As it was my Dad's birthday last week, I asked him to choose a cake that he wanted. He picked a mocha marbled loaf caked from the Great British Bake Off Book 'How to turn everyday bakes into Showstoppers'
It was a very simple sponge base that was split into two and then flavoured, one with coffee and the other with chocolate. The two different mixtures were then dolloped into the tin, swirled with a skewer to create the marbled effect and then baked. To top it all off I made a white chocolate ganache by taking cream up to a near-boiling point, and then melting white chocolate and butter into it. However, (as I found out the hard way) if you want to spread it, it needs to set until it holds its shape, which takes hours! I made it in the evening ready to put onto the cake, and ended up covering the bowl with clingfilm and going to bed (It was 12.30am!) You can put it in the fridge, but keep an eye on it or it will go too hard and will need setting over a pan of simmering water to soften it again, and then if it goes too far, you'll have to wait around all over again. It's a difficult beast!
Anyway, despite the slightly longer process of the icing than I had imagined, it was a very tasty cake, which cut well, held its shape and had a lovely buttery taste and texture like a madeira. Finished off with a dusting of cocoa powder it made the perfect accompaniment to a spot of birthday tea.
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