- Average
- 30 mins
- 25 mins
- 90 mins
- Average budget
Ingredients
- For the cake
- 225g/8oz plain flour
- 350g/12½oz caster sugar
- 85g/3oz cocoa powder
- 1½ tsp baking powder
- 1½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 2 free-range eggs
- 250ml/9fl oz milk
- 125ml/4½fl oz vegetable oil
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 250ml/9fl oz boiling water
- For the chocolate icing
- 200g/7oz plain chocolate
- 200ml/7fl oz double cream
Preparation
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4. Grease and line two 20cm/8in sandwich tins.
Step 2
For the cake, place all of the cake ingredients, except the boiling water, into a large mixing bowl. Using a wooden spoon, or electric whisk, beat the mixture until smooth and well combined.
Step 3
Add the boiling water to the mixture, a little at a time, until smooth. (The cake mixture will now be very liquid.)
Step 4
Divide the cake batter between the sandwich tins and bake in the oven for 25-35 minutes, or until the top is firm to the touch and a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
Step 5
Remove the cakes from the oven and allow to cool completely, still in their tins, before icing.
Step 6
For the chocolate icing, heat the chocolate and cream in a saucepan over a low heat until the chocolate melts. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk the mixture until smooth, glossy and thickened. Set aside to cool for 1-2 hours, or until thick enough to spread over the cake.
Step 7
To assemble the cake, run a round-bladed knife around the inside of the cake tins to loosen the cakes. Carefully remove the cakes from the tins.
Step 8
Spread a little chocolate icing over the top of one of the chocolate cakes, then carefully top with the other cake.
Step 9
Transfer the cake to a serving plate and ice the cake all over with the chocolate icing, using a palette knife.