Chocolate Gateau

Ingredients

• 9 ozplain chocolate, dark plain chocolate; melted and cooled
• 3/4 cupbutter, softened; plus extra for greasing
• 7/8 cupgranulated sugar
• 5eggs
• 1 cupflour
• 2 tbspmilk, folded into batter

Method

1. 1

   Heat the oven to 350°F/gas 4. Grease a 20 cm round springform pan and line the base with parchment paper.

2. 2

   Break the chocolate into a heatproof bowl set over a pan of gently simmering water and stir until it has melted, or melt it in the microwave in short bursts. Set it aside to cool.

3. 3

   Cream the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy.

4. 4

   Beat the eggs in a little at a time, adding a spoonful of the flour if the mixture starts to look curdled.

5. 5

   Fold in the rest of the flour with the cooled chocolate and the milk, mixing only until it is smooth and evenly dark.

6. 6

   Spread the batter into the pan and bake for 50–55 minutes, until the center is firm and a skewer comes out clean.

7. 7

   Leave it in the pan for 10 minutes before releasing the ring and turning it onto a wire rack to cool completely.