Chocolate Spice Cake (Christmas Log)

A decadent chocolate cake seasoned with Christmas cake spices provides a chocolicious alternative to the traditional fruit cake.

For the cake

1 and a quarter cup flour

3/4 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1/4 cup oil

1/2 cup boiling water

1 tsp coffee powder

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup sugar

Pinch of salt

1 tsp cinammon powder

1/2 tsp clove powder

For the ganache

225 g chocolate

1 cup cream

Procedure

1. In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa powder, cinammon, clove powder and salt. Add the sugar to this mix and keep aside.

2. In another bowl, beat the eggs, oil and vanilla.

3. Add this to the dry ingredients. Beat well.

4. Add the coffee powder to the boiling water and incorporate in the cake mixture.

Preheat your oven to 180 C.

Bake the cake at 180 C for 40-45 mins or until done.

1. Add cream to a double boiler.

2. Heat until you see tiny bubbles along the edges.

3. Add chocolate.

4. Stir until smooth.

The log design can be made with a fork.

Dust with icing sugar and cocoa powder for the log effect.

Add meringue mushrooms and other decor.