This is a really easy recipe for a deliciously moist chocolate cake: a light sponge sandwiched with a rich buttercream filling. Perfect for special occasions, but simple enough for a teatime treat. Top with mini eggs for Easter, sprinkle with chocolate Flake or edible gold dust, or decorate with truffles for an impressive birthday cake. You can also make irresistible individual cupcakes.
 

 
Prep:    30 mins
Cook:  20 mins

Equipment: 2 x round 20cm baking tins, wire rack for cooling the cakes

Serves: 12 slices
 

Chocolate Cake Recipe

Ingredients

For the cake

200g self-raising flour

200g golden caster sugar

2 tbsp cocoa powder

1 tsp baking powder

200g unsalted butter, softened

4 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 tbsp milk

Pinch of salt
 

For the buttercream

100g milk chocolate, broken into pieces

100g butter, softened

200g icing sugar

5 tbsp cocoa powder

Pinch of salt

2 tbsp milk

Method

Cake

1. Preheat the oven to 190°C/170°C fan/gas 5. Line the cake tins with baking parchment and lightly grease with butter.
2. In a food processor or large bowl, beat together all the cake ingredients until smooth: flour, caster sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, butter, eggs, vanilla extract, milk and salt.
3. Split the mixture between the tins and bake for 20 mins, until cooked through and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
   If you are making individual  cupcakes, check them after 10 mins.
4. Leave to cool in the tin for about 10 mins, before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Buttercream

5. Meanwhile, make the buttercream. Break up the chocolate and melt in a heatproof bowl over simmering water, or in microwave, stirring frequently. Leave the melted chocolate to cool for a few mins.
6. Beat the softened butter and icing sugar together. Add the cocoa powder, salt, milk and melted chocolate, mixing together until smooth.
7. Once the cakes are completely cool, sandwich them together with half the buttercream icing, then spread the rest on top. Decorate as you choose.

More cake recipes

Lemon Drizzle & White Chocolate Cake

Autumn Apple Cake

59 Ridiculously Easy Cake Recipes for Beginners – Epicurious