Simple chocolate celebration cake

Simple chocolate celebration cake

Prep: 25 min · Cook: 30 min · Total: 55 min

Ingredients

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• 180 g plain flour
• 50 g cocoa powder
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 200 g caster sugar
• 3 eggs
• 150 ml milk
• 120 ml vegetable oil
• 150 g dark chocolate
• 120 g butter, softened
• 220 g icing sugar

Method

1. Heat the oven to 180°C / 160°C fan. Grease and line two 20 cm round cake tins.
2. Whisk flour, cocoa, baking powder and caster sugar. Beat eggs with milk and oil, then stir into the dry ingredients until smooth.
3. Divide between tins and bake for 25–30 minutes, until risen and a skewer in the centre comes out clean. Cool in tins for 10 minutes, then turn onto a rack to cool completely.
4. Melt chocolate gently in a heatproof bowl over barely simmering water, without the bowl touching the water. Let it cool until still fluid but no longer warm.
5. Beat softened butter and icing sugar until light, then beat in the cooled melted chocolate. Use to sandwich the cold cakes and spread over the top and sides.

Equipment

Kitchen scales, mixing bowl, spoon and the pan or tray listed in the method.

Kitchen notes

Use the tin converter only as a starting point; cake depth and baking time need checking. The demo photo shows decorative piping which is optional.

Storage

Cool promptly and refrigerate in a covered container. Use within 2 days. These demo recipes should be kitchen-tested before publication.

Reheating

Reheat savoury cooked dishes until steaming hot throughout. Serve cakes and bread at room temperature.

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