Chocolate and cake are both popular for romantic occasions. If you want to put these two together and bake the most delicious chocolate cake for your Valentine, here’s an easy recipe!
Ingredients:
For the cake

  • 200g caster sugar
  • 200g butter softened (and extra for the tins)
  • 4 eggs
  • 200g self-raising flour
  • 2 Tbsp cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp vanilla
  • 2 Tbsp milk

For the buttercream

  • 100g milk chocolate (chopped)
  • 200g butter (softened)
  • 400g icing sugar
  • 5 Tbsp cocoa powder
  • 2 Tbsp milk

For the décor

  • 50g dark chocolate
  • 25g milk chocolate
  • 25 white chocolate

Method:

  • Preheat your oven to 190C.
  • Butter the base and sides of two 20cm tins and line with baking parchment.
  • In a large bowl, beat together the caster sugar, butter, eggs, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, vanilla, and milk. Add a pinch of salt too.
  • Divide the mixture evenly between the two tins.
  • Bake for 20 minutes or until baked all the way through. Check the centre with a skewer.
  • Allow to cool for 10 minutes before turning out to cool completely.
  • Prepare the buttercream by putting 100g chopped milk chocolate in a bowl. Melt in the microwave (stir frequently).
  • Allow the chocolate to cool for 5 minutes.
  • Mash the butter and icing sugar together with a fork and then use an electric beater to blend completely.
  • Sift the cocoa powder with a pinch of salt and add to the melted chocolate. Add 2 Tbsp milk and mix until smooth.
  • Sandwich the cakes together with half of the buttercream and spread the rest on top.
  • Make chocolate shards by melting dark chocolate and pouring it onto a lined baking tray. Melt the milk chocolate and white chocolate and drizzle over the dark chocolate. Allow to set and cool before chopping into shards.
  • Decorate your cake with the shards or with other delicious decorations if you prefer.