An easy one-bowl chocolate cake, topped with a delicious and intriguing black pepper buttercream icing. The black pepper adds a subtle fragrant spice that pairs beautifully with the vanilla buttercream and chocolate cake.

Recipe commissioned by Schwartz.

Black Pepper Buttercream

Black pepper buttercream? Trust me on this, it's amazing.

Years ago you were skeptical of salted caramel but fell in love with the flavour contrast. Well, black pepper icing is an extension of that. It takes a very familiar everyday taste and aroma and merges it with a sweet vanilla buttercream icing. The result is a sweet frosting with a delicate warming undertone.

The finely ground fresh black pepper adds a subtly intense fragrant heat to the fluffy vanilla buttercream icing.

The depth of flavour is incredible and it pairs beautifully with the chocolate cake.

Unexpected food combinations

I love unusual food combinations. From spinach cake to gin icing, I like taking familiar ingredients and using them in surprising (but tasty!) ways.

Typically savoury ingredients can really add a bit of 'wow' to sweet dishes.

Black pepper works well with strawberries in salads, so I've sandwiched the cake layers with strawberry jam and added a crown of fresh strawberries to the top of the frosted cake.

Pepper also pairs with chocolate and vanilla, so it compliments the sponge and buttercream, while adding a burst of fragrant spice to the sweet treat.

More black pepper recipes

You could also try my Turmeric Mango Lassi with Candied Black Pepper Almonds.

Black pepper improves us absorb of the health properties of turmeric, so I always add some to this spiced golden turmeric milk from Food to Glow when I make it if I'm feeling ill or just want a comforting drink.

Black Pepper

I love that moment when you open the jar of peppercorns. As you peel the seal from the glass, the strong aroma of pepper envelops you. For me, it’s impossible not to hold it up, close my eyes and take a gentle breath through the nose of that intoxicating perfume. Maybe I’ll sneeze (call me weird, but I LOVE a surprise pepper sneeze!), maybe I won’t - it’s one of life’s little gambles.

When you really consider it, it’s no wonder that black pepper was once so highly prized and traded like currency. We’re so used to its intense scent that we don’t often truly appreciate its alluring properties.

Imagine never having encountered this ‘black gold’ before. I urge you to stop a moment and treasure it, not as a mundane condiment, but as a prized spice to be celebrated. Give it a starring role. Put it in cake.

Unusual chocolate cake recipes

If you love this chocolate cake with pepper frosting, then you'll love these other chocolate cake recipes!

Chocolate Orange Cake
Chocolate Mashed Potato Cake with Tahini Drizzle
Slow Cooker Beet Chocolate Cake
Chocolate Squash Cake
Beet Chocolate Cake

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Disclaimer: This recipe for chocolate cake with black pepper buttercream was commissioned by Schwartz. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that make it possible for me to write Veggie Desserts.

📖 Recipe

Close up of a slice of fluffy and moist one-bowl chocolate cake with a vanilla black pepper buttercream and fresh strawberries

Chocolate Cake with Black Pepper Buttercream

Kate Hackworthy | Veggie Desserts

This easy one-bowl chocolate cake is enlivened with an aromatic black pepper infused buttercream icing. The black pepper adds a subtle warmth and deep flavour to the sweet vanilla frosting.

4.86 from 7 votes

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Prep Time 15

Cook Time 30

Total Time 45

Course Dessert

Cuisine International

Servings

Calories 435 kcal

Ingredients

65 g cocoa powder
100 ml boiling water
3 eggs
175 g plain flour (all purpose)
175 g granulated sugar
100 g unsalted butter at room temperature
50 ml milk
2 ½ teaspoon baking powder

For the Black Pepper Buttercream

150 g unsalted butter softened
300 g powdered icing sugar (confectioners)
3 tablespoon milk
2 teaspoon Schwartz black peppercorns (freshly finely ground)
1 teaspoon vanilla essence

To assemble (optional)

4 tablespoon strawberry jam
strawberries
50 g dark chocolate

Instructions

For the cake:

Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F. Lightly grease 2 x 8 in/20cm round cake tins and line the bases with parchment paper.
Add the cocoa into a large bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer), then pour in the boiling water and stir until smooth.
Add the remaining cake ingredients and mix until combined, (by hand or with an electric whisk or stand mixer). The batter will be quite runny.
Divide the batter between the prepared tins and bake for 30 minutes or until an inserted skewer comes out clean. Allow to cool in the tins for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

For the black pepper buttercream:

Use a pestle and mortar to grind the Schwartz black pepper grounds until they are very fine.
In a large bowl, cream the butter until fluffy. Add in the icing sugar, Schwartz pepper and vanilla and beat well. If necessary, add more milk, a teaspoon at a time, to make it a thick frosting consistency and beat again.

To assemble:

Once the cakes have cooled, spread one with the strawberry jam then place the other cake layer on top. Spread the top and sides with the buttercream and decorate with the strawberries and shaved dark chocolate.

Notes

cake recipe adapted from Mary Berry

Nutrition

Calories: 435kcalCarbohydrates: 61gProtein: 4gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 86mgSodium: 27mgPotassium: 271mgFiber: 2gSugar: 43gVitamin A: 595IUVitamin C: 0.6mgCalcium: 80mgIron: 2.3mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.

Tried this recipe?Mention @kateveggiedesserts or tag #veggiedesserts! I love seeing your recreations.

Comments

4.86 from 7 votes (1 rating without comment)