Chocolate, Guinness and Blackcurrant Cake

Chocolate, Guinness and Blackcurrant Cake

For the sponge:

• Spray oil
• 100ml Guinness
• 175g unsalted butter
• 1tsp instant coffee granules
• 200g soft light brown sugar
• 75g cocoa powder, sifted
• 200g low-fat crème fraîche
• 5 eggs
• Seeds of 1 vanilla pod or 1tsp vanilla extract
• 300g self-raising flour
• 150g wholemeal flour
• 2tsp baking powder
• 100g reduced-sugar blackcurrant jam

For the filling:

• 400g low-fat cream cheese
• 100g light sour cream
• 3tbsp icing sugar, sifted
• Seeds of 1 vanilla pod or 1 tsp vanilla extract

To serve

• 100g blackberries

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/Fan 160°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4. Grease 4x 20cm sandwich tins with a little spray oil, line the base with baking parchment and set aside on two baking sheets. If you only have two sandwich tins you can just cook this in two batches.
2. Heat the Guinness, butter and coffee together in a large pan over a medium heat until the butter has melted. Then, remove from the heat, and stir through the sugar and cocoa followed by the crème fraîche, eggs and vanilla seeds or extract to give a smooth and glossy, chocolaty liquid. Finally, add the flours and baking powder and give it a good mix until well blended.
3. Divide the mixture evenly between the four tins, levelling the top with
   the back of a spoon (or just use half the mixture to fill two for now if you are working in two batches). Bake for 15–18 minutes or until the sponge is springy to the touch and a knife comes out clean when inserted into the centre. Swap the trays around on the shelves halfway through cooking to ensure an even cook and rise.
4. Meanwhile, mix the jam in a small bowl with 3 tablespoons of boiling water until well blended, and set aside. (You can sieve out the seeds if you want to at this stage, but I usually leave them in.)
5. Next, prepare the filling. Beat the cream cheese, sour cream, icing sugar and vanilla seeds or extract in a large bowl until well blended. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
6. Once the sponges are baked, remove them from the oven and spread a quarter of the jam mixture over each one. Then, if you have four cake tins, leave them to cool in the tin. If you have two cake tins, just leave the cakes until cool enough to handle before carefully removing them from the tin. Grease and re-line the tins with fresh baking parchment, pour in the remaining batter and cook as before. Again, spread them with the jam mixture once they are cooked.
7. Once all your cakes are cool, lay them out on a clean surface. Spoon a quarter of the cream cheese filling on top of each one and spread it out evenly with a palette knife. Keeping the prettiest one for the top, stack the four cakes on top of each other on a serving plate or cake stand, then scatter the top with the blackberries. This is a simple but stunning cake which will look just as amazing when it is cut into, showing off all those layers.