Well, I was allocated the task of bringing the dessert, as I tend to be when we get together once or twice a year. Ordinarily, when I was working full time, dessert would be courtesy of a local patisserie, but since I’m now working from home, I thought I really should make the effort to make something myself.

The result was the best cake I’ve ever eaten, even though I say so myself! It was delicious and moist and kept its shape beautifully when cut.

I got the basic cake recipe from here and the ganache topping recipe from here.

Note: Finding myself castor-sugar-challenged at 11pm at night, I substituted raw sugar and I think it probably enhanced the recipe, as the ‘molassesy’ flavour is very complimentary to the other ingredients.

I was also a bit shy about making the ganache, as I assumed that it was going to be a bit tricky. Quite the contrary, though; it was dead simple and it’ll be making many return appearances in my dessert creations in the future.

Anyway, the cake was a bloody triumph!

Do yourself a favour and try it out. I guarantee word will spread and you’ll be a regular on everyone’s guest list  — as long as you bring dessert. of course!