Name: Chestnut truffle cake
Total time: 1 d 30 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: 400g cooked chestnut; 100g caster sugar; 100g butter chopped into cubes; 100g dark chocolate minimum 70% cocoa solids, broken into pieces; 3 tbsp milk; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 2 tbsp cognac; 100g dark chocolate minimum 70% cocoa solids; 25g butter; 1 tbsp single cream plus extra to serve; icing sugar to decorate

400g cooked chestnut
100g caster sugar
100g butter
chopped into cubes
100g dark chocolate
minimum 70% cocoa solids, broken into pieces
3 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp cognac

For the topping

100g dark chocolate
minimum 70% cocoa solids
25g butter
1 tbsp single cream
plus extra to serve
icing sugar
to decorate

Method

step 1
Put the chestnuts in the food processor with the sugar, then process until fairly smooth. Put the butter and chocolate in a pan with the milk, then gently heat, stirring, until they have melted to a smooth sauce. Stir in the vanilla and cognac. Add to the chestnut mix in the food processor, then whizz again until fairly smooth.
step 2
Line a lightly buttered small loaf tin with cling film, then pour in the chestnut truffle mix. Smooth the top, then cover the tin with cling film. Chill for 24 hrs.
step 3
To serve, turn the truffle cake out onto a flat plate or board. Peel off the cling film. Gently melt the chocolate, butter and cream for the topping, then spread over the top and sides of the cake. Return to the fridge to set. Will keep in the fridge for another 6 days. Decorate with a dusting of icing sugar. Serve cut into thin slices with a little single cream poured around (cold vanilla custard is also very good).