In Pursuit of the Ultimate Chocolate Cake, with Helen Goh

We’re back with a brand-new season, and we’re celebrating with — what else? — cake!  

Specifically, the best chocolate cake in the world, as made by this episode’s guest, James Beard award-winning cookbook author Helen Goh. Helen joins the show to talk about the recipe the New York Times named the “World’s Best Chocolate Cake” (spoiler alert: her family hates it) and the power of baking to help us find more meaning in our lives and community. 

Jessica and David then dig into your cake questions, from the best way to freeze slices of cake to determining when cakes are actually done baking. As usual, Jessica brings the heat with a controversial Jess-opinion about chocolate and fruit, and the pair close out the show with the recipes they’re baking this week.  

Recipes and other links from this episode:  

• Read Tamar Adler’s piece, What Does It Actually Take to Make the Best Chocolate Cake in the World?, featuring Jessica  
• Bake Helen’s World’s Best Chocolate Cake  
• Learn more about Helen and her cookbook, Baking and the Meaning of Life, at instagram.com/helen_goh_bakes 
• Find out more about Cake4Kids and how to get involved  
• Learn more: How to tell when cake is done  
• What David’s baking this week: High-Hydration Whole Wheat Sourdough Bread 
• What Jessica’s baking this week: French Onion Rolls 
• Record your question for our Ask the Bakers segment here! 
• Follow along with us on Substack  
• For 25% off any On-Demand baking class, use coupon code POD25 at shop.kingarthurbaking.com/on-demand-classes 
• This episode is sponsored by Supernatural. Supernatural makes imaginative baking ingredients that are colored by plants, fully traceable, and totally free from anything artificial or synthetic. Learn more at supernaturalkitchen.com