Chocolate Layer Cake

Ingredients

CAKE:

• 7 eggs
• 1 3/4 cups superfine sugar
• 1 1/4 cups flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 4 tbsp butter, melted
• FILLING:
• 7 oz dark chocolate
• 1/2 cup butter
• 4 tbsp confectioner's sugar

DECORATION:

• 2/3 cup toasted almonds, lightly crushed
• small chocolate curls or grated chocolate

Directions

1. Grease a deep 9 inch square pan and line the base with baking parchmanet.

2. Beat the eggs and superfine sugar with an electric beater for about 10 minutes, or until the mixture is very light and foamy and the beater leaves a trail that lasts a few seconds when lifted.

3. Soft the flour and cocoa together and fold half into the mixture. Drizzle the melted butter over it and fold in the rest of the flour and cocoa. Pour into the prepared pan and bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes, or until springy to the touch. Cool slightly, then remove from the pan and cool completely on a wire rack.

4. For the filling, melt the chocolate and butter together, then remove from the heat. Stir in the confectioner's sugar, let cool, then beat until thick enough to spread.

5. Half the cake length-wise and cut each half into 3 layers. Sandwich the layers together with three-quarters of the chocolate filling. Spread the remainder over the cake and mark a wavy pattern on the top. Press the almonds onto the sides. Decorate with chocolate curls or grated chocolate.