Diet Coke chocolate cake

Makes: 12 slices

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

250g self-raising flour
45ml (3 tbsp) cocoa powder
5ml (1 tsp) bicarbonate of soda
150g soft brown sugar
150g butter
200ml Diet Coke
150ml buttermilk
2 medium eggs
5ml (1 tsp) vanilla extract

For the frosting:

100g plain chocolate (70% cocoa), broken into pieces
45ml (3 tbsp) Diet Coke
45ml (3 tbsp) buttermilk

Method:

• Preheat the oven to 180°C, gas mark 4. Grease a 20.5cm loose-bottomed, spring release cake tin and line the base with baking paper.
• Sift the flour, cocoa powder and bicarbonate into a bowl. Stir in the sugar.
• Put the butter in a saucepan and melt over gentle heat. Add the Diet Coke to the butter and stir to mix, making sure mixture does not boil. Remove from the heat.
• Beat together the buttermilk, eggs and vanilla extract.
• Quickly whisk the cola mixture into the dry ingredients, then whisk in the buttermilk mixture. Mix gently but thoroughly.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared tin. Bake for about 40 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
• Leave to cool in the tin for about 15 minutes, then turn out onto a cooling rack.
• To make frosting, place the chocolate and Diet Coke in a saucepan. Cook over a gentle heat, stirring until the chocolate has dissolved. Remove from the heat and stir in the buttermilk. Place the cake on a plate and spoon over the chocolate mixture. Allow to set.

Nutritional info per slice:

Calories	Sugars	Salt	Fat	Saturated fat
282kcal	18g	0.8g	15g	8.8g