Desserts Recipes - Devil's Food Cake Recipe

Ingredients

Serves 6

• 250g/9oz self-raising flour

• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

• 225g/8oz butter

• 400g/14oz dark muscovado sugar

• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence

• 3 eggs

• 100g/4oz dark chocolate (melted)

• 125ml/4fl oz buttermilk

• 225ml/8fl oz boiling water

For the icing:

• 300g/11 oz caster sugar

• 2 egg whites

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

• 3 tablespoons orange juice

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Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas mark 5. Lightly grease 2 x 20cm/8in shallow round cake tins and line the bases with baking parchment.

2. Sift the flour and bicarbonate of soda together into a bowl. With a wooden spoon, beat the butter and sugar together in a bowl until pale and fluffy.

3. Beat in the vanilla essence and the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add a little flour to the mixture if it begins to curdle.

4. Fold the melted chocolate into the mixture until well blended. Gradually fold in the flour, then stir in the buttermilk and boiling water.

5. Divide the mixture between the tins and level the tops. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes, until springy to the touch.

6. Leave to cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool completely.

7. Place the icing ingredients in a large bowl set over a pan of gently simmering water.

8. Whisk,  preferably with an electric beater, until thickened and forming soft peaks. Remove from the heat and whisk until the mixture is cool.

9. Sandwich the 2 cakes together with a little of the frosting then spread the remainder over the top and sides of the cake.