Lyle's Special Chocolate Sponge

Lyle's Special Chocolate Sponge

Moist and light, everyone will love this luscious chocolate cake. Perfectly done.

Serves

8-10

PREP TIME

40 minutes

COOK TIME

30-35 minutes

INGREDIENTS

(Cake)

  • 330g (11½oz) unsalted butter, softened
  • 330g (11½oz) Lyle's Golden Syrup
  • 6 large eggs, at room temperature, lightly beaten
  • 275g (10oz) self-raising flour
  • 60g (2½oz) cocoa
  • 1 rounded tsp baking powder
  • 2 tbsp milk

(Chocolate butter cream)

  • 110g (4oz) dark chocolate 70% cocoa solids, broken into squares
  • 150g (5oz) unsalted butter, softened
  • 75g (3oz) Lyle's Golden Syrup
  • 110g (4oz) Tate & Lyle Fair trade Icing Cane Sugar

INSTRUCTIONS

To create the perfect moist chocolate cake:

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°Fan, 350°F, Gas 4 and get whisking the butter and Lyle's Golden Syrup until soft and creamy. Beat in the eggs a little at a time (give each batch time to combine). It doesn't matter if the mixture curdles - all will be revealed.
  2. Sift over the flour, baking powder and cacao; lightly and quickly fold it in with a large metal spoon and then add the milk to make a soft consistency (so it easily drops from the spoon).
  3. Spoon the mixture into two 20cm (8”) sandwich tins (greased and bases lined with parchment paper).
  4. Bake on the middle shelf for 30 minutes until well risen, (a fine skewer comes out clean from the centre, and the cakes spring back when lightly pressed with a finger). When ready, leave to stand for 20 minutes then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
  5. Ready for the chocolate butter cream? Melt the chocolate in the microwave – or in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Leave to cool.
  6. Beat the butter and Lyle's Golden Syrup together in a mixing bowl and sift over the Icing Sugar until soft and smooth, then mix in the melted chocolate.
  7. Sandwich the cakes together with half the butter cream, then smooth the rest over the top. Beautiful - and ready to serve.

CHEF'S TIP

Only one thing to remember now - and that's to make sure you leave a slice for yourself!