The Ultimate (Easy!) Chocolate Christmas Cake Recipe

Method

Make it together.

1. Place all the dried fruit in a large saucepan.
2. Add the chocolate, butter, sugar and sherry and place over a low heat, stirring occasionally until the chocolate and butter have melted.
3. Increase the heat and bring to the boil, then reduce heat and simmer gently stirring often for 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.
4. Preheat oven to 150degC (Gas Mark 2). Grease and line the base and sides of a 20cm square cake tin with a double layer of parchment/baking paper, leaving 5cm of paper above the tin.
5. Transfer the cooled mixture to a large mixing bowl.
6. Add the beaten eggs, orange zest, chocolate chips and mix well with a wooden spoon.
7. Sift the flours, soda and salt into the bowl and mix well.
8. Spoon the batter into the tin and bake for 1 hour. Cover the top of the cake with baking paper and cook for a further 1-1 1/2 hours or until it is firm to touch and a skewer comes out clean.
9. Allow to cool in the tin then wrap in foil then cling film until ready to ice.