serves
10-12
prep
40 minutes
cook
30 minutes
difficulty
Ace
serves
10-12
people
preparation
40
minutes
cooking
30
minutes
difficulty
Ace
level
Ingredients
- melted butter, to grease
- 125 g unsalted butter, softened
- 125 g (1 cup) icing sugar, sifted
- 1½ tsp natural vanilla essence or extract
- 6 eggs, at room temperature, separated
- 175 g good-quality dark chocolate (54% cocoa), chopped, melted and cooled to room temperature
- 110 g (¾ cup) plain flour
- 110 g (½ cup) caster sugar
- 85 g (¼ cup) apricot jam, warmed and sieved
- 40 g good-quality milk chocolate, melted, to decorate
- thick or whippedd cream, to serve
Chocolate glaze
- 300 g good-quality dark chocolate (54% cocoa)
- 60 g butter, cubed
Cooling time 1 hour
Standing time 2 hours
Instructions
Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). Brush 2 x shallow 20 cm round cake tins with melted butter to grease and line the bases with rounds of non-stick baking paper.
Use an electric mixer to beat the butter, icing sugar and vanilla until pale and creamy. Add the egg yolks and beat until well combined and creamy. Beat in the cooled melted chocolate until well combined. Use a large metal spoon or spatula to fold in the flour until just combined.
Use an electric mixer with a whisk attachment to whisk the egg whites in a large clean, dry bowl until soft peaks form. Add the caster sugar and whisk on medium-high speed until thick and glossy and all the sugar has dissolved (see Baker’s tip). Add half the egg white mixture to the chocolate mixture and use a large metal spoon or spatula to fold in to ‘loosen’ the mixture. Add the remaining egg white mixture and fold until just evenly combined.
Divide the mixture evenly between the tins and use the back of a spoon to smooth the surface. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cakes comes out clean. Stand in the tins for 10 minutes before turning onto a wire rack to cool (this will take about 1 hour).
Once cool, spread one cake layer with the warmed sieved jam and then top with the second layer, bottom side up. Place the cake on a wire rack over a tray and set aside while making the chocolate glaze.
To make the chocolate glaze, combine the chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl and place over a saucepan of barely simmering water (make sure the base of the bowl doesn’t touch the water). Stir occasionally until just melted and combined. Use a plate knife to spread a little of the glaze over the outside of the cake to form a ‘crumb coat’ and to even the surface. Place in the fridge for 20 minutes or until set. Remove from the fridge and carefully pour over the rest of the glaze, allowing it to run down the sides of the cake to coat evenly. Tap the cake, still on the rack, gently on the tray to remove any air bubbles and to settle the glaze. Use a fork to drizzle the milk chocolate over the top of the cake to decorate. Set aside for 2 hours or until the glaze sets. Serve cut into small wedges with cream.
Baker’s tips
• To test if all the sugar has dissolved, rub a little of the egg white and sugar between two fingers – you will be able to feel if there is still undissolved sugar. Whisk for another minute if not completely dissolved before testing again.
• This cake will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
Anneka's mission is to connect home cooks with the magic of baking, and through this, with those they love. Read our with her or for hands-on baking classes and baking tips, visit her at . Don't miss what's coming out of her oven via , , and .
Photography by Alan Benson. Styling by Sarah O’Brien. Food preparation by Kerrie Ray. Creative concept by Lou Fay.
Cook's Notes
Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.
