CHOCOLATE BOWL RECIPES

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4. Grease and line a large shallow tray (approximately 25cm by 40cm).
  2. In a large bowl, use an electric hand whisk to whiz the sugar and eggs together for about 4 to 5 minutes, or until light and fluffy. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a small pan on a medium heat, then fold it through the sugar and egg mixture with a spatula. Sieve the flour and cocoa powder into the bowl and carefully fold the mixture together in a figure of eight motion. Once combined, spread the cake mixture across your prepared tray so it’s about 1cm thick. Cook for 10 minutes, or until firm and springy to the touch. Leave to cool.
  3. Meanwhile, smash the white chocolate and add it to a glass bowl with milk. Sit it over a pan of gently simmering water, making sure the water doesn’t touch the base of the bowl, and leave to melt, stirring occasionally, until smooth. Leave to cool a little.
  4. Carefully mix the mascarpone with the caster sugar, egg yolk and vin santo. Once combined, fold through the melted white chocolate. The sponge should be fairly cool by now, so tear it into chunks and use it to cover the base of a 20cm by 30cm serving dish in a double layer (don’t worry if it breaks up). Sprinkle over the Tia Maria and drizzle with the espresso and leave those to soak in for a couple of minutes.
  5. Spoon the mascarpone mixture over the top, spreading it out in a fairly even layer. Dust the whole thing with a little cocoa powder, then scatter with some shavings of dark chocolate, if you like. Pop in the fridge until you’re ready to eat.

Steps:

• 1. Cube the butter and chop the chocolate.
  2. Put the butter and chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water and allow to melt. Remove from the heat and let it cool to room temperature.
  3. Stir in the Guinness – don’t worry if it seizes or splits, it’ll come back together when mixed with the other ingredients.
  4. Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/gas 4. Grease a 23cm cake tin with butter.
  5. In a medium bowl, mix the flour, cocoa and baking powder until combined.
  6. In another bowl, beat the eggs and sugar for about 3 minutes with an electric mixer until fluffy.
  7. Beat half the chocolate mixture into the eggs until combined. Add half the flour, then combine again. Repeat with the remaining flour and chocolate.
  8. Pour the mixture into the tin and bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean. If the top is colouring too much after 30 minutes, cover it with tin foil.
  9. Take the cake out of the oven, cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
  10. For the icing, beat together the sour cream and icing sugar until smooth, then stir in 2 tablespoons of Guinness. If it becomes too loose, add more icing sugar.
  11. Spread over the cooled cake and serve.