Sweet Chestnut & Chocolate Cake

While I was collecting sweet chestnuts having prized them from their prickly green pods and escaped with only a couple of painful yelps, my neighbour came to the rescue a plate of the most delicious cake I have ever tasted….. Hence where the reciepe came from….

You will need –

• 250 g dark chocolate
• 250g Butter
• 250g Peeled & cooked Chestnuts
• 250mls Milk
• 4 Eggs separated
• 125g Caster Sugar

Start by placing chocolate and butter in a pan over a gentle heat.  In another pan heat the Chestnuts with the milk until just boiling, then mash or process to a rough puree.

Place the egg yolks in a bowl with the caster sugar and stir in the melted chocolate and butter mixture, then add the chestnut puree, stirring until you have a smooth batter.

Whisk the egg whites until stiff and fold them carefully into the batter.

Transfer the mixture to a greased, lined 25cm cake tin and bake at 170degrees for 25-30mins (set but still has a slight wobble)

This cake can be served warm or cold, with a trickle of double cream….. yummmmm

Attempts to cook Chestnuts was an adventure in itself!! but the best method is to simmer them for 15-25mins then the shells and skins come of amazingly….