Homemade © J Sainsbury plc 2016 www.homemadebyyou.co.uk
Chocolate cake
This impressive (and pretty easy!) chocolate cake recipe is surprisingly easy and makes a fabulous birthday cake as well as a delightful afternoon tea treat.
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Ready in 50 minutes
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Cooking time 25 minutes
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Prep time 25 minutes
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Serves 12
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
For the icing:
- 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
You will also need:
- 2 x 18cm cake tin liners
Method
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1
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.
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2
In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter and caster 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.
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3
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.
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4
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.
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5
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.
