What is the recipe for Pizza Express Chocolate Fudge Cake?

For the cake:

- 110 grams (4 oz/ 1 cup) unsalted butter, diced, plus extra for greasing

- 175 grams (6 oz/ 1 cup) caster sugar

- 3 large eggs

- 175 grams (6 oz) self-raising flour, sifted

- 25 grams (1 oz/ 1/3 cup) cocoa powder, sifted

For the chocolate fudge sauce:

- 200 grams (7 oz) good quality dark chocolate, roughly chopped

- 200 ml (7 fl oz/ 1 cup) double cream

Method:

For the cake:

- Preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F/ Gas Mark 5). Grease and flour a 23 cm (9 inch) springform cake tin.

- Cream together the butter and caster sugar until pale and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs.

- Add the flour and cocoa and mix gently together until blended. Do not over mix, beat only until you can no longer see any specks of flour.

- Spoon the cake mixture into the prepared cake tin and bake in the preheated oven for 35-45 minutes or until well risen and a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.

- Remove the cake from the oven and set aside to cool completely in the tin.

For the chocolate fudge sauce:

- Break the chocolate into small pieces and place in a heatproof bowl.

- Heat the double cream in a saucepan over medium heat until simmering.

- Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and stir until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth.

- Set the chocolate sauce aside to cool for a few minutes until thickened.

Assembly:

- Carefully release the cake from the tin. Cut the cake into layers.

- Place a layer of cake on a serving plate and spread with a little chocolate sauce.

- Repeat the layering with the remaining cake and sauce, finishing with a layer of chocolate sauce on the top of the cake.

- Decorate with chocolate shavings, cocoa powder or fruit, and serve.

Tips:

- To make the cake layers even more moist, you can brush them with a little espresso, coffee, or milk before layering in the chocolate sauce.

- If you do not have a springform cake tin, you can use a regular cake tin and line the base and sides with baking parchment before pouring in the cake mixture.

- This cake is best eaten the same day it is made.