Recipe: Chocolate Mud Cake (Planet Cake)

This is such a beautiful mud cake recipe.  No beaters required and considering it is a mud cake does not use many eggs.  The moistness of this cake does compromise its depth and muddiness.  This recipe is loved by a few of my favorite cake artists but aside from its perfection as great cake foundation it is super delicious! and a must have on my site.

Ingredients:

220g unsalted butter

220g dark chocolate chopped
25g or half a cup coffee granules
125 grams self raising flour
125 grams plain flour
50 grams or 1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
480g or 1 3/4 cups caster sugar
4 eggs lightly beaten
7 teaspoons vegetable oil

100 mls buttermilk

160 mls of water

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 160 degrees for a fan forced oven.  Grease tin and line the base and sides with a collar;
2. Put the butter, chocolate and coffee in a saucepan with 160 ml water and stir over low heat until melted then remove from heat (you could do this on medium power in the microwave also);
3. Sift the flours, cocoa and bicarbonate of soda into a bowl. Stir in the sugar and make well in centre. Add the combined egg, oil and buttermilk and chocolate mixture, stir with large spoon till completely combined; and
4. Pour the mixture into the tin and bake for 1 hour 40 minutes. leave in tin till cold. 

Tips:
Makes one 22 cm (9 in) round or one 20cm (8in) square cake.

If you don't have buttermilk add one tablespoon of white vinegar to your milk and allow to stand for five minutes.  This will almost replicate buttermilk.

You can substitute the vegetable oil for a nut based oil if you prefer.

If you are not a fan of coffee you can remove this entirely however it does add a depth of flavor to the cake.

Don't be afraid to freeze this cake.