Amanda Laird: Brandied Prune and Chocolate Cake

Picture / Carolyn Robertson

Serves 6-8

200g prunes, chopped
1/2 cup water
2 Tbs brandy
1 Tbsp orange zest
150g butter
1 cup caster sugar
3 eggs
150g dark chocolate, finely chopped
1 cup self-raising flour
150g dark chocolate
1/2 cup cream

1. Line a 20cm cake tin and preheat oven to 180C. Simmer prunes, water, brandy and zest in a saucepan for 30 minutes on a low heat, then cool.

2. Cream butter and sugar, add eggs then fold prune mixture, chopped chocolate and flour together. Bake for about 45 minutes or until an inserted skewer is removed clean.

3. For the ganache, melt 150g chocolate and cream together for two minutes in the microwave, gently whisk then spoon over cooled cake.