Chocolate Cake

Having been a chocolate cake fan from way back, when the family gave me my lastest cookbook Donna Hay A Cooks Guide the chocolate cake recipe on page 79 was straight to the top of the list of things to cook when my new stove was installed. With Bianca's Birthday being the first of the birthdays to happen only days after the stove installation, straight to cooking I went. Since then I have been lucky enough to have been asked to bake a birthday cake for a joint birthday party and of course I reached for this one as well. On both occasions I happy to report that all that tasted raved about it, so if your looking for a really good special occasions ( i say this as it is rather too rich for everyday baking) then cook it go on I dare you too - it's fool proof and success rate is 100% high.

Ingredients
250g butter
1 1/3 cups brown sugar
3 eggs
2 cups plain flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/3 cup cocoa, sifted
1 cup sour cream
250g dark chocolate, melted
chocolate glaze
150g dark chocolate, chopped
1/3 cup single cream

Method

1. Preheat oven to 160 C. Place the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat until light and creamy. Add the eggs and beat well. Sift the flour, baking powder and cocoa over the butter mixture, add the sour cream and chocolate and mix until just combined. Pour the mixture into a lightly greased 22cm round cake tin lined with non-stick baking paper and bake for 60-70 minutes or until just set. Allow to cool in the tin. ( this is a must )
2. While the cake is baking, make the chocolate glaze. Place the chocolate and cream in a small saucepan over low heat and stir until melted and smooth. Allow glaze to stand for 10 minutes to thicken slightly before spreading over the cake. Serves 8-10.

It's that simple, to decorate i have just popped a handful of frozen raspberries in the centre and this way was Delicious the raspberries cut through the richness of the cake wonderfully. Alternatively I have also choc dipped some strawberries and piled them in the centre and then poked in some shards of toffee and sprinkled with praline dust....mmmm both just needed a nice dollop of double cream and good cup of coffee to enjoy it completely.... Let me know what you think and your results, they will come back for more and beg for you to cook it again!!!