Dark Chocolate Fudge Cake

For the cake:.

Sieve the flour and cocoa powder and set aside.

Cream the butter and sugar together until soft and light, stir in the orange rind.

Break chocolate into a bowl (I recommend that you use 70% cocoa solid minimum), add boiling water and stir until the chocolate is melted and well blended.

Lightly whisk the eggs and gradually beat into the butter and sugar mixture.

Beat in the melted chocolate, and then fold in the flour/cocoa mixture with a metal spoon.

Spoon the mixture into two greased and lined tins and bake at 180/350/Gas 4 for 25-30 minutes, until cake shrinks away from the sides of the tin.

Allow to cool slightly in tins, and then turn out on wire rack. When cold, slice each cake horizontally to make 4 layers. Using a thin layer of jam, sandwich all layers of the cake together.

Fudge coating:.

Sift icing sugar and cocoa and set aside.

Put the butter, water and caster sugar into a saucepan and heat gently, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Bring to a simmer.

Pour the hot mixture into the sieved icing sugar/cocoa mixture; mix together until its thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

Pour coating quickly over the cake; smooth over the sides. Leave to set before serving.