Fool Proof

When I was younger it’s safe to say I wasn’t the easiest person to cook for, I was very picky pushing away nutritional food my mum offered me and hope she would present me with a ‘better’ option. This was often bribery with something sweet: “Sweet heart if you eat your pea then you can have some maltesers”. I ate very little and opted always for the sweeter options whenever I could and mum would always fuss over me worried sick that I never ate anything real. However, whenever we went to my aunties it was a very different story!

My Mum’s sister (Auntie Doo Doo as we affectionately call her) has always been a fantastic cook and baker. Going to her for lunch was always an exciting, hoping she had made her famous chocolate flake cake.  We’d usually have some kind of cooked dinner around lunch time which would consist of roasted meat and fresh vegetable and if we were lucky a tradition desert or more than likely cheese and biscuits. About 4:30pm Doo Doo would start to prepare the afternoon tea to fill the gap for the journey home. On a little tea trolley she would lay out the cheese and biscuits from lunch time, a selection of sandwiches which were usually cucumber sandwiches, smoked salmon and roasted meat from lunch sandwiches. There would also be on the trolley a fresh pot of tea, which always had loose tea, leaves in and had to be strained when poured in you delicate tea cups on patterned saucers. Best of all Doo Doo would bring out her freshly baked cakes. Fruit scones with jam and cream and an enormous chocolate cake decorated with flakes on top.

The chocolate flake cake was always perfect, crumbly and oh so chocolaty. It one of those cakes that you can only ever eat one slices of but definitely makes you want to ask for more! When i was older enough to get in the kitchen on my own i ask for the recipe to this famous cake so i could also hold the secret to the famous chocolate flake cake! The secret behind this cake has to be that it’s so simple! There is nothing particularly special about the cake and its method is so simple to follow even a fool could bake it! I occasionally adapt the recipe according to how chocolaty I am feeling, so gradually my Auntie Doo Doo’s cake has evolved. Amongst my friends this cake is legendary, it’s the one all the boys constantly ask me to bake for them and when i suggest something like a Victoria sponge cake they turn their noses up and say “we prefer the chocolate one”. 

So I hear you ask “How do I make this delectable delight?” Lucky for you I am willing to let you into my families’ secret recipe! 

For the Cake:

175g unsalted butter or stalk margarine , at room temperature

175g caster sugar

175g self-raising flour , sifted

50g Coco Powder ( or if you prefer 75g of melted dark chocolate)

1 tsp baking powder 

3 eggs

1. Heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Line and butter 2 x 18cm sandwich tins. 
2. Beat the butter and sugar in a bowl together until a pale cream colour.
3. sift the cocoa powder and flour into you the other ingredience and with a metal spoon gently fold together.
4.  Divide the mixture between the tins and level.    
5. Bake side by side for 20-25 minutes until the sponges are risen, slightly shrunk away from the edge of the tin and spring back when lightly pressed. Leave to cool for 5 minutes then turn out onto a rack and peel off the paper. 
6. Cool completely before filling.

For The Icing:

128g/4.5oz butter, softened

255g/9oz icing sugar

150g/5oz Dark Chocolate, melted (best if it’s over 60% cocoa solids)

1-2 tbsp milk

1. To make the buttercream, beat the butter in a large bowl until soft. Add half of the icing sugar and beat until smooth.
2. Add the remaining icing sugar, melted chocolate and one tablespoon of the milk and beat until creamy. Beat in more milk if necessary to loosen the icing.

So very easy and tastes great! Enjoy!