Chocolate Cloud cake for ROSIE AND KAYLEM (and anyone else who wants it)

Chocolate Cloud Cake
By Churchills Delights!!!!
Richly dark chocolate cake contrasts a lightly whipped cream topping in this decadent creation, made by ME Servings: 8-12

· Level of difficulty: Easy
· Preparation Time: 20 minutes
· Cooking Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients
· 250g dark chocolate, minimum 70% cocoa solids
· 125g unsalted butter, softened
· 6 eggs, :2 whole, 4 separated
· 175g caster sugar
· 2 tbsp Cointreau, (optional)
· 1 orange, grated zest only (optional)

For the cream topping
· 500ml double cream
· 1 tsp vanilla extract
· 1 tbsp Cointreau, (optional)
· 0.5 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder, for sprinkling

Method
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas 4.

2. Line the bottom of a 23cm Springform cake tin with baking parchment.

3. Melt the chocolate either in a double boiler or a microwave, and then let the butter melt in the warm chocolate.

4. Beat the 2 whole eggs and 4 egg yolks with 75g caster sugar, then gently add the chocolate mixture, the Cointreau and orange zest( optional).

5. In another bowl, whisk the 4 egg whites until foamy, then gradually add the 100g of sugar and whisk until the whites are holding their shape but not too stiff.

6. Lighten the chocolate mixture with a dollop of egg whites, and then fold in the rest of the whites.

7. Pour into the prepared tin and bake for about 35-40 minutes or until the cake is risen and cracked and the centre is no longer wobbly. Cool the cake in it's tin on a wire rack; the middle will sink as it cools.

8. When you are ready to eat, place the still tin-bound cake on a cake stand or plate for serving and carefully remove the cake from its tin. Don't worry about cracks or rough edges: it's the crater look we're going for here.

9. Whip the cream until soft and then add the vanilla and Cointreau (optional) and continue whisking until the cream is firm but not stiff.

10. Fill the crater of the cake with the whipped cream, easing it out gently towards the edges of the cake, and dust the top lightly with cocoa powder pushed through a tea-strainer.