Christmas Chocolate Cake
10
40 min
60 min
Ingredients
- 200g Novibloc Dark Chocolate 500g (Chopped)
- 200g Stork Vegan Baking Block
- 200g Soft Brown Sugar
- 4 Coccodi Italian Medium Barn Eggs
- 150g All Purpose Flour
- 30g Cocoa Flour
- 1 tsp Baking Powder
- 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp Ground Nutmeg
- 1/4 Ground Cloves
- 1/4 tsp Mixed Spice
- 100ml Milk
- 200g Mixed Dried Fruit
- 100ml Orange Juice
- A shot of Brandy or Whiskey
Ganache:
- 200g Novibloc Dark Chocolate 500g (Chopped)
- 200ml Elmlea Double Alternative to Cream
- 1 tbsp Maltese Honey
Decorations:
- Edible Gold Powder/Sprinkles
Method
- Soak the dried fruit in the orange juice and brandy for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Preheat your oven to 170 degrees.
- Melt the chopped chocolate (from the cake ingredients) in a heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water (or in the microwave in 30 seconds intervals). Let it cool slightly.
- In a large bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the melted chocolate.
- Sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, spice and cloves in another bowl.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the chocolate mixture, alternating with the milk.
- Fold in the soaked dried fruit (drain any excess liquid first).
- Pour the batter into the prepared greased tin or paper cake molds, and smooth the top.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
- In the meantime, prepare the ganache.
- Heat the cream in a small saucepan until just simmering. Pour it over the chopped chocolate and let it sit for 2 minutes.
- Stir until smooth, then mix in the honey or golden syrup for shine.
- For a flat finished cake, carefully cut the raised surface to level it, then flip it upside down. This is optional, you can leave the cake intact and still get a great result.
- Pout the ganache over the cooled cake, letting it drip down the sides.
- Decorate with your choice of toppings like edible gold powder, powdered sugar or festive sparkles.
