CHOCOLATE BIRTHDAY CAKE WITH RED WINE

How do you make a birthday cake from one of your favourite cake recipes? Here is what I have done for my grand nephew Jacob. I have baked his favourite – a chocolate cake – and added M & M’s, candles and of course Happy Birthday Jacob.

Everyone was pleased… Jacob and his brother Kye… grandparents and mum and dad. There weren’t even any crumbs left.


CHOCOLATE BIRTHDAY CAKE WITH RED WINE

serves 10-12
preparation 15 minutes
cooking 1¼ hours

185g butter, chopped, at room temperature
1½ cups caster sugar
3 eggs
1½ cups self-raising flour
¾ cup plain flour
½ cup cocoa powder
1 cup red wine
½ cup water
whipped cream, to serve

CHOCOLATE GANACHE

200g dark eating chocolate, chopped
½ cup thickened cream

1. Preheat oven to moderate, 180°C. Lightly grease a 22cm round cake pan. Line base and sides with baking paper.
2. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar together until light
and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
3. Sift flours and cocoa together. Lightly fold into creamed mixture alternately
with combined wine and water.
4. Pour mixture into prepared pan. Bake for 1~1h/4 hours until cooked when tested.
Cool in pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
5. CHOCOLATE GANACHE. Combine chocolate and cream in a medium pan.
Stir over low heat until smooth. Cool until mixture thickens slightly and is of
a spreadable consistency (about 30 minutes).
6. Spread ganache over top and sides of cake.

Serve in wedges with whipped cream.