Arrrr, Matey!

My friend's wee boy was 5 today, and she asked me to make his cake. He had a pirate themed party (which was fab) and wanted a pirate ship cake to complete the theme.

The cake was the best chocolate cake recipe I've ever tried. It's ideal for a birthday cake as it's dense, moist, and keeps for ages. Thanks to Tracie for the recipe!

Chocolate Mud Cake

200g butter/marg

2 cup sugar

3 cup plain flour

3 tsp baking powder

2 tsp baking soda

1 ½ cup plain unsweetened yogurt

1 tsp vanilla essence

¾ cup cocoa

1 ½ cup hot coffee

Preheat oven 180 C.

Cream butter and sugar together. Add all other ingredients, apart from hot coffee.

Slowly add hot coffee, and mix until mixture is a smooth batter.

Pour into a greased and lined 23cm tin, and bake for 1 hour, or until a skewer comes out clean.

I made double the above quantity in a large oblong roasting tin, and baked it for an hour and a half. The cake was cut in half lengthways, and the end third was cut, with one piece for the front and one piece for the back. The cake was sandwiched with chocolate buttercream, and chocolate finger biscuits decorated the outside of the boat.

I used Lego pirate characters to complete the ship.