Something for the weekend: Brooklyn Blackout Cake

We had visitors last weekend which is just an excuse to bake a cake in my opinion! I tried out the Hummingbirds Brooklyn Blackout Cake and although it didn't quite look like the one I was presented with in the book, it definately filled a specific chocolate cake based hole in my life!

For the cake

3 20cm circle tins, lined.

*100g unsalted butter, at room temperature * 250g caster sugar * 2 eggs (medium) * 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract * 45g cocoa powder * 3/4 teaspoon baking powder * 3/4 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda * a pinch of salt * 170g plain flour * 160 ml whole milk

For the chocolate custard

*500g caster sugar * 1 tablespoon golden syrup * 125g cocoa powder * 200g cornflour * 85g unsalted butter * 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 170 degrees celcius (Gas 3). Put the butter and sugar in a freestanding electric mixer with a paddle attachment (or a handheld electric whisk) and cream until light and fluffy.

Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well and scraping any unmixed ingredients from the side of the bowl with a rubber spatula after each addition. Turn the mixer down down to slow speed and beat in the vanilla extract, cocoa powder, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and salt until well mixed.

Add half the flour, then all the milk, and finish with the remaining flour. Mix well until everything is well combined.

Pour the mixture into the prepared cake tins and smooth over with a palette knife. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 mins. Leave the cakes to cool slightly in the tins before turning out onto a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

For the chocolate custard:

Put the sugar, golden syrup, cocoa powder and 600ml of water into a large saucepan and bring to the boil over medium heat, whisking occasionally.

Mix in the cornflour with 120ml of water, then whisk into the cocoa mixture in the saucepan. Bring back to boil , whisking constantly and cook until very thick (about 10 minutes).

Remove from heat and stir in the butter and vanilla extract. Pour the custard into a bowl, cover with clingfilm and chill until very firm.

When the cakes are cold, using a serrated knife, slice a thin layer off one of the cakes. Place this layer into a food processor and process to make fine crumbs.

Put one cake on a cake stand and spread about one-quarter of the chocolate custard over it with a palette knife. Place a second cake on top and spread another quarter of the custard over it. Top with the last cake and spread the remaining custard over the top and sides. Cover with the cake crumbs and chill for about 2 hours.

EAT. On its own, with cream, with ice cream, with berries, without berries, with a cup of tea, a cup of coffee...this cake is good no matter what!