Chocolate Fudge Easter Cakes Food

EASTER FUDGE

Steps:

• Line a 20cm square brownie tin with baking parchment. Tip all the ingredients, except the mini chocolate eggs, into a saucepan set over a low heat. Stir gently until all of the sugar has melted. Turn up the heat and simmer for 10-15 mins, scraping the bottom of the pan regularly until the mixture reaches 115C on a sugar thermometer. If you don't have a sugar thermometer, drop a teaspoon of mixture into a small bowl of cold water - if it's ready, it will form a soft ball that can be easily flattened.
• Remove the fudge mixture from the heat and leave to cool for 5 mins. Use a wooden spoon to beat the mixture for another 5 mins.
• Roughly chop 100g of the mini chocolate eggs and tip these into the fudge mixture, then stir until evenly combined. Tip the fudge mixture into the prepared tin, smoothing the surface and pushing it into the corners using a rubber spatula. Scatter over the remaining mini chocolate eggs, then leave at room temperature until completely firm and set. Turn out onto a chopping board and cut into 20 squares before serving.

CHOCOLATE FUDGE CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3 and line a 12-hole muffin tin with cases. Gently melt the butter, chocolate, sugar and 100ml hot water together in a large saucepan, stirring occasionally, then set aside to cool a little while you weigh the other ingredients.
• Stir the eggs and vanilla into the chocolate mixture. Put the flour into a large mixing bowl, then stir in the chocolate mixture until smooth. Spoon into cases until just over three-quarters full (you may have a little mixture leftover), then set aside for 5 mins before putting on a low shelf in the oven and baking for 20-22 mins. Leave to cool.
• For the icing, melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of barely simmering water. Once melted, turn off the heat, stir in the double cream and sift in the icing sugar. When spreadable, top each cake with some and decorate with your favourite sprinkles and sweets.

EASY CHOCOLATE FUDGE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Oil and line the base of two 18cm sandwich tins. Sieve the flour, cocoa powder and bicarbonate of soda into a bowl. Add the caster sugar and mix well.
• Make a well in the centre and add the golden syrup, eggs, sunflower oil and milk. Beat well with an electric whisk until smooth.
• Pour the mixture into the two tins and bake for 25-30 mins until risen and firm to the touch. Remove from oven, leave to cool for 10 mins before turning out onto a cooling rack.
• To make the icing, beat the unsalted butter in a bowl until soft. Gradually sieve and beat in the icing sugar and cocoa powder, then add enough of the milk to make the icing fluffy and spreadable.
• Sandwich the two cakes together with the butter icing and cover the sides and the top of the cake with more icing.