Ultimate Chocolate Easter Cake

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (or 160°C fan forced).
  2. Line the base of two x 20cm low cake tins with greaseproof paper and lightly grease the sides.
  3. Break up the dark chocolate and put in a small saucepan with the butter cubes, and melt over a gentle heat.
  4. Separate the eggs and beat the egg whites, with a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of caster sugar, until they are stiff.
  5. In a separate bowl whisk the egg yolks with the caster sugar until pale.
  6. Fold in the flour and then gently stir in the melted chocolate mixture.
  7. Divide between the two tins then bake for 15 minutes until firm to the touch.
  8. Allow to cool then remove from the tins.
  9. Break up the white chocolate, put in a heatproof bowl and put over a pan of simmering water to melt the chocolate, making sure the base does not touch the water.
  10. Whip 200ml of the thickened cream.
  11. When the white chocolate has melted, mix in with the whipped cream then put in the fridge to cool and set.
  12. When firmer, spread on the top of one of the cakes then put the other cake on top.
  13. Now melt the dark chocolate along with the unsalted butter and 50ml cream over a pan of simmering water, again making sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water.
  14. When melted, spread over the top of the cake. This doesn’t have to be completed flat and neat – some swirls are good.
  15. Melt the milk chocolate and 50ml cream as above. When melted, drizzle over the top of the dark chocolate.
  16. Before you allow to set, decorate with a large, halved, hollow egg. Allow to set. Decorate with speckled eggs, mini filled chocolate eggs and your favourite Easter decorations.