The Ultimate Chocolate Cake!

[ML123]

Ingredients:

SPONGE

• - 50g (2oz) sifted cocoa powder
• - 6tbsp boiling water
• - 3 large eggs
• - 50ml (2fl oz) milk
• - 175g(6oz) self-raising flour
• - 1 rounded tsp baking powder
• - 100g (4oz) softened butter
• - 275g (10oz) caster sugar

FOR ICING AND FILLING

• - 3tbsp apricot jam
• - 150g (5oz) plain chocolate ( 39 per cent cocoa)
• - 150ml (1/4 pint) double cream

INSTRUCTIONS:-

Pre- heat oven to gas 4. Grease two 20cm or 8in deep sandwich tins, and also cut some baking parchment to size to fit the greased tins.

Then blend the cocoa powder and boiling water together in a large bowl, once done add the remaining ingredients and beat until the mixture is a smooth, thickish batter.

Divide the cake mix equally between the two prepared sandwich tins and make sure the surface is level and even. Put into the pre-heated oven to bake for about 25-30 minutes or until well risen and the tops of the cakes spring back when lightly pressed with a finger. Leave to cool in the tins for a few minutes then turn out , peel off the parchment and leave to cool on a wire rack or level surface.

INSTRUCTIONS TO ICING AND FILLING:-

To make the icing , warm the apricot jam in a very small saucepan, then spread a little over the base of one cake and top of the other.

Then break the chocolate into pieces and gently heat with the cream in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water for about 10 minutes or just until the chocolate has melted, stirring occasionally. Remove the bowl from heat and stir the chocolate mixture to make sure it has completely melted.

Leave the melted chocolate to cool until its at the point of setting then spread on the apricot on both cakes. Once done, sandwich the cakes together and use a small palette knife to smooth the icing on top. Keep in cool place until ready to serve.

* Tip! I always love to decorate a cake and for this one I love grating the left over bits off chocolate, over the top of the cake before it has set completely! ALSO makes such a lovely house warming present, birthday cake or just a lovely yummy treat for the family!

Hope you enjoy the recipe as much as I do,

M x