Easy chocolate cake

Method

• step 1

  Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4. Grease and line two 20cm/8in sandwich tins

• step 2

  For the cake, place all of the cake ingredients, except the boiling water, into a large mixing bowl. Using a wooden spoon, or electric whisk, beat the mixture until smooth and well combined.

• step 3

  Add the boiling water to the mixture, a little at a time, until smooth. (The cake mixture will now be very liquid.)

• step 4

  Divide the cake batter between the sandwich tins and bake in the oven for 25-35 minutes, or until the top is firm to the touch and a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.

• step 5

  Remove the cakes from the oven and allow to cool completely, still in their tins, before icing.

• step 6

  For the chocolate icing, heat the chocolate and cream in a saucepan over a low heat until the chocolate melts. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk the mixture until smooth, glossy and thickened. Set aside to cool for 1-2 hours, or until thick enough to spread over the cake.

• step 7

  To assemble the cake, run a round-bladed knife around the inside of the cake tins to loosen the cakes. Carefully remove the cakes from the tins.

• step 8

  Spread a little chocolate icing over the top of one of the chocolate cakes, then carefully top with the other cake.

• step 9

  Transfer the cake to a serving plate and ice the cake all over with the chocolate icing, using a palette knife.