Chocolate cake on a budget

What do you do when you want to make a larger chocolate  cake but need to keep costs down? Taste should never be compromised when making any cake whatever the cost directives are! This recipe is such a recipe. It could easily create around 15-20 pieces of cake for a crowd. The batter itself is very fluid in appearance courtesy of the use of oil and milk. This recipe can easily be whipped up using a whisk and a bowl and can be made in an oven roasting pan or made into a layer cake. 

Ingredients for cake

• 200ml vegetable oil
• 300g sugar
• 4 extra-large eggs
• 45ml smooth apricot jam
• 350g self-raising flour
• 7ml bicarbonate of soda
• 2ml salt
• 25g cocoa powder
• 375ml milk

Method to make cake

• Grease and line the bottom of an  oven roasting pan. Or grease and line the bottom of 2 x 25 cm round pans or 3 x deep 20cm pans. 
• Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees celsius.
• In a mixing bowl, whisk oil and sugar together.
• Add eggs one at a time and whisk well after each addition until the mixture is light and creamy. Can also use an electric beater.
• Add jam and mix well.
• In another bowl, sift flour, bicarbonate of soda, salt and cocoa powder together.
• Add dry ingredients to the creamed mixture alternating with the milk.
• Mix well using a whisk or an electric beater.
• If using one pan, pour into pan. 
• If making a layer cake, divide equally between chosen pans.
• Bake for 45-50 minutes if using one large pan or 30-35 minutes if using smaller pans.
• Cake is done when well risen and springy to the touch.
• Leave to cool in the pans for a few minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to completely cool.

Chocolate Buttercream

• 125g soft butter
• 1 1/2 c sifted icing sugar
• 3 TB cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2-3 TB milk

• Beat butter with an electric beater until light and creamy.
• Sift icing sugar and cocoa powder. 
• Add sifted ingredients to butter in 2 batches. 
• Add salt.
• Add a tablespoon of milk at a time until the cream is light and fluffy.
• Spread lightly over the cooled cake.
• If making a layered cake, double or treble frosting recipe and decorate as you wish.