Tuesday 18 May 2010

Fudgy Birthday Cake and Other Happenings

We've ended a rather marathon-like birthday season in our family. My extended family is still going...but I don't have to organise those ones! When Miss Sunshine had her birthday she was very keen to have a chocolate mud cake. I was inclined to moan and groan about the expense of buying 'real' chocolate and finding a suitable recipe. She also wanted it 'iced' with ganache. Such exquisite taste, that girl of mine has!

I have a brownie recipe that I love, which has no 'real' chocolate, but rather, uses cocoa powder with absolutely amazing results. So I went in search of an easy chocolate cake recipe that might yield similar delight in my mud cake-obsessed daughter. I believe I found a winner, and when topped with ganache, one would never know it was made with cocoa powder and gluten free flour!

Chocolate Dessert Cake

125g butter
1 1/2 cups castor sugar
3 eggs
1 cup plain flour
1 cup self-raising flour
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup water
1 cup milk

Ganache
200g chocolate (dark, or milk)
1/3 cup cream
  1. Grease deep 23cm round cake pan, cover base with baking paper.
  2. Combine all ingredients in medium bowl of electric mixer, beat on low speed until ingredients are combined. Then, beat on medium speed until mixture is smooth and changed in colour.
  3. Pour mixture into prepared pan.
  4. Bake in moderately slow oven for about 1 1/4 hours. Stand 5 minutes before turning onto wire rack to cool.
  5. Top cooled cake with ganache.
To make ganache:
  1. Place chocolate and cream in a small saucepan and place over a low-medium heat.Melt chocolate slowly, stirring constantly until the chocolate is completely melted and mixed well into the cream.
  2. Allow to cool to room temperature before spreading over the cake.
* * * * * * * * * *

Mr Busy is all packed and ready to go on camp. And I'm not far off. I think I've remembered all the little things required for being away....bus pass for the girls, a meal all ready for a busy after school routine, mobile phone charging, bath towels have been remembered. I think I'm ready! Wait let me go check on those towels again. I can't tell you how often I forget to pack towels for events such as this. When we go away in the caravan they're already in there...I've become quite hopeless at packing one in a suitcase! But no, it's there.

4 comments:

Left-Handed Housewife said...

You don't want to forget those towels. The older I get, the more I forget the basics. I've become a serious listmaker as a result--then half the time I forget my list!

Have fun camping!

frances

Rel said...

HAve a great time, dear one! See you Saturday night :)

Healthy Foods Blog said...

I'm sure that event will turn out great and memorable. The excitement had reached its highest level because of the cake you'll bring! The chocolate cake really sounds so delightful. Thanks for serving us the recipe.

Dylan Solesbee said...

Cocoa powder is good substitute for real chocolates. After all, it is the main ingredient in making those sweets. Anyway, how did the camping go? It seems like you had so much fun. And dear, a friendly advice: make a list when packing so that you would not forget anything. =)