I’m back again to join the party at Fiesta Friday! After last weeks amazing response to my white chocolate and orange celebration cake, I thought I should pop by again with another one. Today’s cake will prove just how easy a stunning celebration cake can be to make.
This cake is a muffin mix I adapted from a children’s recipe book. The type you find with simple drawings of bowls and wooden spoons… I have used the mix for years, chucking all the ingredients in a bowl and bunging the cake into the oven! The secret is to go with your gut feeling and take the cakes out when they are just ready, not when they are dry. A simple skewer into the centre of the cake works for me every time.
The ribbon around the middle of the cake was a great little trick I used to cover up the fact the filling was starting to mingle with the ganache before it set. I think it worked really well! As for the fruit, not only does it bring stunning colour to an other wise normal chocolate cake, it means you can have a bigger slice and not feel guilty!
CHOCOLATE BERRY CAKE
Ingredients:
100g butter
150g brown sugar
2 eggs
200g plain flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoon cocoa powder
180ml milk
Filling:
100ml double cream
1 punnet strawberries
Ganache:
90g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids), broken into pieces
60ml double cream
Decoration:
Seasonal fruit
Preheat the oven to 190°/gas mark 5 or turn your Rayburn off! Line 2 7/8inch cake tins.
Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add in the eggs and sift in the dry ingredients. At this stage the mixture will be dry, adding in the milk bit by bit will make it smooth. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean and leave the sponges to cool. Once the sponges are cold, sandwich together with whipped cream and sliced strawberries.
For the ganache, place the chocolate pieces in a clean bowl. Bring the cream to the boil, remove from the heat and pour over the chocolate. Stir with a wooden spoon until the chocolate has melted and the ganache is smooth and glossy. Allow to cool slighty, then pour all over the cake. Decorate with fresh berries and leave to cool. Finally, finish by adding a ribbon around the middle.
Enjoy the party over at the novice gardener, I’ll save you a slice!
Melissa xx
Mouthwatering! I’m off to look for a reason to celebrate.
LikeLike
Surely the mere fact it’s Friday is enough!!
LikeLike
How beautiful!!! Lovely work x x
LikeLike
Chocolate and strawberries – you can’t go wrong! Stunning pics.
LikeLike
Thank you my love xx
LikeLike
Great job Melissa! Looks like celebration cakes are your forte! The cake looks beautiful 🙂
LikeLike
I think so, thank you xx
LikeLike
Another delicious offering! This is beautiful Melissa
LikeLike
Thanks Nancy xx
LikeLike
This cake looks so lovely and perfect for the Fiesta! Thanks for bringing this – I need to indulge in this, just for now! 😀
LikeLike
Thanks Jhuls xx
LikeLike
You make such beautiful cakes, Melissa! I love the fruit on top and that ribbon trick–both really make the cake pop.
LikeLike
Thank you my love xx
LikeLike
Such great ideas! Well done!!
Virtual hugs,
Judie
LikeLike
awww thanks judie xx
LikeLike
What a beautiful cake. And I loooovvvve berries. I’ll have to eat a ton of them next time I’m in Canada.
=)
LikeLike
Thank you my love; they are so pretty against the chocolate xx
LikeLike
Pingback: Fiesta Friday #7 and Divorced Eggs | The Novice Gardener
Thank you xx It’s finally PARTY TIME!!!
LikeLike
OMG! What a beautiful party cake! Simply stunning!
LikeLike
And extremely simple to make xx
LikeLike
stunning! I love how happy this cake is–an abundance of color and shapes. And lol your ribbon trick. Nicely played.
LikeLike
Thanks Liz, the fruit is also a great little trick if the cake sinks a bit!
LikeLike
Oh my, oh my, Melissa! I don’t think there will be any leftovers to take home!
LikeLike
Such a pretty cake! I can’t wait to have a piece at the party!
LikeLike
Thanks Alex!
LikeLike
Thank goodness you made it to the party, Melissa! Your cake is the centerpiece of the buffet table, hon! How beyootiful is that! I will attempt this and hopefully it’ll come out half as gorgeous!
LikeLike
Let me know xx
LikeLike
Omg what a pretty looking cake. I would spend more time admiring than eating it. Great cake for sure!
LikeLike
No eat, eat!
LikeLike
I have NO IDEA how one so young and so apparently innocent can in truth be a devil. Sighh … 😉
LikeLike
😉
LikeLike
Wonderful cake
LikeLike
Thank you!
LikeLike
Wow…WOW!! This is the prettiest cake I’ve ever seen. Please open an online bakery so I can order one and have it shipped overnight!! 🙂 Melissa…you just keep taking it to a higher level every time!! xx
LikeLike
Thanks Prudy, what a lovely thing to say xx
LikeLike
What a gorgeous party cake indeed…I think I may help myself to seconds.
LikeLike
What a festive cake, Melissa! Does all the fruit make it count as a healthy food? I think so.
LikeLike
Yes!!
LikeLike
I’m with Patty, all these gorgeous berries must be good for you!
LikeLike
It’s a fact!
LikeLike
Very very pretty cake.
LikeLike
Thank you!
LikeLike
Pingback: Celebration Cakes | The Glen House
Pingback: Weekly favorite food posts | Edible Reflections