Featured Dessert Recipe:

Mud Cake Recipe

2 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups plain flour
1 cup self raising flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla essence
pinch of salt
300g butter, melted
300g dark chocolate, finely chopped
white chocolate for serving

ICING

200g dark chocolate, chopped
1/3 cup cream

METHOD

Preheat oven to 150 degrees celsius. Brush a deep 23cm round cake tin with oil or melted butter; line base and sides with baking paper

Place sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add sifted flours, cocoa and soda. Make a well in the centre. Using a metal spoon, fold in combined eggs, buttermilk, essence and salt. Combine well.

Add butter and chocolate, mix well. Pour mixture into prepared pan and smooth surface. Bake for 2 to 2 1/4 hours or until skewer comes out clean when inserted into centre of cake. Leave cake in tin until cold, then turn cake onto a wire rack (cake will crack on top). Using a serrated edge knife, cut a dome off the top of the cake horizontally. Turn cake upside down and stand it on a wire rack over a paper lined tray. Pour icing completely over cake, smoothing top and sides with flat bladed knife. Allow to set. Transfer the cake carefully to a serving plate. Serve in wedges with whipped cream, garnished with shavings of white chocolate.

To make icing: Combine chocolate and cream in a small pan. Stir over low heat until chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth. Remove from heat. Cool slightly.