Chocolate Cake with Passion Fruit and Lime Recipe

Ingredients

• 185g unsalted butter
• 225g caster sugar
• 1tsp vanilla extract
• 3 large free-range eggs, lightly beaten
• 250g plain four
• 50g cocoa powder
• 1tsp baking powder
• 1tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 150ml milk

For the lime ganache:

• 100g dark chocolate, roughly chopped
• 15g unsalted butter, cut into cubes
• 1tbsp cocoa powder
• 50ml lime juice (around 2 limes)
• 3tbsp golden syrup

For the passion fruit cream:

• 400ml whipping cream
• 6 passion fruit, the pulp removed with a teaspoon
• 2tbsp icing sugar

You will need:

• 3 x 20cm cake tins, the bases and sides greased and lined with baking parchment

Method

1. Heat the oven to 180C, gas 4. Cream the butter and sugar until light and creamy, mix in the vanilla then gradually beat in the eggs. Mix together the four, cocoa powder, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda, sift into the cake mixture and fold until combined. Gently mix in the milk, then divide between the prepared cake tins, smoothing the tops. Bake for 15-20 minutes.
2. For the ganache, put all the ingredients in a heatproof bowl over a pan of barely simmering water, allow to melt gently then stir, remove from the heat and set aside briefly to cool slightly and firm up.
3. For the passion fruit cream, whip the cream with the passion fruit pulp and icing sugar until it holds its shape. Using a palette knife, spread half the cream over the top of one sponge, top with another sponge and spread over the remaining cream. Put the last sponge on top and lightly press down to hold in place. Pour the ganache on to the middle of the cake, spreading gently to the edges with a palette knife.