Chocolate Simnel Cake

I love baking and as neither MadDad or the boys are keen on fruit cake I have made a chocolate Simnel cake for Easter for the last four years.

However, if you are not a keen baker then you can always keep an eye out for Easter Offers and Easter Chocolates & Treats using My Supermarket's special Easter shelves. It is like being in a seasonal aisle in the Supermarket and you can see all the best offers for Easter in one place, sorted by each participating supermarket.

Ingredients

100g/4oz dark chocolate, broken in pieces
100g/4oz caster sugar
100g/4oz softened butter, plus extra for greasing
3 eggs, separated
50g/2oz ground almonds
50g/2oz self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4/fan oven 160C. Butter an 18cm/7in deep round cake tin; line the base. Melt the chocolate in a bowl over a pan of simmering water.
2. Beat the sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Beat in the yolks, one at a time. Stir in the almonds and chocolate.
3. Whisk the egg whites in a bowl until stiff peaks form (see tip). Fold a quarter of the egg white into the chocolate mixture, then sift in a quarter of the flour and baking powder. Repeat three more times until the egg white and flour is evenly mixed in.

4. Pour the mixture into the tin. Bake for 35-40 minutes until risen and firm. Cool for five minutes, turn out on to a wire rack, peel off the paper and cool completely.

I then add homemade marzipan and melted chocolate to decorate.

Comments

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