May 2012: Basic Chococlate Cake, Chocolate Stout cake

It turns out when I cleared my phone of all its photo's I have made a FRIGHTENING amount of cake in the last 12 months and I know I didn't photograph all of them.

Anyway I have two chocolate cake recipes I use, one is my easy peasy tweak of the basic cake recipe, the other for those special occasions is Delia Smiths Chocolate stout cake.

For the easy peasy chocolate cake all you need to do is add two heaped tablespoons of cocoa powder and 4 tablespoons of milk at the same time you add the eggs.

If you're not in a rush they are better if you measure it out properly - 40g cocoa, and only use 160g of flour.

On those days when then flavour really matters using soft brown sugar really brings the chocolate flavour out, and using butter for the fat gives it the best texture.

I will admit the chocolate stout cake is far more faffy to do, BUT it tastes amazing. It is dark, moist and very moreish.

The recipe on the website will do 12 cupcakes OR enough for x1 round cake pan - so if you want a double layer cake like this then you will need to double your recipe.