Devil's food cake(s)

These are scrumptious! Annie's most successful cupcakes to date.

• 50g cocoa powder
• 175g unsalted butter, softened
• 1 tsp vanilla extract (or just use vanilla sugar)
• 175g plain flour
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 175g caster sugar
• 1 heavily heaped tablespoon of golden syrup
• 2 large eggs, at room temperature

First, place the cocoa powder in a bowl, pour over 175 ml boiling water and whisk until smooth. Then add the butter to the hot cocoa mixture, and let it sit there while you do the rest (the butter should melt and the whole mixture cool down a bit).
Next, in a big mixing bowl, mix together flour, sugar (and vanilla), salt and bicarbonate of soda.
Add the cocoa-butter-water mixture gradually, and beat together.
Next, add the golden syrup, and finally add the eggs, continuing to beat. You should have a fairly soft (dropping) cake mixture by the end.

Put this mixture into several (at least 12, more like 24) individual cupcake cases, filled 3/4 full, or alternatively into one large greased/lined cake tin. Bake at 180 ºC (160 for a fan oven) for 20 mins (longer for a large cake).

Ice with your favourite frosting and decorate.