Loaded with delicious chocolate and tempting cherries, this is a quick to make, moist and fudgy cake you won’t forget. Treat yourself to a piece of pure indulgence and brighten up a dull chilly day.

Ingredients

• 220g plain flour
• 60g cocoa powder
• 350g granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 120ml vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 240ml freshly brewed strong hot coffee
• 200g fresh cherries, pitted and halved

For the ganache icing

• 300ml double cream
• 220g Lily O'Brien's Mega Milk Chocolate (2 share bags) roughly chopped
• 300g icing sugar
• Fresh cherries for the garnish (optional)

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 200°C/180°C fan. Lightly grease two 22cm cake tins and line the base and sides with baking paper.
• Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt together in a large bowl. Set aside.
• Whisk the oil, eggs and vanilla together until combined. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, add the hot water/coffee, and whisk until the batter is completely combined. The batter will be quite thin.
• Divide batter evenly between pans and dot the pitted cherries evenly between the two pans over the mixture.
• Bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean. Remove the cakes from the oven and set on a wire rack. Allow to cool completely in the pan.
• For the ganache icing, place the cream in a small saucepan over medium heat and bring to just below boiling point. Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Pour over the hot cream and stir until melted and smooth. Allow to cool slightly.
• Combine the ganache and icing sugar thoroughly.
• Once the cakes have fully cooled, assemble the layers. Place the first layer on a serving plate then spread with half the ganache. Repeat with the next layer of cake and spread the remaining ganache on top and garnish with fresh cherries, if using.
• Serve at room temperature.
• Cake can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

For more easy baking recipes using Lily O'Brien's Chocolate visit our Chocolate Blog