Chocolate loaf cake

Ingredients:

For the loaf:

• 175g softened butter
• 175g golden caster sugar
• 3 eggs
• 175g self-raising flour
• ½ tsp baking powder
• 50ml cooled strong espresso
• 50g sifted cocoa powder
• 50g dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa solids), cut or broken into small pieces
• ½ tsp dried chilli flakes

For the ganache:

• 100g double cream
• 1 tsp espresso or instant coffee powder
• 100g finely chopped dark chocolate
• A pinch of chilli powder
• A pinch of sea salt flakes (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven: Heat the oven to 160C/fan 140C/gas 3. Butter a 900g loaf tin and line with baking paper.
2. Cream butter and sugar: Whisk together the butter and sugar until pale.
3. Add eggs: Add the eggs one at a time, beating well between each addition.
4. Fold in dry ingredients: Fold in the flour, baking powder, espresso, cocoa, chocolate chunks, and chilli flakes.
5. Bake: Pour the batter into the tin and bake for 50-55 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Cool in the tin.  
6. Make ganache: Heat the cream and espresso in a small pan until just steaming.
7. Combine chocolate and cream: Pour the warm cream mixture over the chopped chocolate and let it stand for 30 seconds.
8. Stir until smooth: Mix until smooth and glossy. Stir in the chilli powder.
9. Cool and pour: Cool the ganache until thick but still spoonable, then pour it over the cooled cake.
10. Decorate and serve: Leave to set for 15 minutes, then scatter with chilli flakes and sea salt flakes. Slice and serve.

Enjoy your spicy chocolate loaf!