Chocolate Cake

Moist, rich chocolate cake with a silky ganache - perfect for celebrations.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 tsp vanilla essence
• 1 cup hot water
• For ganache: 200 g dark chocolate, 1 cup cream

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 175 C (350 F). Grease and line two 9-inch round pans.
2. Whisk flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large bowl.
3. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla. Beat for 2 minutes until smooth.
4. Stir in the hot water. The batter will be thin - this is normal.
5. Pour into pans and bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
6. Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.
7. For ganache, heat cream until steaming and pour over chopped chocolate. Rest 2 minutes, then stir smooth.
8. Spread ganache between layers and over the cake. Slice and serve.