Chocolate chilli cake

Classic chocolate cake spiced with dried chilli flakes and spicy chocolate ganache. The combination of chocolate and chilli makes the cake richer and deeper in flavour, adding extra warmth to this beautiful cake. If you like occasionally enjoying chocolate with chilli – this recipe is dedicated to you :).

Ingredients for the chocolate chilli cake:

• 200 g butter
• 160 g dark chocolate, 70%
• 4 eggs
• 260 g light brown sugar, e.g. muscovado
• 150 g plain flour
• 50 g ground almonds
• 2 Tbsp cocoa
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 4 Tbsp milk
• 1.5 – 2 tsp ground dried chilli flakes

All ingredients should be at room temperature.

Melt the butter in a saucepan. Remove from the heat, add chopped chocolate, then put away for 1 minute. After this time, mix until smooth. Sift the plain flour, ground almonds, cocoa powder, baking powder, and chilli into a separate bowl; put aside.

Using an electric mixer with the whip attachment, beat the eggs on medium-high speed until they become very light and fluffy; it should triple in volume and be lighter in colour. Reduce the speed of the mixer and add chocolate sauce, mixing all the time. Turn off the mixer, add sifted dry ingredients and milk, and mix with a spatula only to combine the ingredients.

Divide the mixture into two 20 – 21 cm baking tins lined with baking paper. Bake at 160ºC for 30 – 35 minutes or longer, until a stick inserted into the cake comes out dry. Remove from the oven and cool.

Ingredients for the chocolate ganache:

• 200 ml whipping cream
• 200 g dark chocolate, 70%, chopped
• 1 tsp ground dried chilli flakes

Heat the whipping cream in a small saucepan over medium heat until it is almost boiling. Remove from the heat, add chopped chocolate, and then put away for 2 minutes. After this time, mix until smooth and glossy.

When thickened, spread the chocolate ganache as a filling and topping for your cake. Decorate with chilli flakes.

Enjoy!