PURE DECADENCE
DONNA HAY’S LATEST COOKBOOK, MODERN BAKING, IS WELL STOCKED WITH DELICIOUS SWEET TREATS.
Donna Hay shares some of her best crowd-pleasing chocolate recipes.
SALTED DARK CHOCOLATE LAYER CAKE
Serves 8–10 2½ cups self-raising flour, sifted ½ cup cocoa, sifted 1½ cups caster sugar 4 eggs 1½ cups milk 250g unsalted butter, melted 200g dark chocolate, melted 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 teaspoons black sea salt flakes*
MILK CHOCOLATE GANACHE
1 cup sour cream 400g milk chocolate, melted
Preheat oven to 180°C. Line two 20cm round cake pans with baking paper. Place flour, cocoa, sugar, eggs, milk, butter, dark chocolate and vanilla in a bowl and whisk until smooth. Divide mixture between prepared pans. Bake for 40–45 minutes or until a skewer inserted into centre of cakes comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then turn onto wire racks to cool completely. To make milk chocolate ganache, place sour cream and milk chocolate in a bowl, and mix until well combined. Refrigerate for 10 minutes or until firm. Place 1 cake on a wire rack or plate. Spread with half of ganache. Top with remaining cake and ganache. Sprinkle with sea salt flakes to serve. *Available at specialty food stores. Substitute white sea salt flakes. >