This rich Galaxy chocolate cake will blow your mind. Imagine perfectly light and delicious chocolate cake, sandwiched with smooth Baileys cream, all covered with a glossy Galaxy ganache. It's every bit as delicious as it sounds.
Spread atop a chocolate oil cake filled with Baileys whipped cream, this ganache tops off a very decadent dessert.
Here's what to do.
Of course, if you want to share this cake with the kids, you can simply leave out the Baileys, but for grownups, the combination of the Baileys cream and Galaxy ganache is rather amazing.
Ingredients
For the sponge
- 150 g (¾ cup + 1 tbsp) white caster sugar (superfine sugar)
- 2 medium free range eggs beaten
- 150 ml (½ cup + 2 tbsp) vegetable oil (canola oil)
- 150 ml (½ cup + 2 tbsp) whole milk
- 2 tbsp golden syrup
- 175 g (1¼ cup) self-raising white flour (self rising flour)
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder (dutch processed)
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
For the ganache
- 250 g (9 oz) Galaxy chocolate outside of the UK, this brand of chocolate is known as Dove
- 100 ml (⅓ cup + 1 tbsp) double cream (heavy cream)
For the Baileys cream
- 125 ml (½ cup) double cream (heavy cream)
- 40 ml (3 tbsp) Baileys Original Irish Cream
- 1 tbsp drinking chocolate powder (hot cocoa mix)
Equipment
- 2 Round loose-bottomed 20cm (8") nonstick cake tin
Instructions
To make the sponge
Preheat oven to 180ºC (160C fan assisted).
In a large bowl, combine the sugar and beaten eggs.
Add the oil, milk and golden syrup.
Beat together
Add the flour, cocoa and bicarbonate of soda.
Whisk to combine.
Share the mixture between two greased and lined 20cm loose-bottomed cake tins.
Bake for about 30 minutes until firm and springy on top. Cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then remove from the tin to cool completely.
Make the Galaxy ganache
Put the cream in a bowl and micorwave in 10-second blasts until very hot but not boiling.
Immediately pour the cream over the chocolate.
Beat until melted and shiny. Leave it to cool.
To make the Baileys cream
Beat the cream and Baileys until it forms very soft peaks.
Add the drinking chocolate.
Whisk briefly to give soft peaks.
To assemble
Place one cooled sponge on a board.
Using an offset palette knife or flat knife, spread the cream on to the cake.
Place the second cake on top to create a sandwich.
Slowly and carefully pour the ganache over the cake, using the offset palette knife to smooth the top and sides.
Leave to set for at least an hour, then wipe away excess ganache that may have dripped down the sides.
Cutting into 16 slices to serve.
Enjoy!
Pointers, tricks and troubleshooting tips for the perfect Moist chocolate cake with Galaxy chocolate cake
Is this moist Galaxy chocolate cake easy to make?
This indulgent cake sounds like there is a lot going on, but it’s really straightforward to make.
The chocolate cake batter comes together easily, and once it’s in the oven you can start preparing the ganache and the Baileys cream filling.
It’s truly a divine treat for anyone who’s a fan of Baileys and Galaxy chocolate, perfect for a special birthday or celebration!
Will I need any special equipment to make Galaxy chocolate cake?
All the equipment you need should be easy to find, and on hand in the average home baker's kitchen.
You’ll need things like weighing scales, measuring jug and measuring spoons, a couple of mixing bowls, and a microwave-safe bowl to heat up the cream for the ganache.
I like to use an electric hand whisk to beat the batter but you can use a spoon if you prefer, you will need a whisk to whip the cream for the filling though. To bake the cakes in you will also need 2 20cm (8inch) cake tins. A full list of the suggested equipment can be found on the recipe card at the bottom of this page.
Where can I buy Baileys?
Baileys is a popular brand of Irish cream which is a liqueur of Irish whisky mixed with cream and sometimes other flavourings like coffee, chocolate and vanilla. In the UK it is easy to come by in the supermarket or online, other Irish creams will work just as well as Baileys for the filling of this indulgent cake so use your favourite.
How can I tell if sunflower oil has gone off?
Vegetable oils like sunflower oil will usually have quite a long Best Before End date, but they do need to be stored correctly to ensure they last that long.
Keep your oil somewhere cool and dark, as heat and sunlight will speed up the spoilage process. Make sure the lid is closed properly too so air can’t get into the bottle when it’s not in use.
Gone-off oil will smell rancid and may be discoloured and if this is the case it should be discarded safely at your local refuse collection center.
Is this Galaxy chocolate cake suitable for vegetarians?
Yes, this decadent chocolate cake is totally fine for vegetarians, it contains dairy cream and eggs but no meat or fish products.
Whenever you're cooking for someone with a specific dietary requirement it's best to check all the packages on ingredients to make sure they are suitable, overtime manufacturers sometimes change the recipe making things no longer suitable.
Is this Galaxy chocolate cake suitable for vegans?
The recipe as it is would not be suitable for vegans as it contains a lot of dairy products and chicken eggs, classic Baileys is made with dairy cream and Galaxy chocolate also contains milk.
That said, if you want to try and make this with vegan alternatives you can, I haven’t tested this recipe with vegan ingredients yet but would suggest the following alternatives:
Eggs can be replaced with one of the following options (each = 1 egg, so multiply as needed for any given recipe):
- 3 tablespoons of aquafaba (the water you get in a tin of chickpeas).
- 1 tablespoon of crushed chia seeds or flax seeds mixed with 2 tablespoons of water and left for 10 minutes in the fridge.
- 3 tablespoons of applesauce (bear in mind this will add sweetness).
Milk is easily replaced with unsweetened soya milk, I find this most neutral for baking but you can use your favourite plant milk.
Galaxy chocolate can be replaced with vegan milk chocolate.
Baileys make a vegan Irish cream with almond milk if you can get hold of it.
Double cream for the filling can be replaced with vegan whipping cream.
Drinking chocolate sometimes contains whey powder so either find vegan drinking chocolate or use cocoa powder instead.
Is this Galaxy chocolate cake gluten-free?
For this recipe, I’ve used wheat-based self-raising flour so it would not be gluten-free. I haven’t tested this recipe with gluten-free flour yet but you could give it a try if you want, let me know how you get on in the comments below.
Whenever making gluten-free bakes I would recommend using a good quality brand of flour that will likely be a blend such as rice and oat flours, mixed with a binder like xanthan gum to help with the texture, and of course some raising agents.
When baking for someone with allergies or intolerances it is important to check all ingredients are suitable, not just the obvious ones, particularly as some foods are produced in the same factories that handle gluten products so they may be cross-contaminated, this will be stated on the packaging if you are unsure.
Is this Galaxy chocolate cake keto-friendly?
This cake makes 16 slices, each of which contains about 30g of carbohydrates so this is probably too high to be worked into a keto diet.
Is this Galaxy chocolate cake healthy?
This moist chocolate cake is indulgence at every level, it's high in fat and sugar and should be enjoyed on special occasions as a treat, not for every day break time.
Is this Galaxy chocolate cake safe to eat while pregnant?
This cake contains a small amount of alcohol in the cream filling, the NHS advises avoiding alcohol during pregnancy, please see their website for more information. You can of course make this cake without the Baileys if you want to make it alcohol-free.
Another potential risk factor for a pregnant woman might be the fresh cream. Make sure to use pasteurised cream, the NHS explains why here, almost all easily available cream will have been pasteurised but it's best to double-check.
Other than these points to keep in mind this cake is ok to be enjoyed during pregnancy, make sure all the ingredients are in good condition and the cake is made safely and hygienically.
If you have any specific concerns or questions please speak to a medical professional, A Mummy Too does not offer medical advice.
What goes well with this Galaxy chocolate cake?
If you’re serving this as a celebration cake why not go all out and serve with a glass of Baileys for the grown-ups.
Can I make this recipe without eggs?
This recipe hasn’t been tested egg free yet, but if you need to avoid eggs then you can give one of these replacements a go (each = 1 egg, so multiply as needed for any given recipe):
- 3 tablespoons of aquafaba (the water you get in a tin of chickpeas).
- 1 tablespoon of crushed chia seeds or flax seeds mixed with 2 tablespoons of water and left for 10 minutes in the fridge.
- 3 tablespoons of applesauce (bear in mind this will add sweetness).
For this bake I think the chia seed option will likely be the most successful, it’s quite a wet cake mix so adding aquafaba or applesauce may make the mix too wet, give it a go and let me know how you get on in the comments below!
I haven’t got Baileys, can I use a different alcohol, or something non alcoholic?
Baileys is an Irish cream flavoured with chocolate and vanilla so it's hard to just switch it out for something else.
You can of course simply leave it out if you want to make this recipe alcohol-free.
If you have some neat whisky you could add this instead, half the amount the recipe calls for so when it states 40ml of Baileys use only 20ml of whisky as it is stronger, the Baileys is already diluted with cream and other flavours.
If you don’t like Baileys or whisky then you could perhaps try and use a coffee flavoured liqueur instead, something like Tia Maria or Kahlua should work.
Can I add extra chocolate to this recipe?
This cake has chocolate at every level. If you like you could spread a little of the Galaxy chocolate ganache onto the bottom cake before you add the Baileys cream filling, adding an extra layer of chocolate to the cake.
How should I store Galaxy chocolate cake?
As this cake contains fresh cream for the filling it needs to be kept in the fridge. Transfer any leftover cake into a suitable size container and pop it in the fridge.
How long does this Galaxy chocolate cake keep?
Check the Use By Date on the cream as this may affect how long the cake will keep. If the cream is well in date this cake will keep for 3-5 days in the fridge.
Can I leave this Galaxy chocolate cake out on the counter?
Other than when serving this cake needs to be kept in the fridge, it contains fresh cream which will spoil rapidly if left out on the side.
Can I make this Galaxy chocolate cake ahead?
Usually, homemade bakes are best enjoyed on the day they are made so if you can try and make this the day you want to serve it.
If you want to get ahead you could make the cakes the day before, and decorate them on the day as this doesn't take much time. Allow them to cool completely before storing them in an airtight container until you’re ready to decorate the next day, leaving an hour for the ganache to set before serving.
Can I keep this Galaxy chocolate cake in the refrigerator?
Yes, this cake needs to be kept in the fridge as it contains fresh cream which will spoil if it is kept out.
Can I freeze this Galaxy chocolate cake?
As the filling for this cake is mostly fresh cream it might split when it's frozen. I haven’t tried freezing this as a completed cake but you could give it a try if you have a few slices leftover you want to keep.
The undecorated cakes will freeze well, and this can be a great way to get ahead if you’re using this for a birthday cake and will be too busy the day before to make a cake ahead.
Once cooled, wrap the cakes well in a freezer bag, labeled with the date and type of cake. They’ll keep in the freezer for up to 2 months. Then the night before you need them, get the cakes out to defrost in the fridge, you can then finish off by decorating on the day which doesn't take very long.
Can I make this Galaxy chocolate cake in a different quantity?
If you want to make more or less of this moist chocolate you can. Keep in mind you might need different size cake tins or more than 2 depending on what you want to achieve.
You’ll see on the recipe card below that the servings near the top left are set to 16 slices, made with 2 20cm (8inch) cakes. Click or hover over this number and a slide bar will pop up that you can move up or down to get the number of servings you wish to make. This will update the ingredient quantities automatically for you so you’re ready to get baking.
Can I make this Galaxy chocolate cake in individual portions?
I’ve only ever made this chocolate cake as a large cake to cut into slices, in theory, you could use this recipe to make cupcakes instead.
Divide the cake batter into a lined muffin tray, you might need to cook them in batches if you only have one tray. As these cakes are smaller they will bake a bit quicker than the large ones so check them after about 20-25 minutes to see if they are done.
Once out of the oven and well cooled you can spoon on the chocolate ganache onto each cupcake, allow this time to set. Then finish off by whipping the Baileys and cream into stiff peaks and piping a pretty swirl on top of each cupcake.
Can I make this Galaxy chocolate cake in a stand mixer such as a KitchenAid or Kenwood Mixer?
A stand mixer is a really handy kitchen gadget to use for a recipe like this that calls for quite a bit of whipping.
Use your free-standing mixer with the balloon whisk attachment to beat the cake batter. As you add the ingredients you might need to scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula to make sure everything is mixing in well.
Once the cakes are in the oven baking, wash and thoroughly dry the bowl and whisk attachment ready to make the cream filling.
For the filling we want soft peaks, so the cream holds its shape for a few seconds and then gently melts back into itself. It’s really easy to over whisk when using a stand mixer so make sure you keep an eye on it and don’t go too fast.
Can I make this Galaxy chocolate cake with a food processor?
As this recipe needs whisking and beating a food processor won’t be able to help us.
How can I make sure my Galaxy chocolate cake is perfectly cooked?
The cakes are done when they have risen to a gentle dome, the cakes will feel firm and spring back when lightly pressed in the middle. If you’re still not sure the cakes are done you can use the skewer test and check it comes out clean.
Why did my Galaxy chocolate cake turn out dry?
As long as all the ingredients are added in the correct quantities this cake should turn out lovely and moist. I find it useful to measure everything out before I start making the cake batter so you know all the ingredients are on hand ready to go into the mix. This is particularly helpful when cooking a recipe for the first time. Have a final check through the recipe before pouring the batter into the cake tins, to make sure everything has been added.
When it comes to cooking the cake, set a timer so you remember when to check on them, if they’re in the oven too long they will start to dry out and eventually burn. This cake will also dry out if it's not stored correctly. It needs to be kept in a sealed container in the fridge to keep the cream fresh and stop the cakes from drying out so quickly.
Why did my Galaxy chocolate cake turn out wet?
As we’re using sunflower oil instead of butter to make this moist chocolate cake the batter might seem wetter than cakes you’ve made before. Don’t worry it will be quite wet at this stage, and given enough time in the oven the cake should bake to perfection. Have a look at the photos above, you’ll be able to see how liquid the cake mix looks before it's cooked.
If your cake is still wet after it's been in the oven for the recommended time, check the oven has come up to temperature and return the cakes to the oven, check again after 5 minutes to see if it's finished baking.
Why didn’t my Galaxy chocolate cake rise, and sink in the middle?
For this recipe we’re using both self-raising flour and also adding a little bicarbonate of soda so as long as these are used the cake should rise. This moist chocolate cake only gently rises so don't worry if your cake only rises a little.
A few different things can affect how well cakes rise, I’ll run through the main points here, and hopefully, you can spot what went wrong with your cake and adapt for next time.
The raising agents added to flour or to the cake mix themselves will start to react and create tiny bubbles as soon as they are mixed with the wet ingredients. These bubbles are what make the cakes rise so we need to try and protect them.
This is why you usually mix most of the wet ingredients and sugar together at the start of a recipe and add the flour last. It’s important not to over mix the batter as this will knock the air out, so as soon as everything is mixed divide the batter into the prepared cake tins and get them into the oven. A cake batter that is left to sit on the side for ages waiting to go into the oven will likely turn out flat too as all the bubbles have escaped before it's gone into the oven.
It’s also important to preheat the oven as the cakes need to bake at a constant temperature, it can take up to 15 minutes for the oven to reach the temperature you need.
If the oven is too hot the cakes will rise rapidly, and then collapse as they have not baked enough to hold their shape, and conversely if the oven isn’t hot enough the cakes won’t rise and will likely sink in the middle.
Finally, keep the oven door shut, the cakes need time to bake and if you open the door too early the temperature fluctuation in the oven will make the cakes sink. You can keep an eye on them through the oven door.
How can I add/change the flavours in this Galaxy chocolate cake?
There are a few things you can adjust in this recipe to change the flavours. For one thing, Baileys often do different flavours or limited edition bottles so you could try out one of these to give a different flavour to the cream filling.
As chocolate features so heavily throughout the cake this will be a bit harder to change but you could play around using white or dark chocolate to make the ganache if you like.
Print this recipe for Galaxy chocolate cake
Perfect Galaxy Chocolate Cake Recipe
Ingredients
For the sponge
- 150 g (¾ cup + 1 tbsp) white caster sugar (superfine sugar)
- 2 medium free range eggs beaten
- 150 ml (½ cup + 2 tbsp) vegetable oil (canola oil)
- 150 ml (½ cup + 2 tbsp) whole milk
- 2 tbsp golden syrup
- 175 g (1¼ cup) self-raising white flour (self rising flour)
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder (dutch processed)
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
For the ganache
- 250 g (9 oz) Galaxy chocolate outside of the UK, this brand of chocolate is known as Dove
- 100 ml (⅓ cup + 1 tbsp) double cream (heavy cream)
For the Baileys cream
- 125 ml (½ cup) double cream (heavy cream)
- 40 ml (3 tbsp) Baileys Original Irish Cream
- 1 tbsp drinking chocolate powder (hot cocoa mix)
Equipment
- 2 Round loose-bottomed 20cm (8") nonstick cake tin
Instructions
To make the sponge
- Preheat oven to 180ºC (160C fan assisted / 350F).
- In a large bowl, combine the sugar, beaten eggs, oil, milk and golden syrup. Beat together
- Add the flour, cocoa and bicarbonate of soda. Whisk to combine.
- Share the mixture between two greased and lined 20cm loose-bottomed cake tins.
- Bake for 30-45 minutes until firm and springy on top.
- Cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then remove from the tin to cool completely
Make the Galaxy ganache
- Put the cream in a bowl and micorwave in 10-second blasts until very hot but not boiling.
- Immediately pour the cream over the chocolate and beat until melted and shiny.
- Leave it to cool.
To make the Baileys cream
- Beat the cream and Baileys until it forms very soft peaks.
- Add the drinking chocolate and whisk briefly to give soft peaks.
To assemble
- Place one cooled sponge on a board.
- Using an offset palette knife or flat knife, spread the cream on to the cake.
- Place the second cake on top to create a sandwich.
- Slowly and carefully pour the ganache over the cake, using the offset palette knife to smooth the top and sides.
- Leave to set for at least an hour, then wipe away excess ganache that may have dripped down the sides.
- Cutting into 16 slices to serve.
Video
Nutrition
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Shirley says
Thankyou Love it
Lynda Gibbs says
Can u tell me what size cake tin needed for this recipe please x
Emily Leary says
Good question :) I used a 7inch/18cm diameter tin
Dina says
I've never had Galaxy but it sounds wonderful!
Lodia says
yummy...... I love chocolate...
Michelle G says
Just catching up with my emails after a hectic Christmas - and I find this on Day 1 of my diet. Thanks Emily :-P
Seriously though, that looks amazing, will definitely be trying this!
jenny paulin says
mmmmmmmmmm!!!
phooooooooaaaaaar!!
#thatisallasiamstilldrooling
bookaholic mum says
My mouth was watering at the mere name of this cake - now that I've read the recipe I'm practically drooling! This sounds absolutely delicious and perfect way to use up any leftover Christmas Bailey's (or buy another bottle!) I think you're allowed to use the 'It's Christmas' excuse until you go back to work/the kids go back to school!