Chocolate Marble Cake

CHOCOLATE MARBLE CAKE

Preparation time:  20 minutes - Cooking time:  45 minutes
INGREDIENTS:
225g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing
225g caster sugar, plus 60g for the icing
4 medium eggs
225g self raising flour
100ml milk, plus 1 tablespoon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 tablespoon golden syrup
100g dark chocolate, broken into small pieces
Chocolate crispies, to decorate

METHOD:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C, fan 160°C, gas mark 4. 
2. Grease a 20cm cake tin and dust with flour.
3. Beat the butter with the sugar until light and creamy. 
4. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well. 
5. Fold in the flour and stir through 100ml milk and the vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth.
6. Spoon half the mixture into another bowl and stir in the cocoa and remaining tablespoon of milk. 
7. Put alternate spoonfuls of each mixture into the cake tin. 
8. Drag a skewer through a few times to create a marbled effect.
9. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, then cover with foil and bake for a further 10-15 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean. Leave to cool.

FOR THE CHOCOLATE ICING:

1. Heat the golden syrup, 60g caster sugar and 2 tablespoons water in a pan, stirring until dissolved. Bring to the boil, then remove from the heat. 
2. Add the dark chocolate and leave to melt, then stir until thick and glossy.
3. Spread on the cake and top with chocolate crispies. Leave to set before serving.