Food Monday ~ Death by Chocolate Cake

Sorry Baino, but this recipe was requested by Deborah. It needs a little extra effort and is more suitable for a party occasion.

Death by Chocolate Cake
Preheat oven to 180°C

225g plain chocolate
125g butter
150ml water
350g caster sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla essence
2 eggs, separated
150ml soured cream
350g self-raising flour
1 level teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

For the filling:
450g plain Chocolate
225g butter
6 tablespoons brandy
350g white chocolate
For the icing:
200g plain chocolate
200g double cream

Melt the chocolate, butter and 150ml water in a bowl over a pan of hot water. Beat in the sugar, add vanilla essence and cool. Beat in egg yolks; fold in soured cream, then flour and bicarbonate of soda. Whisk egg whites until stiff and fold into the mixture. Pour into a 25cm (10in) greased spring-release cake tin and bake for I hour until risen. Turn out to cool on a wire rack.

For the filling:
Melt the butter and the chocolate with 4 tablespoons brandy and leave until thick. Melt the white chocolate Cut the cake into three even horizontal layers and sprinkle each with remaining brandy then spread with melted white chocolate. When set, place bottom layer in the cake tin (chocolate side up), spread with half the filling, place second layer on top, spread with remaining filling and top with third layer. Chill in cake tin until set.
For the icing:
Place the chocolate in a bowl; heat the cream until almost boiling, pour over the chocolate and leave for 5 minutes, then whisk until smooth and glossy. Turn the cake out on to serving plate and cover top and sides with icing. Leave to set in a cool place, but not the fridge.

35 thoughts on “Food Monday ~ Death by Chocolate Cake

  1. Deborah

    Oh sweet God Grannymar! Wow! Sounds amazing. I love that there’s sour cream too, I find that always gives a cake another level of depth. I will be making this for himself’s birthday in September, he will die! 🙂

    Could the brandy be replaced with orange liquer maybe? He’s a big fan of Grand Marnier! 🙂

    Reply
  2. steph

    Yum! That sounds like it’s worth dying for! 😀

    You’re just trying to make me hungry cos’ it’s emergency rations here today. I’m eating and drinking the view instead!

    Reply
  3. Grannymar

    @Robert – You make it and I’ll come down and taste it!

    @Deborah – Why not use Grand Marnier or Cointreau, they both go well with Chocolate.

    @Steph – You can make it when you return to civilization.

    Did you have mushrooms & seaweed for brekkie? 😆

    Reply
  4. Magpie 11

    Oh Dear…. Am I that odd?

    I don’t like chocolate cakes…well I never have found one that really appeals…and I like my chocolate Dark and Bitter (Funnily enough like a lot of my female erstwhile friends have turned out to be!;-) )

    Mind you the news today had somethng about Holistic treatment for depression that included walking in grremplaces and chocolate!

    I have a bar of 99% choclate that I break a piece off from time to time when I want a treat.

    Reply
  5. Grannymar

    @Mike – Once you give in it is no longer temptation!

    @Magpie – This might be the exception to your idea of chocolate cakes.

    @Jen – You can make it when the cherry tart is finished!

    @ChrisD – You want>> you bake. 😉

    Reply
  6. Grannymar

    @Darragh & @Lottie – You serve it on a plate and not in a glass. 😉
    Any more booze and the cake would swim out of the oven 🙄

    @Ciara – Stop licking the screen, it won’t work! You just have to bake it.

    @Lette – Pleased to hear you gave up the diet. Just come away from the table feeling that you could eat some more.
    I have noted your change of address.

    Reply
  7. steph

    GM,

    I had a healthy swim for brekkie followed by a strong coffee to revive.

    If I’d thought to pack some mint sauce, the sheep who woke me up at 8am would be no more!

    An early pub lunch of fresh crab claws (hot), a mega toasted sandwich and coffee soon put the pep back in my step.

    Back in the real world again soon!

    Reply
  8. Baino

    No worries Grannymar! One cake I do enjoy is sticky, gooey, mud or caramel mud cake and this one looks like it might be a treat with double cream and strawberries (Clare will love it anyhoo!)

    Reply
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