Cooking: Strawberry-chocolate fudge cake

Indulge your sweet tooth this Valentine’s Day by preparing a rich chocolate cake with a fudge topping.

Add a personalised touch to it by decorating it with a Valentine’s theme. You may opt for hearts, flowers or even strawberries!

INGREDIENTS:

Serves 6

Preparation time: 3 hours

2 cups self raising flour

1 small cup cocoa powder

1/4- kg unsalted butter

1 tbsp vegetable oil

200 grams cooking chocolate, chopped

2 cups sugar

2 eggs, beaten

For the chocolate fudge topping:

1 cup butter

1 bar dark chocolate, chopped

3 tbsps cocoa powder

Fresh strawberries, sliced

METHOD:

1.Pre-heat the oven to 180oC. Prepare a round cake tin by greasing it all round and dusting with 1 tsp of cocoa powder. Set aside.

2. In a large bowl, sift the self raising flour and combine. Make a well in the centre.

3. In a small saucepan, combine the butter, oil, chocolate and sugar. Add one cup of water and warm over low heat while stirring until the chocolate and butter are melted and the sugar dissolves. Add these ingredients into the well in the flour. Mix until combined. Pour in the beaten eggs and mix well.

3. Transfer the mixture into the baking tin and place in the hot oven for 2 hours. Remove tin from oven and allow cake to cool before turning it over onto a wire rack.

4. To make the topping: Mix the butter, and chocolate in a saucepan and melt over very low heat. Remove from heat and allow it to cool slightly. Add the cocoa powder and mix well to make a stiff cream.

5. Cut off the top of the cake to create a flat top. Turn the cake upside down and spread the cream fudge over the cake. Cut into pieces and decorate with fresh strawberries.

COOKING TIPS:

• Serve the cake with ice-cream for an indulgent experience.

• Give your cake an edgy taste by adding a tablespoon of instant coffee into the flour at the mixing stage.