I know what you’re thinking – red wine IN chocolate cake? Red wine while eating chocolate cake – sure. Red wine while cooking cake, of course. But red wine IN chocolate cake? Trust me… red wine chocolate cake is amazing!
I had my reservations, especially when I added three quarters of a cup of red wine to the batter. I mean, that’s a lot of alcohol in a cake! When I make my famous chocolate marsala cake (see it here: https://thehungrymum.com/2012/02/13/a-sorta-valentine-day-sweet-aka-mini-chocolate-marsala-cakes-with-choc-ganache/) I only add a quarter of a cup so I was hesitant.
But oh what a cake! It is moist and full of flavour but not overly boozy. When I took it to work for my colleagues, for instance, no-one fell down drunk after a slice or two.
This red wine chocolate cake is the perfect cake to bake when you have a bit of wine left in the bottle, as any red can be used.
I was inspired by a recipe from Smitten Kitchen but made a few tweaks, including reducing the sugar and changing the flour.
GATHER:
85 grams unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup caster sugar
1 egg plus 1 egg yolk
3/4 cup any type of red wine
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch baking soda
1 cup plain flour
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup cocoa powder
LET’S GET TO IT:
Preheat the oven to 180C and grease and line a 20cm round cake tin with non-stick baking paper.
Sift together the flour, cinnamon, cocoa powder and baking soda, set aside.
In bowl of electric mixer beat butter until pale – about four minutes – then beat in both sugars and vanilla until the mixture is fluffy.
Beat in the egg and yolk and scrape down sides with spatula, the beat in the red wine.
The mix will look curdled but it will be all right.
Sift in the flour mixture and beat until all combined.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a skewer inserted comes out clean.
Leave in pan for 10 minutes, before removing and placing on wire rake to cool completely. When cold dust with sifted icing sugar.
the hungry mum 
I can smell the chocolate and wine!
And what a lovely smell it is 🙂
It sounds delicious!
The cake looks delicious! Wine in cakes is wonderful – I also add white wine to apple cakes. 🙂
What a fabulous idea, red wine and chocolate are a great team, why not in cake?
You betcha! This is double the pleasure in a cake!
Wow what an interesting idea!! Can you taste enough wine to know that it’s a wine cake?
Ta! You can taste the wine but it isn’t overly groggy.
In that case I will be serving this soon! 😀
I’ve seen this quite a few times but I’ve never tried it! I can’t imagine the taste, does it make it richer? Looks beautiful 🙂
Wow, what a good idea! It looks really moist. I’ve certainly had my share of red wine and cake (ha ha) but I have yet to bake with it. Very intrigued! 🙂
I urge you to bake it and see if you love it as much as I did.
You had me at chocolate but wine sealed the deal. I will have to try this recipe some time.
We should be friends IRL 🙂 This cake is amazing!
Hmmmm, sounds good to me!
You know it Lulu!
Nice combo, the cake looks luscious. Glad none of your work colleagues fell down drunk. 😁
Ta! Would have made the day bit more exciting if they did fall down drunk 🙂
Oh my! That sounds like my kind of cake!!
It is such a fab cake! I can’t wait to make it again 🙂
I love this idea, red wine and chocolate are a wonderful match!
And let’s go with the whole ‘heart-friendly’ label, too 🙂
This just gives me more reason to open up that bottle of wine at home, the cake looks lovely!
Oh yes, any excuse 😉 It is such a winner of a cake. #cheers
Yummylicious cake . …:)
Champagne, rum , red wine, you always get me when you throw some booze into the cake mix. Totally making this for the hubbys birthday this month!!
I just love baking with booze! I also have a tequila cake that is the bee’s knees 🙂 Let me know how the cake goes x
I’ve put rum, whiskey and beer in a cake but never wine. Red wine and chocolate certainly makes a pretty coloured cake xx
Not all at once, I hope 🙂 My fav boozy cake is my tequila cake – that thing packed a punch (ho ho ho!) This is a great everyday cake, and you’re right, it is a lovely colour.
Sounds like my kind of cake – red wine and chocolate – perfect!
Yes! What’s not to love?! It is really much yummier than you would believe 😉
What a great combination! Must give it a go! x
It is such a lovely cake, I can’t wait to bake it again 🙂
Its surprising what you can out in a chocolate cake isn’t it. I have made this one and served it with red wine caramel. LOL, Funny eh? How are you?
Red wine and chocolate – I will take a big piece of your cake 🙂
Sending carrier pigeon as I type… 🙂
This cake looks fantastic! I bet the flavor combination is really great. Chocolate + red wine? Yum!
Awww, ta Amy! It is a lush combo that isn’t overly heavy.
I’m not a wine drinker, but I sure love adding it to my desserts. This sounds like one luscious cake!
Cheers Starr! I also love baking boozy desserts and cakes 😉
WOW!!! I don’t drink red wine… but oh my gosh – this is totally different!! Yum!
Thanks! This is perfect for when guests bring red wine and there is just a bit left in the bottle – turn it into cake 🙂
I must admit that I had to check out this post when you mention chocolate and red wine. Sounds like a good way to use up that leftover wine. The cake looks very moist and delicious! I’m intrigued as to how the wine will lend flavour to the cake. Looks like I’ve gotta try it for myself.
I never have put red wine in a cake but I think that must gave a lovely moisture & flavor!
MMMMM!
Oh la la this sounds divine! Happy feasting.
Thanks! Wine plus cake equals yay!