simple chocolate cake recipe for cupcakes

Ingredients

175ml of full-cream milk
60g of plain chocolate, finely chopped
125g of caster sugar
60g unsalted butter, at room temperature
½ tsp of vanilla essence
1 large egg, beaten
150g of self-raising flour
2 tablespoons chocolate chips or chopped plain chocolate
fudge topping of your choice(optional)

Preheat oven to 180C, 350F, and gas 4: and a 12-hole muffin tin or deep bun tray, lined with paper cases.

Place the milk into a saucepan and heat until just scalding. Put the chocolate and one third of the sugar into a bowl, pour over the hot milk and stir until smooth. Let this cool for a while.

Put the butter into a bowl; add the remaining sugar and vanilla. And using a wooden spoon beat the mixture until light and fluffy, then gradually beat in the egg.

Stir in the some of the chocolate mixture alternating with the flour. Stir in the chocolate chips or chocolate pieces.

Spoon into the paper cases until approximately two-thirds full

Bake in the oven for 15-18 minutes. They are done when they spring back when pressed in the centre. Makes 12 cupcakes.

Let them cool on a wire rack, before spreading the fudge topping, if using.