Chocolate Squares -

Chocolate Squares

Ingredients

100 g (4 oz) cocoa powder, sifted
485 ml (17 fl oz) boiling water
200 g (7 oz) butter, softened
475 g (17 oz) granulated sugar
325 g (12 oz) plain flour, sifted
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
½ teaspoon baking powder
3 eggs, beaten
40 g (1½ oz) plain chocolate, melted
40 g (1½ oz) white chocolate, melted

Details

Makes: 16

Method

1 Grease and line a 20 cm (8 inch) square cake tin.

2 Mix the cocoa with the boiling water and stir until smooth. Leave to cool.

3 Beat together the butter and sugar until light. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, bicarbonate of soda and baking powder.

4 Gradually beat the eggs into the butter and sugar mixture, beating well after each addition and alter­nately beating in a little flour. Beat well. Fold in the cocoa mixture and the remaining flour.

5 Pour the cake mixture into the prepared tin and place in a pre­heated oven, 180˚C (350˚F), Gas Mark 4, for 1 hour 40 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then turn out and cool upside down on a wire rack. Rim the sur­face of the cake level and then cut into 16 squares.

6 Put the melted plain chocolate into a piping bag with a fine nozzle and drizzle over the squares. Repeat with the melted white chocolate, piping at right angles to the plain chocolate. Leave to set.

PREPARATION TIME: 20 MINUTES
COOKING TIME: 1 HOUR 40 MINUTES
OVEN TEMPERATURE: 180˚C (350˚F), GAS MARK 4

Related food category:

• Small Cake