Everybody needs this recipe, really.

You have all the ingredients in your pantry (except maybe the block of baking chocolate for the glaze). You can whip up this cake in one bowl. It tastes old-fashioned, fudgy and delicious.

It's fast, as in 5 minutes to make and 35 to bake.

You need a cake for a barbecue? This is the one. You need gluten and/or dairy free? This can be it. (see *note below)

Plus it has the benefit of being a conversation starter because it contains olive oil and balsamic vinegar. And coffee. Let's do it.

Best, Easy Chocolate Cake

1 1/2 cups plain flour
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1 1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
3 tsp vanilla essence
1 1/2 cups cooled coffee

Preheat oven to 160 degrees C, fan forced (170 conventional & around 325 F in Canada??)

Grease a 20 cm (8 inch) cake tin and dust with a little bit of cocoa. The size of the tin is important -- don't use a bigger tin or the cake will be too flat. It's a dense, fudgy cake.

Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt into a bowl. Whisk. Make a well in the centre and add olive oil, balsamic vinegar, vanilla and coffee. Whisk until smooth.