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Easy chocolate cake recipe

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Our best chocolate cake recipe yet - when it comes to celebrating a special occasion, there is nothing better than tucking into a slice of chocolate birthday cake. The ultimate indulgence, a rich, velvety ganache takes this dessert to the next level! Master how to make a chocolate cake and impress all your pals with this rich yet basic cake recipe. See method

Serves 8
20 mins to prepare and 25 mins to cook
565 calories / serving
Freezable
Vegetarian

Ingredients

For the sponge

220g unsalted butter, softened
220g (7 3/4oz) caster sugar
200g self-raising flour
4 large eggs
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 tbsp cocoa powder
2 tbsp milk
small pinch salt

For the ganache

300ml (10oz) double cream
300g (10oz) dark chocolate

No self-raising flour? Add 2 tsp baking powder for every 150g plain flour

Each serving contains

Energy
2355kj
565kcal 28%
Fat
39g 56%
Saturates
23g 114%
Sugars
36g 40%
Salt
0.5g 8%

of the reference intake
Carbohydrate 49.7g Protein 6.7g Fibre 1.7g

Method

Preheat the oven to gas 4, 180°C, fan 160°C. Grease and line 2 x 20cm (8in) cake tins and set aside. In a large bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until pale. Add all the remaining sponge ingredients and beat together until well combined. Divide the mixture between the cake tins and smooth the tops. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes or until an inserted skewer comes out clean. Once baked, cool in the tins for 10 minutes, then remove from the tins and transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.

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Meanwhile, make the ganache. Heat the double cream gently in a saucepan and break up the dark chocolate into cubes and place in a bowl. When the cream is just under the boil, pour it over the dark chocolate, ensuring it’s all covered, and allow to stand for 2-3 minutes. Whisk the ganache gently until it starts to combine and goes glossy. Allow to cool for 10 minutes, then place in the fridge for around 30 minutes, until it is a spreadable consistency.
Once the sponges are cool, lay one with the topside down on a cake stand and spread with 1/3 of the ganache mixture. Top with the other sponge, topside up and push down slightly to secure it onto the filling. Ice the top of the cake with the remaining mixture by piling it in the centre and spreading it to the sides of the top sponge. Bring it down the sides gradually and smooth with a palette knife. Serve in large slices.