Chocolate cake

Ingredients:

Chocolate sponge cake

• 2 cups premium flour, plus extra for dusting the pan
• 2/3 cup cocoa
• 1 and 1/4 teaspoons of baking soda
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 150 g butter, plus extra for greasing the pan
• 1 and 2/3 cups sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Caramel glaze

• 4 tbsp. sugar
• 1 cup of milk
• 110 g butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 tsp baking soda

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 170°C. Grease and lightly flour two 22cm diameter cake tins.
2. Make chocolate sponge cakeSift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Beat the butter and sugar with a mixer for 5 minutes until smooth and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat on high power for 3 minutes. Add the flour mixture gradually, adding 1.3 cups of water, beginning and ending with the flour.
3. Divide the batter evenly between the pans and bake for 30-35 minutes. Place the cake layers on cooling racks coated with cooking spray.
4. Prepare the caramel glazeCombine 3 cups of sugar and milk in a heavy-bottomed 3-quart saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low to keep the mixture hot.
   
   Caramelize the remaining 1 cup of sugar in a skillet. To do this, place the skillet over medium heat and melt the sugar, stirring and scraping down the sides with a flat-edged spatula. Continue cooking until the glaze turns brown or dark brown. This occurs when the temperature reaches 160-180°C (320-350°F) on a thermometer. Do not overheat the glaze.
   
   Pour it into the boiling sugar-milk mixture and bring to a temperature of 150 ⁰C. Add butter, vanilla extract, and baking soda.
5. Pour the hot mixture into the container of an immersion blender and blend for 15-20 minutes until creamy. Watch the glaze closely, as it will thicken quickly.
   
   Spread the glaze evenly over the baked sponge cake while it's still warm. The heat will soak the sponge cake thoroughly and make it moist. Then stack the cake layers and spread it evenly. If the glaze becomes too thick, add a few drops of hot water.