Discover a simple French chocolate fondant cake recipe made with only five basic ingredients. With a warm and gooey texture melting in the mouth, this moist cake is all about chocolate, a chocolate lover's dream.
Follow my step-by-step photographed explanations, expert tips, and tricks to help you succeed with this incredibly yummy and delicious recipe.
There is nothing better than a quick and easy chocolate dessert. This is exactly what the chocolate fondant cake brings.
Some occasions call for a fancy-looking dessert, others - for an unforgettable sweet experience. So if you are looking for something memorable, this rich chocolate goodness will surely be the star of your special occasion.
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Your guests will only need one slice of this dense, dark chocolate fondant cake to be instantly won over.
Get ready for recipe requests - print out a few extra copies of the recipe so everyone can be part of that sweet delight.
What is chocolate fondant cake?
Chocolate fondant cake, or simply fondant cake, is a super moist French cake with a delicate silky and creamy center and a thin crust resembling a meringue.
What is fondant cake meaning? Fondant cake or gâteau fondant means "melting cake" and refers to its creamy texture that melts in the mouth when eaten.
Chocolat fondant cake resembles fondant Baulois, but it is quite different from the dense Moelleux au Chocolate and coulant au chocolat with its liquid center.
French chocolate fondant cake recipe
- The chocolate fondant recipe is easy, quick, and made with five simple ingredients.
- It makes the perfect dessert for an ordinary day or a dinner party.
- Rich, velvety, and so chocolatey, it is a cosy dessert to satisfy any sweet tooth.
Ingredients
Get a quick overview of the necessary ingredients. For precise measurements and instructions, refer to the recipe card below. Also, discover the essential baking tools I rely on for daily baking.
- Chocolate is an essential ingredient in making a chocolate fondant cake. Opt for high-quality 70% dark chocolate.
You can experiment with the chocolate's cacao percentage: less dark chocolate is sweeter, and darker chocolate is bitter. But if you want something extra special and intense - choose rich bittersweet chocolate with 70% cocoa.
- Butter: The recipe calls for unsalted butter, but you can replace it with salted butter for more indulgence.
- Sugar: Use white granulated sugar or replace it with light or dark brown sugar. Brown sugar brings caramel flavor and moisture to the cake. Read more about ingredients that make a cake moist.
- Eggs: Use large eggs at room temperature.
- Flour: The recipe calls for all-purpose flour, the same as plain flour.
Recipe variations
While the chocolate fondant recipe is straightforward, you can experiment with its ingredients.
- Replace part of AP flour with semi-wholemeal flour and white sugar with blond cane sugar. For a gluten-free version, replace wheat flour with cornstarch.
- Try to use a delicious combination of dark and milk chocolate in a 1:1 ratio.
- Intensify the chocolate flavor and taste by adding a pinch of salt or fleur de sel to the cake batter.
- Discover a beautiful paring of chocolate with coffee: add half a teaspoon of instant coffee to the melted butter and chocolate mixture. For more flavor combinations, download the fruit flavor pairing chart.
How to make chocolate fondant cake
The key to a successful chocolate fondant cake is using high-quality chocolate and respecting the baking and resting time. Despite being easy to make, it isn't a last minute dessert. For pure indulgence, let the cake cool properly.
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 330°F (165°C). Using softened butter, grease the bottom and the sides of the 8-inch (20 cm) springform pan and line it with parchment paper.
Pro tip: Alternatively, use a cake ring where the base is covered with aluminum foil. Place the cake ring in the middle of the piece of aluminum foil and fold the foil toward the ring. Butter and line the bottom and sides of the dish with the parchment as described above (photo 1). Place the prepared ring on a baking tray.
Step 2. Chop the dark chocolate into small pieces (photo 2) and place in a heat-proof bowl.
Step 3. Add the butter cut into small cubes, melt in a double boiler or bain-marie, and set aside to cool (photo 3). You can use the microwave with settings at 30-second bursts.
Step 4. In a separate bowl, place eggs with sugar. Whip with an electric whisk until doubled and frothy for about 5 minutes (photo 4).
Step 5. Add the melted chocolate mixture to the eggs and sugar preparation and mix with a rubber spatula (photo 5).
Pro tip: Ensure the chocolate mixture is cooled down to prevent cooking the eggs.
Step 6. Add the sifted flour and gently mix (photo 6). Pour the fondant mixture into the prepared mold and bake for 22 minutes.
Step 7. Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool at room temperature for 30 minutes.
Pro tip: When the cake comes out of the oven, it seems undercooked with a slightly wobbly center, which is normal.
Step 8. Refrigerate the cake, still in the mold, for at least 3 hours, unmold it, and transfer it to a serving plate.
Pro tip: If you bake it in a ring, use the baking tray beneath your cake ring when transferring it to the fridge. To unmold, lift the ring up and remove the baking paper.
To serve, bring the cake to room temperature for 1 hour. Then, dust the top of the cake with icing (powdered) sugar or unsweetened cocoa powder if desired.
Expert Tips
- Make sure to use ingredients at room temperature.
- Choose a mold with a removable bottom for easy release of the cake. You will have a hard time removing the cake with a regular cake tin.
- Use an 8-inch (20 cm) pan to make this recipe for the best results. For a smaller or larger pan, recalculate ingredients with this simple cake pan calculator. However, you will need to experiment with the baking time until you obtain the desired texture.
- Don't overbake the cake. The cake is ready when its center is slightly wobbly.
- Don't under-bake the cake, either. The authentic fondant cake doesn't have a runny center after slicing it. Add 1-2 more minutes if the cake seems too runny after 22 minutes of baking.
- To let the cake set well, don't omit the chilling time. It guarantees a more prominent melting texture.
- Don't unmold the cake when hot. Let it cool in the fridge, then unmold.
Storing and freezing
Store chocolate fondant cake in an airtight container or under a cake dome in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours.
Can you freeze chocolate fondant cake? You can freeze it in a freezer-friendly box for up to 1 month. To thaw, take it out of the freezer and bring it to the fridge overnight or the counter for a few hours.
How to serve fondant cake
Serve French chocolate fondant cake with a cup of morning coffee, as an afternoon snack, or as a simple dessert after dinner. Rich and very chocolatey, this cake has an ultra-melting texture that pairs well with the following:
- homemade whipped cream
- French Chantilly cream
- vanilla custard (crème Anglaise)
- red fruit coulis
- vanilla ice cream
- fresh strawberries and other berries
FAQ
Look at the center of the cake; it should be slightly wobbly. Then gently shake the cake in the mold: if the cake batter moves a lot, it is not baked yet. On the other hand, if the center moves and the rest of the cake doesn't, the cake is ready.
Dust fondant cake with icing sugar or unsweetened cocoa powder, or decorate it with chocolate shavings.
Serve chocolate fondant cake with homemade whipped cream, creme Chantilly, vanilla custard sauce (crème Anglaise), or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Chocolate fondant cake lasts for up to 48 hours stored in an airtight container or under a cake dome in the refrigerator.
Love chocolate cake recipes? Try these next!
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Recipe card
French Chocolate Fondant Cake
This simple French chocolate fondant cake recipe is made with only five basic ingredients. With a warm and gooey texture melting in the mouth, this cake is all about chocolate, a chocolate lover's dream.
- Total Time: 40 minutes, plus chilling time
- Yield: 10 1x
- Category: Cakes
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Ingredients
- 7 oz. (200 g) dark chocolate, 70% cocoa
- 7 oz. (200 g) unsalted butter
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 5 large eggs
- ¼ cup (30 g) all-purpose flour
Instructions
-
Preheat the oven to 330°F (165°C). Using softened butter, grease the bottom and the sides of the 8-inch (20 cm) springform pan and line it with parchment paper. Alternatively, use a cake ring where the base is covered with aluminum foil. Place the cake ring in the middle of the piece of aluminum foil and fold the foil toward the ring. Then butter and line the bottom and sides of the dish with the parchment described above. Place it on a baking tray.
-
Break the dark chocolate into small pieces and place in a heat-proof bowl. Add the butter cut into small cubes, melt in a double boiler or bain-marie, and set aside to cool. You can use the microwave with settings at 30-second bursts.
-
In a separate bowl, place eggs with sugar. Whip with an electric whisk until doubled and frothy for about 5 minutes. Add the melted chocolate mixture to the eggs and sugar preparation and mix with a rubber spatula. Ensure the chocolate mixture is cooled down to prevent cooking the eggs. Add the sifted flour and gently mix.
-
Pour the fondant mixture into the prepared mold and bake for 22 minutes. Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool at room temperature for 30 minutes. Then, refrigerate it for at least 3 hours, unmold it, and transfer it to a serving plate.
Note: When the cake comes out of the oven, it seems undercooked with a slightly wobbly center, which is normal. If you bake it in a ring, use the baking tray beneath your cake ring when transferring it to the fridge.
-
To serve, bring the cake to room temperature for 1 hour. Then, dust the top of the cake with icing (powdered) sugar or unsweetened cocoa powder.
Notes
- Make sure to use ingredients at room temperature.
- Choose a mold with a removable bottom for easy release of the cake. You will have a hard time removing the cake with a cake tin.
- Use an 8-inch (20 cm) pan to make this recipe for the best results. For a smaller or larger pan, recalculate ingredients with this simple cake pan calculator. However, you will need to experiment with the baking time until you obtain the desired texture.
- Don't overbake the cake. The cake is ready when its center is slightly wobbly.
- Don't under-bake the cake, either. The authentic fondant cake doesn't have a runny center after slicing it. Add 1-2 more minutes if the cake seems too runny after 22 minutes of baking.
- To let the cake set well, don't omit the chilling time. It guarantees a more prominent melting texture.
- Don't unmold the cake when hot. Let it cool in the fridge, then unmold.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 361
- Sugar: 19.8 g
- Sodium: 770 g
- Fat: 33.2 g
- Saturated Fat: 16.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 24.1 g
- Fiber: 1.1 g
- Protein: 5.7 g
- Cholesterol: 136 mg
Keywords: chocolate fondant cake
The nutritional information has been calculated using an online recipe nutrition calculator such as Verywellfit.com and is intended for informational purposes only. These figures should be used as a general guideline and not be construed as a guarantee.
Jennifer Hughes says
I was worried about making this because there were no reviews. I made it anyway. It is delicious. My husband’s comment was “ oh man, that’s good.”
★★★★★
Irina says
Hello Jennifer, Thanks for making the recipe! next, I suggest to make Fondant Baulois: this one is to die for!!!
Giraud says
Decadent cake. It beats by a mile the Devil's cake I baked a couple of years ago, which looked wonderful, but the taste was very ordinary. Nearly 8 h were spent on prepping, mixing, baking, and decorating. This one in less than an hour, and the results are spectacular. I added 1 tsp of ground coffee to the batter for a hint of delicious mocha. Used a 9" pan (ingredients adjusted using the calc.) plus the extra baking time; well, I had to eyeball it, but probably close to the 6 min mark.
Thanks for the recipe.
Highly recommended!
Irina says
Thank you for making the recipe, Giraud!