Test Cake Number Three

Yet another chocolate cake! This one turned out flat on the top, and has a beautiful texture. Sadly, I took a work phone call when it was cooking and missed the timer...burnt the top :(. I'll definitely make another one though, as I think an unburnt version may just be a winner. It's the strangest cake method, but somehow it all comes together. I stole it from Stephanie Alexander, who stole it from her Mum.

Mum's Red Devil Cake

125g softened unsalted butter
200g brown sugar
2 eggs, seperated
1/2 cup milk
250g plain flour
1 1/2t bicarb of soda
1T warm water
chocolate mixture
150g bittersweet chocolate, chopped
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup milk or buttermilk
few drops pur vanilla
1 egg yolk, lightly beaten

Preheat oven to 180C and butter a 24cm round springform cake tin.

To make the chocolate mixture, gently melt chocolate with sugar, milk and vanilla in a saucepan. When smooth, add egg yolk and cook over gentle heat until mixture thickens slightly. Pour through a strainer into a large mixing bowl and allow to cool.

Cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Beat egg yolks lightly snd mix with milk, then add to butter mixture alternately with flour. Add to cooled chocolate mixture and combine well.

Dissolve bicarb of soda in warm water and stir into mixture. Whisk egg whites until creamy, then fold into mixture.

Pour into prepared tin and bake for 1 hour or until cake tests clean. Cool cake completely before cutting.