Chocolate cake Recipe

Name: Chocolate cake
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 12 servings
Ingredients: 200 g unsalted butter, softened; 200 g Fairtrade caster sugar; 3 medium British free-range eggs, beaten; 200 g extra-fine sponge flour, sifted; 60 g cocoa powder, sifted; 2 tbsp fresh British semi-skimmed milk; 0.5 tsp vegetable oil, for greasing; 150 g unsalted butter, softened; 60 g cocoa powder, sifted; 1 tbsp Sainsbury's sugar stars; 1 tsp icing sugar, for dusting; 300g icing sugar, sifted; 2 x 18cm cake tin liners

Ingredients

200 g unsalted butter, softened
200 g Fairtrade caster sugar
3 medium British free-range eggs, beaten
200 g extra-fine sponge flour, sifted
60 g cocoa powder, sifted
2 tbsp fresh British semi-skimmed milk
0.5 tsp vegetable oil, for greasing
150 g unsalted butter, softened
60 g cocoa powder, sifted
1 tbsp Sainsbury's sugar stars
1 tsp icing sugar, for dusting
300g icing sugar, sifted
2 x 18cm cake tin liners

	PREP TIME 25m	COOK TIME 25m	TOTAL TIME 50m
YIELD 12 servings

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 180°C, fan 160°C, gas 4. Line 2 x 18cm round cake tins with the cake tin liners - these will give the cake edges an attractive texture.
In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter and sugar, until light and creamy. Add the eggs, a little at a time, beating well after each addition.
Add a little flour if the mixture starts to curdle.
Add the flour, cocoa powder and milk and beat until smooth. Divide the mixture between the 2 tins and bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 25 minutes, until well risen.
Remove from the oven, lift the cakes out onto a wire rack and leave to cool completely in the liners.
Meanwhile, make the icing. Using an electric hand mixer, beat the butter or margarine in a large bowl until fluffy.
Add the icing sugar and cocoa powder and continue to beat until smooth and creamy. As the mixture becomes a little dry, add 3 tablespoons boiling water and mix well.
Sandwich the 2 cakes together with half the icing. Spread the remaining icing on top of the cake and create peaks, using the back of a spoon, before it sets, as this will help prevent the decorations from rolling off. Sprinkle with the sugar stars.