Easter Egg cake

Name: Easter Egg cake
Total time: 2 h
Ingredients: 150g of ground almonds; 60g of plain flour; 6 large eggs; 1 pinch of salt; 100g of caster sugar; 500g of dark chocolate, 70%, chopped; 200ml of double cream; 15ml of cognac; 100g of unsalted butter; 200g of icing sugar; 1 tsp vanilla; 100g of dark chocolate, 70%; 90g of brown sugar; 150ml of double cream; 25g of butter; 2 pinches of salt; chocolate eggs, caramel-filled

by Rosana McPhee

Item 1 of 1

Snack
easy
Serves 8
2 hours

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Rosana set herself the challenge of creating a showstopping Easter cake recipe this year, and her stunning creation certainly fits the bill. A topping of oozing salted caramel and chocolate add a decadent flourish to the buttercream and sponge egg, which conceals a rich chocolate ganache filling. Serve as a centrepiece this Easter as a decadent alternative to simnel cake.

First published in 2016

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Easter is one of the most important celebrations in the Christian calendar, and is celebrated throughout the world with great opulence. There are a few things, such as the Easter eggs, cakes, sweet treats, bunnies, and a selection of chocolates, that are customary to Easter celebrations all over the world.

I wanted to make a celebration cake with a difference, and I think this one does the job. Easter, party, richness, chocolate, salted caramel and cake - and don't forget the so enchanting Easter eggs!

For this recipe you will need a large Easter egg mould (I used one with a 1 litre volume).

Ingredients

Metric

Imperial

Easter egg cake

150g of ground almonds
60g of plain flour
6 large eggs
1 pinch of salt
100g of caster sugar

Chocolate filling

500g of dark chocolate, 70%, chopped
200ml of double cream
15ml of cognac

Vanilla buttercream

100g of unsalted butter
200g of icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Chocolate topping

100g of dark chocolate, 70%

Salted caramel topping (makes about 200ml)

90g of brown sugar
150ml of double cream
25g of butter
2 pinches of salt

To decorate

chocolate eggs, caramel-filled

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Method

Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 4. Butter and line 2 rectangular baking trays (21 x 30 cm) with greased wax paper

To make the cake batter, combine the ground almonds in a mixing bowl with the flour and set aside

Separate the whites and yolks of eggs and set aside the yolks. Beat the egg whites with the salt and sugar until they reach firm peaks

Beating continuously, add the egg yolks one-by-one to the egg white mixture

Stop the mixer and, using a spatula, gently stir in the flour and ground almond mixture

Divide the batter between the prepared baking trays and bake for 15 minutes, or until the edges and the surface of the cake are lightly browned

Leave the sponge to cool, remove the wax paper and set aside. The dough should be thin (1.5cm) and pliable

To prepare the filling, melt the chocolate with the cream in a microwave or bain-marie. Mix well and add the brandy

Line a 1kg Easter egg mould with cling film and line with 1 of the sponge sheets. Neatly cut away any excess sponge using a knife

Pour some of the chocolate filling into the mould and lightly push the largest piece of excess sponge into the chocolate to create an inner sponge layer. Pour in the remaining chocolate filling to cover the sponge piece until it is 1.5cm from the brim of the mould

Cut the remaining sheet of cake to size and place over the chocolate to seal – you may need to plug some holes with excess sponge. Refrigerate for at least 4–5 hours, or overnight, to set

Once set, turn the cake out onto a large serving plate and carefully remove the cling film

To make the buttercream, mix all of the ingredients together until smooth and spread evenly over the cake. Place in the freezer for 1 hour

Melt the chocolate for the topping in a bain-marie, then remove and allow to cool a little. Drizzle over the cake, as pictured, and place in the freezer to set for 1 hour

For the salted caramel topping, add the brown sugar, double cream and butter to a saucepan and cook for 5 minutes over a medium-low heat. Add the salt, leave to cool and drizzle the topping over the cake

Finish decorating the cake with caramel-filled Easter eggs. Happy Easter!