Nigella is my spirit guide when it comes to baking. Her approach is shameless in the quantities of butter and cream used to achieve indulgent desserts.

Fat = flavour. Fat is the route by which all flavour travels.

#TwistyBakes

This Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake is made with tons of sour cream to give the sponge a rich, moist and very British cake quality. Unsurprisingly, there is also a ton of sour cream in the icing, which gives a subtle tang to offset the sweetness, of which there is plenty.

The best part is that in warmer and more humid climates, this icing is easily manageable and kept supple with a teaspoon or so of hot water. Once refrigerated, the icing firms up nicely and won’t droop while waiting for people to finish singing Happy Birthday in the office.

The recipe is quite easy, quick and forgiving – shove it all in the mixer and whizz. Every baker should have a killer chocolate cake in their arsenal and this is mine.