Chocolate Cake

This is a cake that I have made a few times following the Lorraine Pascal recipe. Unfortunately this time is flopped in the middle!
Usually this is a delicious and rich chocolate cake that is one of my favorites. That being said it didn't go to waste :-)

I think my main issue was not dividing the mixture into 2 tins, I tried baking it in 1 big tin which messed up the cooking time and as a result it wasn't cooked enough in the middle.

If you want to attempt it the recipe is below.

• 225g/8oz plain flour
• 350g/12.5oz caster sugar
• 85g/3oz cocoa powder
• 1.5 tsp baking powder
• 1.5 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 2 free range eggs
• 250ml/9fl oz milk
• 125ml/4fl oz vegetable oil
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 250ml/9fl oz boiling water

How to make:

This recipe is really easy! Measure out the ingredients and then put them all except for the boiling water into a mixing bowl. Using a wooden spoon or whisk mix everything together until you get a smooth and well combined mixture. 

Then add a little of the boiling water and mix well. Do so until all the water is used up. You will then find the mixture to be a very thin runny liquid. If you haven't seen a cake mixture with this consistency before don't worry its supposed to look that way. 

So as to not make my mistake divide the mixture into 2 equal sized tins and then place in a pre-heated oven which should be set to 180º/350F/Gas 4 for between 25-30 minutes. Check with a skewer in the centre of the cake to see if the cake is ready. The skewer should come out clean when the cake is ready.

Once finished you can decorate the cake or just add a filling. I like making a buttercream and adding blackcurrant jam. 

Buttercream:

• 100g Butter
• 150g Icing Sugar

Mix the 2 together until you get a thick creamy buttercream and then spread on one of the cake halves. 

Spread the jam on the other half and there you have it a really nice chocolate cake.

Let me know what you think?

Cheers

Andy