Chocolate fudge cake

RUNNING out of fun things to do during lockdown?

How about giving this decadent chocolate cake a whirl?

Chocolate always cheers our household up, and the taste of this beats any shop bought variety.

This cake freezes and defrosts really well, so none ever goes to waste.

Ingredients:

175g unsalted butter, softened to room temperature 175g golden caster sugar 175g self raising flour 3 eggs, beaten 3tbsp golden syrup 40g ground almonds 40g cocoa powder

For the grenache topping: 225g plain chocolate 225g unsalted butter 55g dark sugar 5 tbsp evaporated milk

½ tsp vanilla extract

You will need two 8in loose-bottomed flan tins

Method:

Prepare the two flan tins with a circle of grease proof paper in the bottom, grease the insides of the tins.

First make the grenache by gently melting together the butter and chocolate in a metal or Pyrex bowl over a pan of simmering water (bain-marie) add the dark sugar, evaporated milk and vanilla extract.

Stir constantly until the chocolate has almost melted.

Remove from the heat and mix to combine, cover with a cloth to cool, stirring every 10 minutes so the grenache remains smooth.

Meanwhile to make the cake, set your oven to 170°C, beat together the (room temperature) butter and caster sugar, gradually adding the eggs.

Stir in the golden syrup and almonds.

In a separate bowl, sift together the flour and cocoa, then gently fold into your cake mixture.

Divide the mixture between the two tins, and bake for 30-35mins or until springy in the middle.

Allow the cakes to completely cool on a wire rack before releasing them from their tins.

When completely cold, sandwich the cakes together with the grenache, and then cover all over with the remaining grenache, decorate with grated chocolate and/or strawberries. Enjoy!

● Lesley is studying nutrition and health at Edge Hill University and, together with husband Roberto, owns Roberto’s Italian on Southport’s Ocean Plaza.

For more of her recipes, go to Twitter: @LYatesNutrition, Facebook.com/ robertossouthport or www.robertositalian. co.uk