Classic Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

• • 250g plain flour
• • 300g sugar
• • 90g cocoa powder
• • 2 tsp baking soda
• • 1 tsp baking powder
• • 1 tsp salt
• • 2 eggs
• • 250ml buttermilk
• • 125ml vegetable oil
• • 250ml hot water
• • 2 tsp vanilla extract
• • 200g dark chocolate, chopped
• • 200ml cream

Method

1. Heat oven to 180°C and grease two 20cm round cake tins.
2. Whisk the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt together in a large bowl.
3. Add the eggs, buttermilk, oil and vanilla and beat until combined. Stir in the hot water last — the batter will be thin.
4. Divide between the tins and bake for 30-35 minutes until a skewer comes out clean.
5. Cool completely in the tins before turning out.
6. Heat the cream until just simmering, pour over the chopped chocolate and stir until smooth. Cool until spreadable, then use to sandwich and cover the cake.