Chocolate Heaven Cake (piled high with summer berries)

Ooooh! What a delight this cake is!

Sometimes I'll make a cake and it does exactly what I expect. It's comforting or tasty or pretty etc... and serves it's purpose. Then occasionally, I'll play around with a recipe and something really special comes out of it. I can always tell when this happens because it gets consumed very quickly, without thought of greediness or calories or even fullness, because people seem to like it so much!!

This is one of those happy accidents.

A flourless chocolate cake, inspired by the delightful recipe of Sophie Dahl, who I believe was inspired in turn by the Chocolate Nemesis cake at The River Cake (yet to go there to eat but desperate to!!). I've made some feedahappylife alterations with a strawberry cream rather than creme fraiche, slightly less chocolate and the removal of the coffee from the ingredients.

Please, please, please make this at some point!! You wont be disappointed!

Chocolate Heaven Cake (piled high with summer berries)

Ingredients

• 200g best dark chocolate
• 250ml double cream
• 400g frozen berries (defrosted)
• 200g fresh strawberries
• 140g caster sugar
• 4 eggs (separated)
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp strawberry conserve

Step 1: Preheat oven to 180c/ GM 4 and butter and line a cake tin (medium size - suggest 20cm - also suggest springform due to delicateness of cooked cake)

Step 2: Use a food processor to create a powder out of the chocolate and caster sugar. Add 120ml of boiling water and stir through. Then add the egg yolks and vanilla extract and stir to combine.

Step 3: Whisk the egg whites and then fold into the chocolate mixture.

Step 4: Pour into the cake tin and back for 50 minutes (test with a skewer). The top will be cracked.

Step 5: Allow the cake to cool for about 45 minutes and then fridge

Step 6: Before you need to serve, whip your cream until thick and stir through your strawberry conserve. Spoon the cream over the chocolate cake.

Step 7: Drain the frozen berries and mix with the fresh strawberries. Tumble over the cream and pile up in the centre

Step 8: Serve and slice your cake to hungry friends!

Enjoy!
Helen