Grandma's Everyday Chocolate Cake

This blog is partly named after the baked goods of Grandma C. She specializes in pattycakes, little curved bottom, two bite treats, which either come in chocolate or vanilla (and there's usually a selection). Her signature chocolate cake is, in my mind, a treat of equal delight. The picture above on the right is this signature cake, baked on my birthday this year. I aimed to recreate the cake myself, having had the recipe for years but never attempting it for fear of failure. I couldn't replicate it exactly, but the result is a lovely and light 'everyday' chocolate cake. Now I just need to find out which brands she uses...

 

  

Chocolate cake (thanks Grandma!)

 

1 cup sugar

1 1/4 cups self raising flour

2 tbsp cocoa, plus 2 tbsp extra

1/4 tbsp salt

125g margarine (or butter, I know Grandma uses margarine), plus 1 tbsp extra

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

1/2 cup milk

2 cups icing sugar

Hot water

Chocolate chips for sprinkling

 

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease a 22cm round cake tin.
2. Add sugar, flour, 2 tbsp cocoa, salt, 125g margarine, vanilla, eggs and milk to the bowl of an electric mixer and beat for 3 minutes until combined. 
3. Pour batter into cake tin and bake for 20-25 minutes or until inserted skewer comes out clean. Allow to cool in tin for 5 minutes and then turn onto wire rack.
4. To make the icing, combine icing sugar, 2 tbsp cocoa and 1 tbsp margarine to bowl. Add a dash of hot water and mix to combine. Continue adding hot water until desired consistency is reached.
5. Spread icing on cooled cake and sprinkle with chocolate chips.