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<\/p>\nThese days, the kitchen is the place to be. We\u2019ve swapped glam evenings out for great evenings in, inviting friends over to cook (and bake) up a storm. Whipping up old favourites with a newfangled twist has become something of a trend, and we for one are over the\u00a0 moon. Banana bread, apple pie, Black Forest cake, fudge sundaes, cr\u00e8me br\u00fbl\u00e9e and pavlova, among others, bring back memories of home, of delicious smells wafting from the kitchen, hearty servings of crumble with a drizzle of home-made custard and a large
\nscoop of vanilla ice cream. Sigh. Comfort on a plate.<\/p>\n
2023 is seeing a revival of old favourites, a throwback to when life was a little simpler and the setting sun was a sign that dinner was almost ready. It was time to say goodbye to friends, go home, pack away the bikes and with hearty appetites, wash up for dinner and enjoy a hefty chunk of cake for dessert.<\/p>\n
Our absolutely scrummy chocolate, coffee and brandy cake is the ideal go-to, because who doesn\u2019t love this perfect balance of South African flavours? It\u2019s ideal for Winter and pairs perfectly with a glass of aged bourbon or port.<\/p>\n
So pull up a chair, hand dad his favourite slippers and top up his glass. Along with his\u00a0 coffee, chocolate and brandy delight, he\u2019ll truly experience what it means to have his cake and eat it too.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Dad\u2019s delight<\/strong> Frosting ingredients<\/em> Cake method<\/em> Frosting method<\/em> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In these uncertain times, we tend to look towards things that comfort us, and what can be more comforting than the familiar? A well-worn house jersey, slippers that fit the contours of your feet just so, a hand-knitted blanket that you\u2019ve had since childhood, or your mum\u2019s chocolate, coffee and brandy cake.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":14923,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[738],"tags":[3113,4119,303,1971,255,73,54],"class_list":{"0":"post-14921","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-food-wine","8":"tag-delicious","9":"tag-fathersday","10":"tag-foodie","11":"tag-cake","12":"tag-food","13":"tag-getitlowveld","14":"tag-recipe"},"yoast_head":"\n
\nCake ingredients<\/em>
\n\u2022 3\u00bd cups all-purpose flour (420g)
\n\u2022 2 cups sugar (400g)
\n\u2022 2 tsp baking soda (bicarb) (12g)
\n\u2022 \u00bd cup cocoa powder
\n\u2022 1 tsp salt
\n\u2022 2 tbsp vinegar (30ml)
\n\u2022 2 tsp vanilla extract (10ml)
\n\u2022 \u00be cup of melted butter\/margarine
\n\u2022 3 to 4 tbsp brandy
\n\u2022 2 cups hot coffee (475ml)
\n\u2022 A handful of cherries and a sprinkling of chocolate vermicelli<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 2 tbsp softened butter
\n\u2022 \u00bc cup cocoa powder
\n\u2022 2\u00bc cup icing sugar
\n\u2022 2 tbsp coffee
\n\u2022 1 tsp vanilla extract<\/p>\n
\nPreheat your oven to 160\u00b0C. Line two round cake pans. Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, cocoa powder and salt in a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the middle and add the vinegar, vanilla, melted butter, brandy and coffee. Gently mix your batter until it\u2019s well combined, but don\u2019t overmix. Divide your batter evenly among the prepared pans. Bake for 45 minutes or until you insert a toothpick into the cake and it comes out clean. Remove your cakes from the oven and put on a cooling rack. Leave them in the pans for five to 10 minutes before turning out onto the rack.<\/p>\n
\nWhisk the cocoa and icing sugar together. Add the butter, vanilla and coffee and mix well. Spread the frosting over one of the cakes, then top with the other. Then cover both cakes with frosting. Pipe a few rosettes onto the top of the cake. Scatter the cherries and chocolate vermicelli over the top<\/p>\n