Chocolate Walnut Ring

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cups self raising flour
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 3/4 cup caster sugar
• 1/4 cup soft brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 milk
• 60 g unsalted butter, melted
• 1/3 cup walnuts, chopped

Chocolate Sauce

• 100 g dark chocolate, chopped
• 1/3 cup cream

Directions

1. 1

   PREHEAT OVEN to a moderate 180c.

2. 2

   Brush a deep 23cm (9inch) fluted ring tin with melted butter or oil.

3. 3

   Sift the flour, soda and cocoa into a large bowl; add the sugars.

4. 4

   Make a well in the centre.

5. 5

   Add combined vanilla essence, eggs, milks and butter to dry ingredients.

6. 6

   Using electric beaters, beat mixture on low 3 minutes or until moist.

7. 7

   Beat mixture on high 5 minutes or until smooth and increased in volume.

8. 8

   Fold in walnuts.

9. 9

   Pour mixture into prepared tin; smooth surface.

10. 10

    Bake at 35 minutes or until skewer comes out clean when inserted into the centre of cake.

11. 11

    Leave cake in tin for 10 minutes, turn onto a wire rack to cool.

12. 12

    To make chocolate sauce.

13. 13

    Combine chocolate and cream in a small pan.

14. 14

    Stir over low heat until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth.

15. 15

    Remove from heat, cool to room temperature.

16. 16

    Pour sauce over cake.

17. 17

    Decorate with two toned chocolate curls and icing sugar if desired.