Chocolate cake
This cake is all about simplicity and indulgence so I have kept the decoration simple filling and topping the fluffy chocolate sponges with lashings of smooth, creamy milk chocolate buttercream and have used a good quality dark cocoa powder in the sponge cakes, for a deep chocolate flavour.
Serves 8
Ingredients:
For the cake:
60g cocoa powder
3 medium eggs
60ml whole milk
180g self raising flour
100g unsalted butter, softened
280g golden caster sugar
100ml boiling water
1/2 tsp baking powder
For the chocolate icing:
100g unsalted butter, softened
180g icing sugar
200g milk chocolate
20g cocoa powder
Method:
Pre-heat the oven to 180°C/fan 160°C/gas 4.
Grease a 10 inch cake tin and line the base with grease proof paper.
Begin by combining the cocoa powder with the boiling water and stir until a smooth paste has formed.
Next cream together the butter and sugar until light a fluffy. Next beat in the eggs and cocoa powder paste.
Once combined beat in the self raising flour until fully incorporated.
Pour the chocolate cake batter into the prepared cake tin and spread into an even layer.
Bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes until a knife inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the tin.
Meanwhile prepare the milk chocolate icing.
Begin by melting the milk chocolate in a bowl over a pot of simmering water. Once melted leave to cool down in the bowl.
Next using an electric whisk cream together the butter and icing sugar until light, pale and fluffy. Beat in the cocoa powder.
Next pour in the cooled milk chocolate and beat until fully incorporated. The chocolate icing should be smooth, light and fluffy.
Next prepare the cakes for assembling.
Remove the cooled cake from the tin and cut into two even layers.
Spoon half of the chocolate icing onto one half of the cake and spread out evenly.
Place the second half on top.
To finish Spread out the remaining chocolate icing onto this second sponge in an even layer. Finished!
Soooo delicious....
To finish Spread out the remaining chocolate icing onto this second sponge in an even layer. Finished!