Calorific Chocolate Cake

Mei's 22nd birthday fell on an unusually hot and sunny English summers day so we decided to have a picnic. Being late, as usual, I didn't have time to let the icing on the cake set - definately leave yourself enough time to do this.

To make this delicious and indulgent cake you will need:

• 10oz plain flour
• 1 1/2tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 6oz caster sugar
• 6oz light muscavado sugar
• 8floz water
• 2oz cocoa powder
• 4oz butter
• 1tsp vanilla extract
• 1tsp malt vinegar
• 1/4pt single cream
• 2 beaten eggs

For the filling:

• 4oz broken up, dark, plain chocolate
• 7oz caster sugar
• 3tbsp water
• 6tbsp single cream
• 4oz butter
• 1/2tsp vanilla extract

For the icing:

• 4oz dark plain chocolate
• 1oz butter
• 3tbsp water
  

Preheat the oven to 190C. Grease 2 8inch cake tins (or if like me you only have smaller, make it a 3 tiered cake instead).

Sieve the flour and soda into a bowl and add both types of sugar. Then make a well in the middle. Put the water, butter and cocoa into a pan and heat and stir until it is all smooth - don't let it boil, do it on a low temperature.

Take it off the heat and add the vanilla extract. In another dish or jug mix the vinegar and cream together and pour into the flour well. Add the cocoa mix and the eggs to the flour and mix until smooth.

Divide the mix between the cake tins and bake for 20-25 minutes. Remove and set aside to cool.


Whilst your cakes are cooling, begin to make the filling for your cake by putting the chocolate and water in a small pan and stir over a low flame until melted.

In another pan put the butter, caster sugar and cream and stir over a medium heat for 4-5 minutes until smooth and thick.

Remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate mix. Let it cool.

When it's gone cold, sandwich the cakes together and set it aside to cool again.


To make the icing for the cake, put the chocolate, butter and water into a pan and stir until it is coating the back of the spoon. Don't overheat it. Then pour it over the cake and let it trickle down the sides.

Chill your beautiful creation in the fridge until the icing is set and then present it to someone special as their birthday treat!