The Birthday Cake

I used two cakes to create one large layered cake.
One is a rich mud cake, the other is a sponge cake...

Mud Cake
1T instant coffee
1/2C water
100g dark cooking chocolate (or choc chips)
100g butter
1C sugar
2T sherry, whisky, brandy (or I used cider!)
2 lrg eggs
1t van essence
1 1/4 C flour
1/2t baking soda


Oven at 150.


Warm instant coffee, water, broken up chocolate, butter and sugar until choc has melted and sugar is dissolved, stirring all the time (if using a pot) or intervals (if microwaving). Cool to room temp, then stir in the liquid (brandy etc).


Beat eggs and vanilla together.


Sieve flour and baking soda together, then combine the three mixtures. Whisk until the mixture is smooth and thinner than most cake mixtures.


Line a tin, and pour cake mix in.
Bake for an hour, then remove from oven and leave in tin for 10 mins before removing.


Dust with icing sugar and serve, or serve with cream or icecream....


3 Min Sponge
A very easy sponge!!


75g butter
2 lrg eggs
3/4C sugar
2T milk
1C flour
2tsp baking pdr


Oven at 175


Use a bowl big enough to hold the whole mixture.
Melt butter till just liquid. Add eggs, sugar and milk. Sift flour and baking pdr in.


Using electric beater or good hand beater beat until mixture is well mixed, looks creamy and is slightly paler in colour (about 40-60 seconds).


Pour into tin, and bake for 20 mins (I actually had to cook for about 30, so keep an eye on it).


More photos coming after we have cut the cake!


Windows were done with melted white chocolate piped into shapes.
Spiders were done with melted dark chocolate and make into shapes. Many deformed spiders were eaten in the process... !