Helen Goh’s Recipe For Forest Floor Cake | The Sweet Spot

The wood has ever been a spot of mystery. In fairy tales, it’s wherever children get lost, wherever witches build houses made of cake, and wherever transformations hap successful nan protector of trees. But it’s besides a spot of deep, loamy quiet – a world that hums pinch hidden life. This barroom draws connected that acheronian magic: a tender cocoa sponge, earthy and aromatic pinch cocoa powder and oliva oil, topped pinch a rosemary-infused ganache and strewn pinch textures that motion to moist soil, fallen leaves, moss, bark and fungi. It’s Halloween baking, but little fright nighttime and much folklore. The purpose is to evoke an enchanted woodland, dark, lush and a small eerie. Serve simply, pinch whipped cream.

Forest level cake

Prep 10 min
Steep 10 min
Cook 1 hr 15 min
Serves 10-12

For nan cocoa barroom guidelines
80ml unsalted butter, melted, positive other for greasing
200g plain flour
75g unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
¼ tsp good oversea salt
3 ample eggs, astatine room temperature
150g caster sugar
80g soft brownish sugar
100ml oliva oil
2 tsp vanilla extract
250ml plain unsweetened drinking kefir
1 tsp instant java granules

For nan rosemary cocoa ganache
200ml double cream
2 ample sprigs rosemary
200g acheronian chocolate, finely chopped
A pinch of flaky oversea salt

For nan wood level decorations (all optional)
Cocoa nibs, aliases crumbled brownies aliases barroom offcuts
Roughly chopped hazelnuts, aliases finely chopped pistachio nuts
Black sesame seeds
Rosemary sprigs
Chocolate shards, aliases chocolate-coated raisins
Small edible flowers
Meringue mushrooms

Heat nan oven to 190C (170C fan)/375F/gas 5, and grease and statement a astir 28cm x 23cm baking tin.

Sift nan flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, bicarb and brackish into a ample bowl.

In a 2nd bowl, whisk nan eggs and some sugars until somewhat thickened, past adhd nan oil, melted food and vanilla. Whisk good to incorporate, past adhd nan kefir and operation smooth. Pour nan bedewed ingredients into nan vessel pinch nan barren and whisk to combine.

Stir nan java granules into 100ml basking water, past adhd to nan batter. Whisk mildly until soft (it will beryllium rather runny), past move into nan prepared tin. Bake for 30 minutes, aliases until a skewer inserted into nan mediate comes retired pinch conscionable a fewer moist crumbs. Leave to cool wholly successful nan tin, past move retired connected to a board.

To make nan ganache, mildly power nan pick and rosemary successful a mini saucepan until conscionable steaming, past return disconnected nan heat. Cover and time off to steep for 10 minutes, past reheat nan cream. Put nan cocoa successful a mini bowl, past strain nan basking pick complete it; discard nan rosemary. Stir until smooth, past adhd nan brackish and time off to cool to a spreadable consistency. Spread complete nan cooled cake.

To decorate, statesman pinch nan guidelines ‘soil’ layer: scatter cocoa nibs complete nan aboveground for crunch and woodsy bitterness, past crumble complete cocoa barroom offcuts aliases brownies to mimic clods. Scatter chopped hazelnuts and finely chopped pistachios to propose pebbles aliases gravel, and achromatic sesame seeds for a speckled, integrated texture. To present life and earthy movement, adhd immoderate botanical elements: sprigs of rosemary arsenic conifer aliases mini trees; mini edible flowers and micro herbs arsenic wood blooms aliases greenish stirrings successful nan mossy undergrowth. To adhd building and a consciousness of decay, break cocoa shards into irregular pieces and property upright into nan cake. Caramelised hazelnut praline shards tin besides beryllium added to propose cracked amber aliases fossilised leaves. For a consciousness of nan fairytale, mini meringue mushrooms dusted pinch cocoa powder tin beryllium dotted astir successful odd-numbered clusters, and tube connected cocoa swirls to mimic creeping vines aliases roots. Allow immoderate garnishes to way complete nan broadside of nan barroom for a wild, untamed feel.