Earl Grey & Plum Chocolate Cake

Guuuuys, you know Ellen from Indigo Scones? Well, she and I, despite being from two different continents (she thought of it first but still... heh) decided to be cyber baking companions where we would take turns choosing a recipe and both of us execute it and write about it on our blogs! This one will be the first of many I hope and she got to choose the first dessert- Shutterbean's earl grey chocolate bundt cake. But theeeen I got a little bad and got sidetracked after seeing this eggless, oil/butterless cake from Bake Noir on Pinterest. I was pretty much home alone last week so I knew I couldn't possibly make two cakes in that one week and just eat them all mahself. I couuuuld, but I didn't. So I'm sorry Ellen, I can only imagine how fluffy and moist your bundt cake is but hey, whatever I made trying to get the best of both worlds wasn't bad either! See here for Ellen's take on the bundt cake with sour cream!! - it's perfect!

If you're into cherry ripe, I think you'll totally dig my cake. The plum gives a rich, decadent depth to the cake, but overpowers the earl grey which only manages to come by as a subtle bitter, floral aftertaste. Texturewise, I found it dense and moist, like a mud cake, not fluffy or soft- and it tastes best chilled. It's pretty amazing to know that there was no butter or eggs in the cake. I found it to be quite yum, but a friend tried it and told me it tasted 'ok' but too 'healthy'- I probably should've warned her it was a plum chocolate cake, and that it was eggless and butter-less only after she tasted it... Because when I gave it to my sister with the warning it would taste like cherry ripe (which she likes) she actually said she liked it, the texture and all, just complained there wasn't enough chocolate drizzle. Oh we love the drizzle. And I made a little preee big fist pump YES that there was someone who approves. And no, I'm pretty sure she's not doing it to be kind because she can be very picky and say she doesn't like something directly. You be the judge now- it's super easy to mix, no mixers required just a whisk and spatula and one bowl! So try it and let me know how you like it!

Earl Grey & Plum Chocolate Cake Recipe Adapted from Monika @ Bake Noir and Tracy @ Shutterbean Makes two small loaves or one 20 x 20cm square cake
1 1/2 cups flour
1 heaped tablespoon cocoa powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
pinch of salt
1/3 cup sugar
4 tablespoons plum jam
1/3 cup low fat plain yogurt
3 earl grey tea bags
1/3 cup boiling water
2/3 cup milk
70g dark chocolate, melted

60g dark chocolate, finely chopped
2 tbs pure or thickened cream

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line a 20x20cm baking pan with parchment paper or grease and flour loaf pans.

2. Steep the tea bags in the boiling water for around 5 minutes. Discard tea bags and set aside to cool slightly. Mix together with the milk.

3. In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients and mix well. Add plum jam and yogurt and slowly pour in the milk tea. Whisk until smooth and well incorporated.

4. Transfer to baking pan and bake for 30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. (I allowed mine to bake for about 40 minutes, but keep watch at 30). Allow to cool, then remove from baking pan and place on a tray. (I inverted my loaves base side up and trimmed the risen loaves to make an even base)

5. Heat the cream on a stovetop until just simmering or in the microwave until scalding in 20 second bursts. Pour over chocolate and whisk until smooth and runny. Spoon melted chocolate mixture on the cake. Cool in the fridge until cold and chocolate has set. Serve cold.

So it's been fun, and I'm excited to see which recipe me and Ellen will try out next time :) Ugh, uni starts next week and I'll also turn 19 this friday. Can't believe July's nearly over and I've only touched the treadmill once when I promised myself I'd go on it everyday this month. Guess there's always August hehe. Until next time then! x