Chocolate, Cherry & Cognac New Year's Cake
A delightful dessert combining rich chocolate and cherry flavors with a touch of cognac, perfect for New Year's celebrations.
Ingredients
For the cake
- 50 g Cocoa Powder Unsweetened
- 6 tbsp Boiling Water
- 3 Large Eggs Room temperature
- 120 ml Whole Milk Room temperature
- 175 g Self Raising Flour Or mix your own
- 1 tsp Baking Powder
- 100 g Soft Margarine Or unsalted butter
- 275 g Golden Caster Sugar Granulated sugar can be used
For the buttercream
- 300 g Icing Sugar
- 150 g Unsalted Butter At room temperature
- 3 tbsp Cognac Adjust to taste
For assembly and decoration
- Black Cherry Jam E.g., Bonne Maman
- 3 Boxes Cadbury Chocolate Fingers 1 1/2 Christmas Edition Boxes
- Milk Chocolate Writing Icing For decoration
- Edible Gold Stars Optional decoration
Instructions
Preparation
- Pre-heat the oven to 180 degrees C (350 F) and line two 20 cm (8 inch) cake tins with baking parchment.
- Beat the cocoa powder and boiling water together until a smooth paste forms, then mix in the remaining cake ingredients until just smooth.
- Evenly divide the batter between the prepared cake tins and shake lightly to release air bubbles.
Baking
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until the cakes spring back when touched and a knife comes out clean.
- Cool on a wire rack and remove from the tins once cooled enough to touch.
Making the Buttercream
- Beat the room temperature butter with icing sugar and cognac until smooth.
Assembling the Cake
- Place the flattest sponge on a cake stand and spread 1/4 of the buttercream over it, followed by an equal amount of black cherry jam.
- Smooth another 1/4 of the buttercream over the top of the second sponge and stack it on the first.
- Coat the sides of the cake with the remaining buttercream, sticking the chocolate fingers around it.
Decoration
- Use the milk chocolate writing icing to draw a clock face on the top cake, setting the time close to midnight.
- Sprinkle with edible gold stars before serving.
Notes
Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature for better mixing. Follow the baking time carefully to avoid overbaking. Adjust cognac amount to suit your taste, adding cherry liqueur for more intensity if desired.