Chocolate strawberry cake

My favourite chocolate cake, this time in a summer version with strawberries! This chocolate strawberry cake is wonderfully light and fluffy, yet intensely chocolatey. The strawberries add a delicious seasonal touch and pair beautifully with the rich cocoa flavour. It’s a cake the whole family loves, and they never have to wait long before requesting it again!

Ingredients for chocolate strawberry cake:

• 200 g butter
• 200 g caster sugar
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 3 large eggs
• 200 g sour cream
• 250 g plain flour
• 60 g cocoa powder
• ½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 1½ teaspoons baking powder
• 50 g dark or plain chocolate, finely grated
• 500–600 g strawberries

All ingredients should be at room temperature.

Place the butter and sugar into the bowl of a stand mixer and beat until pale and fluffy. Add the almond extract and mix well. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition until fully incorporated. Sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda directly into the bowl. Add the sour cream and gently fold everything together with a spatula until just combined. Add the grated chocolate and stir briefly to distribute evenly throughout the batter.

Line a 23 x 31 cm baking tin with baking paper. Transfer the batter to the tin and smooth the surface. Halve the strawberries and arrange them closely together over the top of the batter, cut side facing upwards.

Bake at 175°C, for approximately 50 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Remove from the oven and leave to cool completely. Drizzle with the chocolate glaze, then slice and serve.

Ingredients for the chocolate glaze:

• 80 g dark or plain chocolate, finely chopped
• 30 g butter

Place the chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of gently simmering water. Stir until melted and smooth. Pour over the cooled cake.

Enjoy!