know how it comes out.
Good luck!
Going to make this today didnot get to it yesterday…
Nive´s last [type] ..Weekday Wonders
hi Deeba,
I made this one yesterday for my hubby’s bday. This is the best ever eggless cake I have baked to date. Thanks! You made my day!
Your passion is truly inspiring. Keep up the good work.
Thank you for trying the recipe, and for taking the time to write back with such sweet words!
Hi,
Dear Deeba!
Your photograpy is stunned!!!!!!!!!
this is most beautiful, soft and delicious cake ever i made.i changed little bit like As a Muslim i cant use Balsamic vinegar .just used normal vinegar and that was really good work with recipe.
2nd thing just add 1tsp baking powder because here in Canada strong flavour .
3rd thing i used vanilla essence. after all of them changing i got best result.
love you deeba,
best,
zuausha!
must visit my page on fb…
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=353956281323530&set=pu.176465905739236&type=1&theater
Hi Deeba!!
Thanks once again…
I made this cake for my son’s 4th birthday last week.I prepared them in loaf pans(3 cakes) to shape as a ’4′. Also,I didn’t use ganache topping,instead I frosted with whipped cream.It was so so yummy.Believe me,it was very much appreciated by each and every guest of mine!!Everybody wanted the recipe!Imagine, I had made 3 cakes and even the crumbs were gobbled up in no time!!I have been ur silent follower for quite some time now,but I thought this time I should write to u..keep up the good work.Sometimes I browse ur site just to see those amazing pics.Then of course,some picture will motivate me to cook or bake