Who doesn't love chocolate? Let's face it - chocolate is a girls best friend. I have the most beautiful chocolate cake recipe that will leave the cake melting in your mouth.
This recipe is perfect for chocolate lovers - and can be tweaked to make cupcakes or a large cake. I have experimented with so many chocolate cake recipes, but nothing was chocolately or strong enough. I love a rich a sticky chocolate cake (perhaps slightly under-baked), and the trick is using a great quality cocoa powder.
All I use is Bournville Cocoa Powder, it's pure quality and super strength make an excellent chocolate cake. My trick with this cake is to slightly under-bake so it's sticky. Once you take cakes out of the oven, it will continue to cook which is why many cakes can end up as dry and dense. You'll know the cake is ready to be removed from the oven when you push down on the top and it bounces back.
Death by chocolate cake
Makes 18-20 cupcakes or a two layer 8" cake.
175g Butter (softened - at room temperature)
50g Bournville Cocoa Powder
200g Dark chocolate (melted)
350g Icing sugar (you may need more if the mixture is a little runny)
1tsp Vanilla extract
1. Pre-heat your oven to 180ยบ and line your tins or place your cupcake cases into cupcake tins.
2. Add the caster sugar and butter to your mixer and cream with the whisk attachment on medium-high speed until soft and fluffy - this usually takes 3 - 4 minutes.
3. Add the eggs one at a time and ensure the first egg is fully incorporated before adding the second. This will prevent curdling. If your mixture does curdle, add a tablespoon of your flour.
4. Add the flour and cocoa powder and mix on a slow-medium speed until fully incorporated.
5. Incorporate the creme fraiche and vanilla and whisk on a high speed for 2 minutes until smooth and creamy. Don't under beat as the mixture will then not be as really chocolatey as you want it.
6. Split the mixture between your two 8" tins, or fill your cupcake cases to half way and place in the oven for 15-18 minutes. At 15 minutes, keep checking your cake as different ovens and cake tins will bake at different speeds.
7. Once baked, remove from the oven and allow to cool.
8. To make the icing, melt the butter and the dark chocolate in a glass bowl over slightly simmering water. Make sure this is on a low heat as you don't want to melt the chocolate too quickly.
9. Once melted, allow the chocolate mixture to cool slightly. Add the icing sugar to your mixer and pout the chocolate in gradually to incorporate.
10. Then add the golden syrup, creme fraiche and vanilla extract and whip for 5-6 minutes. At this point, you may need to add more icing sugar depending on how you would like to decorate your cakes. Cupcakes tend to need more icing sugar so that the icing will stand on its own.
11. Serve the cupcakes with a drizzle of melted chocolate over the top and a little double cream to really excite the taste buds. And enjoy!
