Easy Chocolate Cake
Master the chocolate cake with an airy, light sponge and rich buttercream filling. It’s simple enough for an afternoon tea but special enough for a party too
Easy Chocolate CakeĀ Ingredients
For the cake
- 200gĀ golden caster sugar
- 200gĀ unsalted butter,Ā softened plus extra for the tins
- 4Ā large eggs
- 200gĀ self-raising flour
- 2 tbspĀ cocoa powder
- 1 tspĀ baking powder
- Ā½ tspĀ vanilla extract
- 2 tbspĀ milk
For the buttercream
- 100gĀ milk chocolate,Ā chopped
- 200gĀ butter,Ā softened
- 400gĀ icing sugar
- 5 tbspĀ cocoa powder
- 2 tbspĀ milk
For the chocolate shards (optional)
- 50gĀ dark chocolate
- 25gĀ milk chocolate
- 25gĀ white chocolate
Method
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STEP 1
Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Butter the base and sides of two 20cm round sandwich tins andĀ line the bases with baking parchment.
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STEP 2
In a large bowl, beat together 200g golden caster sugar, 200g softened unsalted butter, 4 large eggs, 200g self-raising flour, 2 tbsp cocoa powder, 1 tsp baking powder, Ā½ tsp vanilla extract, 2 tbsp milk and a pinch of salt until pale.
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STEP 3
Divide the mixture between the prepared tins. Bake for 20 mins or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
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STEP 4
Leave to cool in the tin for 10 mins, then turn out onto aĀ wire rackĀ to cool completely.
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STEP 5
For the buttercream, put 100g chopped milk chocolate in a heatproof bowl and melt in the microwave, stirring every 30 secs. Leave the melted chocolate to cool for 5 mins.
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STEP 6
Mash 200g softened butter and 400g icing sugar together with a fork, then switch to a wooden spoon or electric beaters, if you have them.
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STEP 7
Sift in 5 tbsp cocoa powder with a pinch of salt and pour in the melted chocolate and 2 tbsp milk. Mix again until smooth.
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STEP 8
On aĀ cake standĀ or large plate, sandwich the cakes together with half of the buttercream, then spread the rest on top. Decorate with chocolate shards, if you like.
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STEP 9
To make chocolate shards:Ā melt 50g dark chocolate and pour it onto a tray lined with baking parchment or foil.
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STEP 10
Now melt 25g milk chocolate and 25g white chocolate and drizzle them over the dark chocolate before it sets.
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STEP 11
Shake the tray gently to level the mixture then leave to set somewhere cool. Chop into shards.
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STEP 1