Ann Creber's - Raisin & Rum Chocolate Cake

This is a particularly luscious cake for special occasions. I took one to a party a while ago and it disappeared like snowflakes in sunshine!

INGREDIENTS

Serves a lot!

• 1/2 cup seeded raisins
• 1/2 cup dark rum*
• 425g dark chocolate, chopped
• 225g low salt butter
• 1/2 cup warm water
  
• 6 eggs, separated
• 11/3 cups castor sugar
• 100g plain flour
• 1 1/3 cups ground almonds

METHOD

1. Soak raisins in rum for several hours or, even better, overnight.
2. Place chopped chocolate and butter in a basin over simmering water on moderate heat, stir occasionally until melted. Stir in the warm water.
3. Beat together egg yolks and castor sugar until thick and creamy. Add the melted chocolate mixture and blend thoroughly. Mix together flour and almonds and fold through. Stir in the raisins and rum.
4. Whisk the egg whites to soft peaks and fold into the mixture. Spoon mixture into a 22cm cake tin (with removable base) which has been buttered and lined with kitchen parchment. Gently smooth surface.
5. Bake in a preheated 180oC oven for 45-55 minutes or until cake tests cooked when pierced with a satay stick.
6. Leave in the tin until quite cold. Coat with a rich chocolate icing and serve in very small slices.

*Brandy may be substituted for whisky.

Ann Creber
The Good Life on 3MDR 97.1 FM
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