Chocolate Mud Cake Recipe

Everyone loves mud cake and I have been searching for a recipe for one that not only tasted yummy but one that was easy to make. I have to admit to loving mud cake and although it is rich it is just one of those cakes that you can't say no to. I hope that you enjoy this recipe as it definitely is really beautiful.

INGREDIENTS:

250 g dark chocolate
250 g butter (don't use margarine)
3/4 cup water
2 teaspoons instant coffee
1 cup SR flour
1 cup plain flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon bi-carb soda
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup caster sugar
4 large eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons marsala
2 tablespoons peanut oil (or mild flavoured oil)
1/2 cup thickened cream

METHOD:

Preheat oven to 160 C (150 for fan forced). Grease base and sides of a 23cm or 24cm springform pan. Line base and sides with baking or greaseproof paper.
In a large double saucepan, put in chocolate, butter, coffee powder, cream and marsala and stir over a low heat until smooth. Set aside and cool to room temperature.
Sift the flours, cocoa powder and soda into a large bowl and then stir in the sugar.
In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs and oil together then mix into chocolate . Fold the sifted flours and cocoa through the mixture and stir until well combined.
Pour mixture into the cake pan and bake for about 60 minutes then test to see if cooked. If a skewer does not come out clean when inserted in the middle of cake, bake a further 15 minutes or until cooked. When cooked through, remove from oven and cover cake with a clean cotton tea towel and let cool in the pan. When completely cooled, remove from pan and place on a flat surface to ice. I ice it upside down as it looks nicer if flat. Ice with Ganache icing.

GANACHE ICING:

180g dark chocolate (can use half dark, half milk chocolate if prefered)
30 g butter
1/4 cup thickened cream

Place chocolate, butter and cream in a medium saucepan over a low heat until chocolate and butter is melted and mixture is glossy and smooth. Remove from heat and cool slightly and then spread over the cake.