Gareth’s Rich Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

• 55g sultanas
• 200g dark chocolate - chopped
• 12tsp brandy
• 6tsp water
• 3 eggs - separated
• 110g unsalted butter
• 140g caster sugar
• 55g plain flour
• 150ml double cream
• 140g dark chocolate - chopped

Method

1. Soak sultanas in brandy overnight (add more brandy if needed).
2. Set oven to 180C/350F.
3. Grease, and line with greased paper an 8” cake tine.
4. Separate the eggs and beat the yolks with the sugar in a large bowl until moussey.
5. Melt chocolate and water gently over simmering water.
6. When melted, stir in the butter in pieces until mixture is completely smooth.
7. Stir chocolate into egg yolk mix.
8. Sift flour and fold carefully into the egg and chocolate along with the sultanas and brandy.
9. Whisk egg whites until stiff but moist and fold into the cake mixture.
10. Pour into the cake tin and bake for 35-40 mins - centre should still be moist when you remove it from the oven.
11. Leave cake to get cold in the tin.
12. Remove from tin and place on rack to ice.
13. Heat second batch of chocolate with the cream. Stir until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth. Allow to cool and thicken somewhat.
14. Pour over the cake, make sure the sides are covered.
15. Allow to harden for at least two hours.