Christmas Chocolate Brownie Cake

Try this indulgent festive chocolate brownie cake as an alternative to a traditional Christmas fruit cake.

Serves: 8 Bake:40-45 minutes

Ingredients

• 100g butter

• 200g Bourneville chocolate

• 4 medium eggs

• 250g caster sugar

• 100g plain flour

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 30g cocoa powder

• 80g dried cranberries

• 100g walnut pieces

Method

1. Heat your oven to 180°C. Line a 23cm/9 inch round spring form tin.

2. Break the chocolate into small pieces and place in a heatproof bowl with the butter. Gently melt over a pan of simmering water. Leave to cool slightly.

3. Whisk the eggs and caster sugar together until the mixture is pale and thick enough to hold a trail when the beaters are removed.

4. Fold the chocolate mixture into the whisked egg mixture. Sift the flour, baking powder and cocoa over the mixture and gently fold in. Finally add the cranberries and walnuts and stir. Pour into the prepared tin.

5. Bake for 40 -45 minutes until the cake has a nice crust but slightly soft in the middle. Leave to cool.

6. Decorate with chocolate leaves and dried cranberries. Dust with a little icing sugar.