Chocolate Cake

Name: Chocolate Cake
Prep time: P0Y0M0DT0H40M0.000S
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT0H25M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT2H5M0.000S
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients: 10 tablespoons butter, softened, plus more for greasing; 7 ounces all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting; 4 1/2 ounces dark chocolate; 3 tablespoons milk; 5 ounces caster sugar (superfine); 3 eggs; 1 tablespoon cocoa powder; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1/4 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda (baking soda); Cocoa powder or icing sugar (confectioners'), for dusting, optional; 6 tablespoons butter, softened; 1 tablespoon cream; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 6 ounces icing sugar (confectioners'); 1 tablespoon cocoa powder

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This is such a great, simple yet versatile, chocolate cake. Add the finely grated rind of 1 orange to give the cake a chocolate orange flavor or replace the vanilla extract with 1 tablespoon of instant coffee powder for a mocha flavor. This can also be turned into chocolate cupcakes, if you wish. The recipe will fill 12 paper liners in a cupcake or muffin tray, and will take about 18 to 20 minutes to cook. Ice them generously with the chocolate butter cream and decorate to your heart's content.

Level: Intermediate
Total: 2 hr 5 min

Prep: 40 min
Inactive: 1 hr
Cook: 25 min

Yield: 6 servings

Level: Intermediate
Total: 2 hr 5 min

Prep: 40 min
Inactive: 1 hr
Cook: 25 min

Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

For the cake

10 tablespoons butter, softened, plus more for greasing

7 ounces all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

4 1/2 ounces dark chocolate

3 tablespoons milk

5 ounces caster sugar (superfine)

3 eggs

1 tablespoon cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)

Cocoa powder or icing sugar (confectioners'), for dusting, optional

For the chocolate butter icing

6 tablespoons butter, softened

1 tablespoon cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

6 ounces icing sugar (confectioners')

1 tablespoon cocoa powder

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour the sides of 2 (8-inch) cake, or sandwich pans, and line the bases with grease proof or parchment paper.
In a bowl sitting over a saucepan of gently simmering water, not touching the bottom of the bowl, stir the chocolate and the milk together until the chocolate has melted.
Beat the 10 tablespoons butter until very soft, and then add the sugar and continue to beat until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, 1 at a time, and then fold in the melted chocolate.
Sift in the 7 ounces flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and the baking soda, and fold in gently to mix. Divide the mixture evenly between the 2 pans, and bake in the oven until a skewer inserted into the middle of each cake comes out clean, about 25 minutes.
Remove the cakes from the oven and let sit for a few minutes before turning them out of their pans, and placing them on a wire rack to cool.
To make the chocolate butter icing: Beat the butter, cream and the vanilla extract until very soft. Then gradually sift in the confectioners' sugar, and the cocoa powder, beating constantly, until it is all added. Continue to beat until very soft, and then whisk the mixture until it is light and fluffy.
Once the cakes are cool, sandwich them together.

Cook’s Note

I normally make the chocolate butter icing in an electric food mixer, using the whisk attachment all the way through. I normally sandwich them together bottom to bottom - if you know what I mean!) with the chocolate butter icing. Place the cake on a plate, or on a cake stand, and dust with cocoa powder or confectioners' sugar, if you wish.

Chocolate Cake

For the cake

For the chocolate butter icing

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