Bruce Bogtrotter’s Chocolate Cake

reelrecipes:

Matilda (1996)

“Miss Trunchbull kept the whole school late because this boy ate some chocolate cake!”

Even though the entire scene is just a tad horrific, let’s face it – that cake looked pretty damn good. I’m pretty sure it had about four layers and it probably could have fed about 15 people – I know this cake isn’t as huge but it’s just as yummy-looking and I really wouldn’t suggest trying to eat the entire thing like Trunchbull and Bruce Bogtrotter did. It might not end well.

Ingredients:

200g (7oz) butter

200g (7oz) caster sugar

3 large or 4 medium eggs

150g (5oz) plain flour

3 tbsp milk

50g (2oz) cocoa powder

3 tsp baking powder

For the icing:

125g (4oz) butter

75g (3oz) cocoa, sieved

300g (11oz) icing sugar, sieved

milk, to slacken the texture

Serves 8

1. Preheat the oven to 180c (160c fan oven) mark 4. Line a 20cm (8in) loose-bottomed cake tin with baking parchment.

2. Put the butter and sugar in a bowl and beat until pale and fluffy. Beat in 1 egg and 1 tbsp flour. Repeat with the remaining eggs.

3. Stir in the milk and sift in the flour, cocoa and baking powder. Using a metal spoon fold in the dry ingredients until well combined. Pour into the prepared cake tin and bake for 40-45 minutes until a skewer comes out clean when inserted into the middle of the cake. Cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then place on a wire rack until completely cold.

4. To make the icing, melt the butter in a large pan and tip in the cocoa. Cook, stirring for about a minute, then remove from the heat. Beat in the icing sugar. Add the milk, a little at a time, until the icing flows easily. Tip over the cake, and allow to cool.