Devil's food cake

Sumptuous and sinful indulgence

If you need something to indulge in, this favourite is rich, creamy and mouth- watering

Ingredients:

For the cake:

• 175g cake flour
• 60g cocoa powder
• 5ml bicarbonate of soda
• 1.25ml baking powder
• 2.5ml salt
• 60g butter
• 300g sugar
• 3 eggs
• 5ml vanilla essence
• 125ml buttermilk
• 125ml strong coffee

For the ganache:

• 375ml cream
• 350g dark chocolate

METHOD:

Preheat the oven to 180C. Lightly grease two 23cm cake pans and line the base with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, bicarbonate of soda, baking powder and the salt.

Cream the butter and the sugar until a light, pale colour and fluffy texture.

Add the eggs one at a time. Add the vanilla essence and mix well.

In another bowl, combine the buttermilk and the coffee.

Gradually add the flour mixture to the buttermilk mixture, alternating with the butter mixture and ending with the flour mixture.

Divide the batter between the two pans and bake for 30 minutes, or until the centre springs back when lightly pressed. Leave to cool on a rack for 10 minutes, then remove from the pans and leave to cool completely.

For the ganache: In a saucepan, over medium heat, heat the cream.

Add the chocolate and stir until smooth and all the chocolate has melted.

Spread one layer of the cake with the ganache, place another one on top and spread the rest of the ganache over.

SERVES: Eight to 10

TIME: 30 minutes baking