Choosing the perfect cake for a special birthday, one that is both uncomplicated, can accommodate a large number of people, and can be prepared in advance, can be challenging. Mary Berry's Baileys cake, however, fits the bill! It's a sophisticated creation consisting of two chocolate traybakes that are filled and iced. If served as a dessert, consider pairing it with fresh strawberries or raspberries.
For one traybake (you will need 2 for this recipe):
30g(1 ounce) cocoa powder
5tbspboiling water
225g(8 ounces) caster sugar
225g(8 ounces) baking spread, straight from the fridge
275g(10 ounces) self-raising flour
1tspbaking powder
4largeeggs
1tbspmilk
For the ganache Icing:
450ml(¾ pint) pouring double cream
450g(1 pound) plain chocolate, broken into pieces
For the filling:
4tbspcream liqueursuch as Baileys, Kahlúa or Amarula
300ml(½ pint) pouring double cream, whipped to soft peaks
For the decoration:
175g(6oz) Maltesers
8chocolate trufflesroughly chopped
Instructions
Preheat oven and line traybake. Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C Fan/Gas 4 and line a 30 × 23 (12 x 9in) traybake tin with non-stick baking paper.
For one traybake. Combine cocoa powder and boiling water in a large bowl, stirring to form a smooth paste. Add all remaining ingredients and whisk with an electric whisk for about 2 minutes until light and fluffy
Bake. Spoon the batter into the tin and level the surface. Bake in the preheated oven for about 35 minutes until well risen and pulling away from the sides of the tin. Let it cool in the tin on a wire rack and then remove the baking paper.
For the second traybake. Repeat the process with the same ingredients to make a second traybake (if using two traybake tins, you can bake them simultaneously).
For the ganache. While the cakes cool, prepare the ganache. Heat cream in a saucepan over medium heat until hot. Remove from heat and add chocolate, stirring until melted. Allow it to cool, thickening into a spreadable icing that holds its shape when piped.
To assemble. Place one cake on a serving board, drizzle with half the cream liqueur. Fold the remaining cream liqueur into whipped cream and spread it on the cake. Place the second cake on top and press down gently.
To decorate with ganache. Insert a fluted star nozzle into a piping bag and fill it with 350g (12oz) of the chocolate ganache, setting it aside. Spread the remaining ganache over the sides and surface of the cake, completely covering it. Use a fork to create a decorative horizontal pattern on the sides. Using the ganache in the piping bag, pipe small stars around the top edge to form a border. Arrange Maltesers in a line widthwise next to the piped edge. Pipe another line of stars, then arrange a neat line of chopped truffles. Continue piping and arranging chocolates in neat rows until the cake's surface is completely covered.
Candles. Light candles, and when ready to serve, cut into squares.
Notes
Recipe Notes:
Essential Equipment: You will need one or two (if baking both sponges simultaneously) 30 × 23 (12 x 9in) traybake tins, a fluted star nozzle, and a piping bag.
Mary’s Tips:
Can be made, assembled, and piped up to 6 hours ahead.
The cakes can be made a day ahead, ready to ice on the day.