Chocolate Sponge Cake

Ingredients
- 1½ cups Plain Flour
- 2 Tbsp Cocoa
- 1 tsp Baking Powder
- ½ tsp Baking Soda
- 200g Good Quality Dark Chocolate, chopped
- 225g Unsalted Butter, softened
- 1 cup Caster Sugar
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 4 Eggs
- ½ cup Milk
Method
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Preheat the oven to 160°C.
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Grease and line a 23cm square or XXcm round cake tin. Sift the flour, cocoa, baking powder and baking soda into a bowl and set aside.
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Place the chocolate pieces in a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water until melted. Be careful not to let the chocolate touch the water. Cool slightly.
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Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Then add the vanilla followed by the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Pour in the melted chocolate and mix well. Fold in a third of sifted ingredients, followed by a third of the milk.
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Repeat until all ingredients are incorporated and the mix is smooth. Pour into the pan and bake for 45 to 55 minutes until risen and a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.
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Allow the cake to cool in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes, then invert onto a rack, remove the baking paper and let cool completely. Decorate to your liking.
By The Smart Shopper