Cooking today

I am in birthday mode again. It's July and birthdays are abound. Mickey's was on the 5th, Billy-Joe's is on the 27th, and the Bunny's is on 7th August.........so I get to enjoy making lots of decadent stuff, and what's better I get to do it all in my brand, spanking, new, divine, awesome kitchen........... I love spending time in it.

Photography by Luke Burgess

Melt-and-mix chocolate chunk mud cake

Ingredients (serves 8)

• 200g butter, chopped
• 300g good-quality dark chocolate
• 1/4 cup hot water
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup caster sugar
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten
• 3/4 cup self-raising flour
• pure icing sugar, to serve

Method

1. Preheat oven to 160°C. Grease a 6cm deep, 20cm (base) round cake pan. Line with baking paper.
2. Place butter, 200g chopped chocolate and hot water in a heatproof, microwave-safe bowl. Microwave, uncovered, on HIGH (100%) for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring every minute with a metal spoon, or until smooth. Add cocoa to warm chocolate mixture. Stir until smooth. Stir in vanilla, caster sugar and egg. Sift flour over chocolate mixture. Stir gently to combine.
3. Pour half the batter into cake pan. Chop remaining chocolate and sprinkle half over batter. Top with remaining batter and chopped chocolate. Bake cake for 55 to 60 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre has moist crumbs clinging.
4. Allow cake to cool completely in pan. Remove and dust with icing sugar. Serve.

Notes & tips

Variation: You could ice the cake with rich chocolate icing or spread with ganache (see related recipe), if you prefer.
Note: This cake keeps well for up to 1 week stored in an airtight container lined with baking paper.

I make a ganache to put on top. Just melt chocolate and mix cream in it. You need a fair bit of chocolate.........it goes hard, but not too hard and it's yummy.

Source

Super Food Ideas - December 2005 , Page 115

Recipe by Janelle Bloom

Super Food Ideas - December 2005