When I’d first noted the recipe I assumed it would be dead easy as there were only 5 ingredients involved. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t look at the method that closely and with only a couple of hours to go before having to leave with the finished cake, I realised that the “wretched” creaming method was involved again. Given that this was to be a special cake I thought I’d better do it just so. Faced with a lump of rock hard butter, I proceeded to do some serious ‘working out’ – my arm ached during and after the whole procedure. I think it all paid off in the end, because it was a truly delicious cake – rich, chocolatey and smooth textured. Voted by the foreman of the jury as the best so far. In fact, it would make a great pudding served with clotted cream.

This is what I did: