A chocolate torte or a chocolate sponge?

I’m so excited as I await my closest friend’s baby to enter this world.  My friend for a whole decade now who I feel I’ve known all my life. One where the friendship is such that you do not have to see each other but we know we are always there for one other.

I had promised to bake her something, so I baked this chocolate cake for her and took it round to her home. We had some lunch and together had a few slices of this chocolatey concoction of a cake. 

When I put it into the tin I didn’t realise how heavy it was as it has a lot of substance. The cake is not spongy but closer to a torte with a cakey appearance and consistency. Really satisfying  when you are craving chocolate. The ganache adds a little more creamy moisture to the cake but I would make it extra special by serving it with a scoop of soft vanilla ice cream or a pouring of luscious single cream

I’m sure I will be making it again to celebrate the birth of my niece or nephew! Thanks J for always being there for me, lots of love D xxxx

INGREDIENTS

200g butter softened
180/200g plain flour
50g plain chocolate melted
200g soft light brown sugar
30g caster sugar
3 free range eggs
90g cocoa
2 tsp baking powder
Pinch of salt
250ml milk

For the chocolate ganache
150g plain chocolate
150ml single cream
1 tsp butter

METHOD

• Grease and line two sandwich tins and preheat oven to 180°c (160°c fan)/350°f/gas mark 4

• Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy with the pinch of salt
add the eggs one at a time and mix well until combined

• Fold in the dry ingredients ~ the cocoa, flour and baking powder followed by the melted chocolate

• Pour out the milk to get a drop like consistency from the batter. Divide the batter between the two sandwich tins and place in the oven for 25-35 minutes

• Meanwhile whilst the cake is baking, prepare the ganache. Heat the milk, chocolate and butter on a low heat and stir continuously. Once the chocolate has melted and the ganache has become thick and glossy, take off the heat and rest aside

• Check the cake is done by inserting a skewer into the middle, it should come out clean. Leave them in the tins to cool

• Once cool, spread some ganache on one of the cakes and place the other on top.Pour over the ganache and cover the whole cake using a palette knife

• Place in the fridge to chill and set the chocolate ganache. Cake will be ready after an hour, you can bring it back to room temperature or have it cold. Best served with some fresh single cream.