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Chocolate Christmas cake

Name: Chocolate Christmas cake
Yield: Serves 12
Cuisine: American recipes
Ingredients: 1½ tbsp instant espresso powder dissolved in 250ml boiling water; 150g dark chocolate (70 per cent cocoa solids), chopped into chunks; 250g unsalted butter, chopped; 50g cocoa powder, plus extra to dust; 200g caster sugar; 200g soft light brown sugar; 2 large free-range eggs; 150g buttermilk; 2 tsp vanilla extract; 280g plain flour; 2½ tsp bicarbonate of soda; For the eggnog custard filling; 300ml whole milk; 1 vanilla pod, split, seeds scraped; 50g caster sugar; 3 tbsp cornflour; 4 large free-range eggs yolks; 100ml double cream; 3 tbsp rum or bourbon; ¼ whole nutmeg, finely grated; For the chocolate ganache icing; 200g dark chocolate; 300ml double cream; You’ll also need…; 3 x 20cm non-stick sandwich tins, greased and lined with non-stick baking paper

Published: 10 Jan 18
Updated: 18 Mar 24

This glorious cake is a boozy showstopper – strictly for adults only. Slice through the chocolatey icing to reveal the rich interior filled with rum-laced eggnog custard… it’s a triumph.

Check out more impressive Christmas desserts.

Easy
December 2017

Test kitchen approved

Serves 12
Hands-on time 1 hour,  oven time 30-35 min, plus chilling

This glorious cake is a boozy showstopper – strictly for adults only. Slice through the chocolatey icing to reveal the rich interior filled with rum-laced eggnog custard… it’s a triumph.

Check out more impressive Christmas desserts.

Nutrition: per serving

Calories: 694kcals
Fat: 46.1g (27.6g saturated)
Protein: 8.7g
Carbohydrates: 57.7g (35.9g sugars)
Fibre: 2.3g
Salt: 0.7g

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Ingredients

1½ tbsp instant espresso powder dissolved in 250ml boiling water
 150g dark chocolate (70 per cent cocoa solids), chopped into chunks
250g unsalted butter, chopped
50g cocoa powder, plus extra  to dust
 200g caster sugar
200g soft light brown sugar
 2 large free-range eggs
150g buttermilk
2 tsp vanilla extract
280g plain flour
2½ tsp bicarbonate of soda

For the eggnog custard filling

 300ml whole milk
1 vanilla pod, split, seeds scraped
50g caster sugar
 3 tbsp cornflour
4 large free-range eggs yolks
100ml double cream
 3 tbsp rum or bourbon
¼ whole nutmeg, finely grated

For the chocolate ganache icing

200g dark chocolate
300ml double cream

You’ll also need…

 3 x 20cm non-stick sandwich tins, greased and lined with non-stick baking paper

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Method

Heat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/gas 4. In a large pan over a low heat, gently warm the coffee, chocolate and butter until the chocolate melts.
Mix the cocoa powder and sugars in a large mixing bowl, breaking up any lumps. Using a balloon whisk, gradually whisk the melted chocolate mixture into the bowl. Add the eggs, whisking until thick and smooth, then whisk in the buttermilk, vanilla extract, flour and bicarb of soda.
Divide the batter equally among  the 3 tins and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a skewer pushed into the centre comes out clean. Leave for  5 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool.

Meanwhile make the filling. Heat the milk and vanilla seeds and pod in a pan until just starting to steam. In a medium heatproof bowl, using  a balloon whisk, beat the sugar, cornflour and egg yolks until thick and creamy. Slowly whisk in the warm milk mixture until smooth.
Return the mix to the pan and put over a low heat, stirring all the time, for 10-15 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat and discard the vanilla pod. Pour the custard into a lipped baking tray and leave to cool.
Whisk the double cream to soft peaks. When the custard is cold, spoon into a large mixing bowl and beat using a balloon whisk until smooth. Gently whisk in the whipped cream, then stir in the rum/bourbon and nutmeg. Chill for at least  15 minutes.
For the ganache, melt the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water (don’t let the bowl touch the water). Set aside for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, warm the double cream in a pan until steaming, then turn  off the heat. Using a balloon whisk, gradually but vigorously whisk the cream into the chocolate until you have a glossy ganache. If it seizes add a splash of boiling water and beat vigorously again. Set aside.
When the cakes are cool, put one sponge on a platter and spread over half the eggnog filling. Top with another sponge layer and spread over the remaining filling. Top with the final sponge, then generously spread the ganache all over the  cake top and sides, smoothing with a palette knife as you go. Put the cake in the fridge for 30 minutes to set. Sift a little cocoa over the top  of the cake to serve – or dust with icing sugar if you prefer.

Recipe from December 2017 Issue

Nutrition

Nutrition: per serving

Calories: 694kcals
Fat: 46.1g (27.6g saturated)
Protein: 8.7g
Carbohydrates: 57.7g (35.9g sugars)
Fibre: 2.3g
Salt: 0.7g

delicious. tips

Freeze leftover egg whites in a freezer bag marked with the date and number of whites and use within 3 months.
Make the sponges up to 48 hours ahead, cool and wrap in cling film and keep in an airtight tin. The filling can be made up to 24 hours ahead and kept in a sealed container. The cake will keep for 3-4 days, covered in the fridge.