Milk Chocolate Cake

Ingredients
200g gluten-free flour

3 level teaspoons gluten-free baking powder
1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum

225g caster sugar

pinch salt

25g cocoa powder, sieved

100g dairy-free margarine

2 medium eggs, beaten

5 tablespoons dairy-free cream or milk

5 tablespoons water

few drops of vanilla extract

What to do
Heat your oven to 180 C / 350 F / Gas Mark 4.  Lightly oil 2 x 20.5 cm tins.  Do not use loose-bottomed tins as the mixture is too runny.

Sift together the gluten-free flour, gluten-free baking powder, xanthan gum, sugar, cocoa then rub in the dairy-free margarine.

Add the dairy-free cream or milk, water and vanilla extract to the eggs, then stir into the dry ingredients and beat well.

Divide the mixture between the two prepared tins, smooth over the tops and bake for about 30-35 minutes.

Leave to stand for 10 minutes before turning out on to cooling rack.

When cold, sandwich with Milk Chocolate Icing 

For the milk Chocolate Icing:

Ingredients

60g dairy-free margarine

1 tablespoon cocoa powder

250g icing sugar, sieved

3 tablespoons dairy-free hot milk 

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

What to do 

In a small pan, melt the dairy-free margarine and blend in the cocoa powder.

Gently stir in the icing sugar, dairy-free milk alternative and vanilla extract.

Beat until the mixture becomes smooth and thick.

Use to sandwich your cake or make more icing and also cover the whole cake, using a palette knife.