Chocolate Cake

Method

• step 1

  Preheat the oven to 190C (180C fan) an grease 2x20cm round cake tins.

• step 2

  Cream the butter and the sugar together with an electric whisk until fluffy and pale in colour. Mix in the vanilla and the eggs, one at a time until they are all mixed in. Gradually add the flour and cocoa powder, mixing slowly and adding a little water each time.

• step 3

  Divide the mixture evenly between the cake tins and bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until springy to the touch. Leave the cakes to cool in the tins for about 10 minutes before turning out onto a cooling rack.

• step 4

  Meanwhile, cream together the butter, icing sugar and cocoa powder with an electric whisk to form a stiff icing. Carefully whisk in the milk until glossy and paste-like. When the cakes have cooled completely and have been turned out, turn one cake upside-down and cover with half the icing then place the other cake (the right way up) onto the top of the iced cake and then cover with the rest of the icing.

• step 5

  To finish the cake, sprinkle with grated chocolate and leave to cool in the fridge to make the icing firm. Cut into 8 slices and serve with a dash of cream.