Celebrity chef Adrian Richardson brings along his recipe for the best chocolate cake. 

INGREDIENTS

Cake

11/4 cup water

1 1/4 cups caster sugar

125g butter

1/2 cup Cocoa

3/4 teaspoon bicarbonate soda

1 1/2 cups self raising flour

2 eggs, lightly beaten

Icing 

1 cup icing sugar

1/3 cup of Cocoa

30g butter, softened

Hot water

Method

Combine water, sugar, butter, Cocoa and bicarbonate soda in a saucepan and heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. 

simmer gently for 2 minutes

Transfer mixture to a bowl and cool for 30 minutes

Add the flour and eggs and beat until just combined. 

Pour into a greased and base-lined 20cm cake pan. 

Bake in a moderate oven 180°C for 40 minutes or until cooked

Cool for 10 minutes before turning onto a wire rack to cool completely

Sift together the icing mixture and Cocoa. 

Mix in the butter and enough hot water to form a soft icing. 

Spread over the cooled cake and decorate as desired