Sometimes, you just want simple - no frosting, no filling, just good old cake (filled with chocolate of course). And, on days like that this Chocolate Chip Loaf Cake is the perfect recipe.
This homemade Chocolate Chip Loaf Cake recipe is for a buttery vanilla loaf cake filled with chocolate chips. I love dusting it with icing sugar and serving it fresh from the oven because few things beat a fresh slice of cake.
Make this recipe for lazy afternoons spent reading or watching your favorite show. This recipe is also perfect for when you need something simple for an afternoon catch-up with friends.
If you love easy loaf cake recipes, then have a look at this recipe for a Raspberry and White Chocolate Loaf Cake or this recipe for an Almond and Apricot Loaf.
Ingredients
To make this simple loaf cake you will need the basic ingredients listed below, remember to always use fresh room temperature ingredients. Make sure the butter, eggs, and sour cream are all at room temperature before you start baking.
- Granulated white sugar
- Unsalted butter
- Extra-large eggs
- Vanilla extract
- Cake flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Sour cream
- Milk chocolate chips
Unsalted butter - use unsalted butter rather than salted butter for this recipe. It is also essential that you use room-temperature butter.
Extra-large eggs - out of their shell, the eggs I use weigh 56 grams, if you aren't sure if you have the same eggs - weigh the eggs you have and adjust accordingly.
Vanilla extract - choose a quality vanilla extract rather than essence to give this recipe a great vanilla flavor. You can also use vanilla bean paste.
Cake flour - use cake flour for the best results. You can also use self-raising flour instead of the combination of cake flour and baking powder.
Sour cream - for a rich and fluffy cake choose to use sour cream, make sure this is at room temperature. If you don't have sour cream, you can also use greek yogurt.
Milk chocolate chips - choose a quality, great-tasting milk chocolate for this recipe. If you prefer you can also use dark chocolate chips for a more intense flavour. If you don't have chocolate chips, you can chop up your favorite plain chocolate bar instead.
See the recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Follow the simple instructions below to make this easy chocolate chip loaf cake recipe.
STEP 1: Preheat the oven. Preheat the oven to 180C (350F) and line a loaf cake pan 20x10x6cm (8x4x3inch) with butter and parchment paper.
STEP 2: Cream sugar and butter. To a bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, add the sugar and room temperature butter. Beat at medium-high speed until creamed, about three minutes.
STEP 3: Add the eggs. Add the eggs to the creamed sugar and butter one at a time beating for 1-2 minutes between each addition. Use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl between each addition.
STEP 4: Add the vanilla. Add the vanilla to the cake mixture, and beat again until combined.
STEP 5: Sift together the dry ingredients. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
STEP 6: Add the dry and wet ingredients. At low speed add the dry ingredients and sour cream to the cake batter by alternating between the two. Starting with the flour mixture and ending with the sour cream. Once added scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat again to make sure everything is well mixed.
STEP 7: Add the chocolate chips. In a small bowl combine the chocolate chips and ½ tablespoon of cake flour, fold this through the cake batter using a spatula or wooden spoon.
STEP 8: Bake. Pour the batter into a prepared pan and smooth it over with a spatula. Bake for 50 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove from the oven.
STEP 9: Cool. Allow the cake to cool in its tin for 15 minutes before turning it onto a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with icing sugar if you wish, serve, and enjoy!
Hint: For an extra chocolate hit, you can sprinkle a few more chocolate chips on the top of the loaf before baking.
Variations
I love making this easy recipe with milk chocolate chips but you can use dark chocolate chips if you would prefer. You can also add in your favorite berries for the perfect berry loaf cake!
Equipment
To make this recipe you will need a loaf pan, 20x10x6cm (8x4x3inch), and a stand or electric hand mixer.
Storage
Store any leftover cake in an airtight container or cover it in aluminum foil and keep it at room temperature for up to 4 days.
To freeze this cake, cut the loaf cake into individual slices and wrap each slice of cake in plastic wrap. Freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost the cake slices in the fridge overnight, then bring the slices to room temperature before consuming.
Top tips
Follow the top tips below to make sure you are baking the perfect chocolate chip loaf cake
- Make sure all of your ingredients are at room temperature.
- Use an oven thermometer to check the true temperature of your oven.
- Check the cake for doneness by inserting a cake tester into the middle of the cake, if it doesn't come out clean set the timer for a further 3 minutes.
- Adding a bit of flour to the chocolate chips helps prevent them from sinking during baking.
- Allow the cake to cool slightly in its tin before turning it out, this is to prevent the loaf cake from falling apart which may happen if it is still very hot.
FAQ
This may happen if your ingredients weren't at room temperature, or if you added the eggs and didn't scrape the bowl between each addition. It shouldn't affect the end product; when you add the flour, the mixture should look homogenous.
Make sure you use an oven thermometer to test the true temperature of your oven. Understanding how your oven works can be the hardest part of baking, and where most mistakes happen.
Yes, you can, just bear in mind that the baking time may differ. Larger tins will need less baking time and the cake will be shallower.
If you are a chocolate lover you have to give this moist chocolate chip loaf cake a try! It really is a super simple and delicious bake that's the perfect recipe to try when you are short on time or new to baking.
If you love this simple recipe, please leave a comment and star review below - I love hearing about your kitchen stories!
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Happy Baking
With Love,
Kitty
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Chip Loaf Cake
Equipment
- 1x loaf tin 20x10x6cm (8x4x3inch)
Ingredients
- 100 g unsalted butter
- 170 g sugar white granulated
- 2 eggs extra large
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 200 g cake flour
- 2½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 180 ml sour cream
- 100 g milk chocolate chips
- ½ tablespoon flour
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and line a loaf cake pan 20x10x6cm (8x4x3inch) with butter and parchment paper.
- To a bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, add the sugar and room temperature butter. Beat at medium-high speed until creamed, about three minutes.
- Add the eggs to the creamed sugar and butter one at a time beating for 1-2 minutes between each addition. Use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl between each addition.
- Add the vanilla to the cake mixture, and beat again until combined.
- Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- At low speed add the dry ingredients and sour cream to the cake batter by alternating between the two. Starting with the flour mixture and ending with the sour cream. Once added scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat again to make sure everything is well mixed.
- In a small bowl combine the chocolate chips and ½ tablespoon of cake flour, fold this through the cake batter using a spatula or wooden spoon.
- Pour the batter into a prepared pan and smooth it over with a spatula. Bake for 50 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Remove from the oven.
- Allow the cake to cool in its tin for 15 minutes before turning it onto a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with icing sugar, serve, and enjoy!
Alex says
I loved this recipe! It was so so tasty