Chocolate Marquise Cake

It was my mother's birthday yesterday, so I wanted to make her a really special chocolate cake! Trouble is, I've never made a chocolate cake before. I absolutely adore the chocolate marquise cake at Starbucks...yes, I know it sounds wrong - but try it and you'll see what I mean! It's super sweet and has insane amounts of icing on it. Eating it by yourself is so bad but oh so good! 

I adapted this from a Japanese cookbook recipe I found online, so I had to do a trial of this cake before serving it to my mothers friends. My family will always forgive me if I do something wrong, but dinner guests will never forget! It's a good thing I did too, because so many things went wrong ... the cake was flat, not moist, and can you believe it - I forgot to add the butter!! 
It looked a lot better than it tasted:

The second time around was much better, and I have a few tips:


1. When incorporating the dry ingredients into the egg whites, try to be as gentle as possible. When putting the batter into the pan, don't shake or bang on the pan. The idea is to not disturb the bubbles in the egg whites so the sponge comes out soft and ... spongy!


2. For the same reasons,  I tried to limit the amount of time between mixing the batter and baking.


3. Using chocolate with 70% cocoa mass will give the cake a more decadent taste. 


Chocolate sponge cake 
30g ....... Cake flour
15g ....... Cocoa powder
3 ........... Eggs
70g ....... Sugar
15g ....... Unsalted butter, melted

Ganache

120 ml .... Whipping cream

120g ....... 70% cocoa dark chocolate, chopped

½tsp  ...... Rum

Syrup 

2 tsp ....... Sugar

1 tbsp .....  Water

1 tsp .......  Rum

Cocoa powder for sprinkling the top of the cake

Mixed berries for decoration 

Preheat the oven to 190°C


Line a 30x30cm pan with baking paper

Separate the egg yolks from the egg whites

Using a hand mixer, beat the egg whites, adding the sugar gradually until stiff peaks form.

Pour the egg yolks into the mixture.

Beat at low speed for one minute.

Sift the flour and cocoa flour into the bowl and fold gently to combine. Add the melted butter and combine, then pour the batter into the prepared pan.

Bake for 10 minutes until the top is light and springy to the touch.

Let the cake cool on a wire rack.

To make the ganache:

Boil the whipping cream and pour the hot cream over the chocolate. 


Leave it to melt for 1 minute, then whisk lightly to combine and add the rum.

To make the syrup: 


Mix all the ingredients in a small pan and bring to the boil. Let cool.

Final assembly:

Cut the cake into 4 pieces, brushing each one generously with the sugar syrup. 

Spread the ganache over each layer generously, layering as you go. 

Save the nicest looking layer for the top, spread the final layer of ganache thickly and sprinkle with cocoa powder.


Decorate the cake with berries, and scatter berries around the platter.


Optional: serve with a dollop of creme chantilly - for extra decadence.


Enjoy! :-)