SERVES 10-12

For the sponge

200g plain flour, sifted 240g caster sugar, sifted 1¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda

¼ tsp cream of tartar 50g cocoa powder, sifted 140g soft butter (with a little extra for greasing the baking tins)

200ml milk 4 drops vanilla essence 2 eggs

For the buttercream icing 340g icing sugar, sifted 8 tbsp cocoa powder, sifted

120g soft butter

4 drops vanilla essence For the spider web decoration

100g white cooking chocolate