Devil’s food cake is a moist, rich chocolate layer cake. It is considered a counterpart to the white or yellow angel food cake.
INGREDIENTS
- 140 g / 5 oz Plain chocolate
- 100 ml / 3 1/2 fl oz Milk
- 2 tbsp Cocoa powder
- 140 g / 5 oz Unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing
- 140 g / 5 oz Light muscovado sugar
- 3 Eggs, separated
- 4 tbsp Soured cream or creme fraiche
- 200 g / 7 oz Plain flour
- 1 tsp Bicarbonate of soda
FROSTING
- 140 g / 5 oz Plain chocolate
- 40 g / 1 1/2 oz Cocoa powder
- 4 tbsp Soured cream or creme fraiche
- 1 tbsp Golden syrup
- 40 g / 1 1/2 oz Unsalted butter
- 4 tbsp Water
- 200 g / 7 oz Icing sugar
INSTRUCTION
Preheat the oven to 160’C / 325’F / Gas Mark 3. Grease two 20-cm / 8 -inch sandwich tins and line the bases with non-stick baking paper.
Break up the chocolate and place with the milk and cocoa powder in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of hot water, then heat gently, stirring, until melted and smooth. Remove from the heat.
In a large bowl beat together the butter and muscovado sugar until pale and fluffy. Beat in the egg yolks, then the soured cream and the melted chocolate mixture. Sift in the flour and bicarbonate of soda,then fold in evenly. in a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites until stiff enough to hold firm peaks. Fold in the mixture lightly and evenly.
Divide the mixture between the prepared cake tins, smooth level and bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until risen and firm to the touch. Cool in the tins for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.
For the frosting, place the chocolate, cocoa powder, soured cream, golden syrup, butter and water in a saucepan and heat gently, until melted. Remove from the heat and sift in the icing sugar, stirring until smooth. Cool, stirring occasionally, until the mixture begins to thicken and hold its shape.
Split the cakes in half horizontally with a sharp knife, to make four layers. Sandwich the cakes together with about a third of the frosting. Spread the remainder over the top and sides of the cakes, swirling with a palette knife.
Making & Baking 