Chocolate cake

Chocolate cake is a popular dessert in England, enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a rich and decadent cake that is perfect for special occasions or as a sweet treat. Here's a recipe for a classic chocolate cake that you can try at home:

Ingredients:

200g plain flour
200g caster sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
40g cocoa powder
3 medium eggs
125ml vegetable oil
125ml milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
125ml boiling water

For the Chocolate Ganache:

200g dark chocolate, chopped
200ml double cream

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan 160°C/gas mark 4. Grease and line two 20cm round cake tins with baking paper.
In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, caster sugar, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, and cocoa powder.
In a separate bowl, beat together the eggs, vegetable oil, milk, and vanilla extract.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until well combined.
Gradually add the boiling water to the mixture, stirring until smooth.
Divide the mixture evenly between the prepared cake tins and smooth the tops with a spatula.
Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
Once the cakes are baked, remove them from the oven and leave them to cool in the tins for 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes, remove the cakes from the tins and leave them to cool completely on a wire rack.

For the Chocolate Ganache:

Heat the double cream in a small saucepan until just boiling.
Remove from the heat and add the chopped dark chocolate to the pan.
Stir the mixture until the chocolate has melted and the ganache is smooth and glossy.
Leave the ganache to cool for 5-10 minutes until it has thickened slightly.

To Assemble: