COTW: Chocolate Guinness Cake

As it seems like we’ll not be able to reinstate Cake Of The Week for some time yet, I thought I’d share another of my favourite COTW recipes with you - Chocolate Guinness Cake!

When I’m in a certain mood there’s literally nothing else that will do. The deep, rich, moist chocolate sponge is just so comforting and when you slather the top with deliciously pillowy, mousse-like cream cheese frosting, it’s cakey heaven on a plate. It’s really easy to make too - you bring it all together in one pan!

The recipe for the sponge is Nigella’s and can be found here, but I would advise against her frosting recipe (she faffs about with cornflour and double cream!) Instead, here’s the recipe I use on mine (and any other cake I can shoehorn it onto):

Cream Cheese Frosting (enough to ice the top of one large cake)

- 200g full-fat cream cheese, properly fridge-cold

- 100g unsalted butter, melted

- 100g icing sugar

Firstly, melt your butter and leave to cool slightly for a few minutes. Then put your cold cream cheese into a large bowl and sieve over the icing sugar to get any lumps out. Using an electric mixer (or a whisk if you have arms of steel) mix until smooth. Then gradually dribble in the melted butter a little at a time, mixing constantly. Watch as the frosting magically begins to thicken! Once all of the butter has been incorporated and your frosting is soft, smooth and mousse-like, you’re done. Slather it on your cooled cake and enjoy!

P.S. Try to resist putting this in the fridge if you can. The icing will harden and lose its amazing texture. Leaving it covered in a cool spot is best.