Learn how to make the perfect chocolate sponge cake for your next layer cake or Swiss roll.


Simple Chocolate Sponge Cake Recipe

Sponge cake is a light, springy cake made from flour, whisked eggs, and sugar. The defining feature of a sponge cake is the whisked eggs—the foamy structure of the eggs allows the cake to rise without baking powder or baking soda. 

In the French tradition, sponge cake made by whisking whole eggs is called génoise, while sponge cake made by whisking the egg whites and egg yolks separately is known as biscuit. Some sponge cake includes the addition of cold butter, but many recipes are butter- and oil-free.

To make a chocolate sponge cake, bakers substitute cocoa powder for a portion of the flour. Chocolate sponge cake is made with cocoa powder, not melted chocolate; the cocoa powder allows the cake to keep its airy texture, but the chocolate sponge is not especially rich with chocolate flavor. 
Chocolate sponge cake makes an excellent base for rich fillings like [chocolate ganache](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/chef-dominique-ansels-chocolate-ganache-recipe) or [chocolate mousse](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/chef-dominique-ansels-recipe-for-chocolate-mousse), and it’s also great for soaking up a liqueur drizzle. Some of the most popular desserts featuring a chocolate sponge include:

1. __Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte (Black Forest cake)__: This classic German dessert features a layer of shortcrust chocolate pastry, chocolate sponge, cherries, cherry brandy, whipped cream, and dark chocolate shavings.
2. __Chocolate Swiss roll__: A Swiss roll is a rolled cake made from a thin layer of sponge rolled around a filling. Vanilla sponge is often rolled around jam, while chocolate sponge typically pairs with whipped cream or [buttercream](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/buttercream-frosting-recipe).
3. __Bûche de Noël (yule log)__: This Christmas-themed Swiss roll features a layer of chocolate sponge cake filled with vanilla buttercream and frosted with chocolate buttercream. This dessert resembles a log, perhaps with the addition of some meringue mushrooms or a dusting of powdered sugar "snow." 
Learn how to make the perfect chocolate sponge cake for your next layer cake or Swiss roll.


Sponge cake is a light, springy cake made from flour, whisked eggs, and sugar. The defining feature of a sponge cake is the whisked eggs—the foamy structure of the eggs allows the cake to rise without baking powder or baking soda. In the French tradition, sponge cake made by whisking whole eggs is called génoise, while sponge cake made by whisking the egg whites and egg yolks separately is known as biscuit. Some sponge cake includes the addition of cold butter, but many recipes are butter- and oil-free.To make a chocolate sponge cake, bakers substitute cocoa powder for a portion of the flour. Chocolate sponge cake is made with cocoa powder, not melted chocolate; the cocoa powder allows the cake to keep its airy texture, but the chocolate sponge is not especially rich with chocolate flavor.

 What Is Sponge Cake?

Chocolate sponge cake makes an excellent base for rich fillings like <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/chef-dominique-ansels-chocolate-ganache-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/chef-dominique-ansels-chocolate-ganache-recipe","linkCopy":"chocolate ganache","category":null}'>chocolate ganache</a> or <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/chef-dominique-ansels-recipe-for-chocolate-mousse' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/chef-dominique-ansels-recipe-for-chocolate-mousse","linkCopy":"chocolate mousse","category":null}'>chocolate mousse</a>, and it’s also great for soaking up a liqueur drizzle. Some of the most popular desserts featuring a chocolate sponge include:<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte (Black Forest cake): This classic German dessert features a layer of shortcrust chocolate pastry, chocolate sponge, cherries, cherry brandy, whipped cream, and dark chocolate shavings. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Chocolate Swiss roll: A Swiss roll is a rolled cake made from a thin layer of sponge rolled around a filling. Vanilla sponge is often rolled around jam, while chocolate sponge typically pairs with whipped cream or <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/buttercream-frosting-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/buttercream-frosting-recipe","linkCopy":"buttercream","category":null}'>buttercream</a>. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Bûche de Noël (yule log): This Christmas-themed Swiss roll features a layer of chocolate sponge cake filled with vanilla buttercream and frosted with chocolate buttercream. This dessert resembles a log, perhaps with the addition of some meringue mushrooms or a dusting of powdered sugar &quot;snow.&quot; </li></ol>

3 Ways to Use Chocolate Sponge Cake

Chocolate Sponge Cake Recipe

Learn how to make the perfect chocolate sponge cake for your next layer cake or Swiss roll.