Let's start the Christmas season

 It is already the middle of December and I am just starting to bake for Christmas. The month is slipping by too fast.

This chocolate cake has cinnamon and red wine in it which gives it a nice zingy taste.

The recipe is originally from Christine Ferber who is  best know for her jams.

This cake is quite quick to put together - about 30 minutes total. You can either bake in two small pans or just one large one.



1. Mix the softened butter with the sugar and cinnamon using a whisk. In a separate bowl, sift the flour, almond powder, baking powder and cocoa together.

Wine and chocolate are ready to mix Use a small whisk to combine together

2. Melt the chocolate over a pan of hot water. Remove the pan from the heat. Add the wine in portions and use a small whisk to mix together. Put over hot water again if the chocolate becomes chilled.

3.  Add the egg to the chocolate in portions  using a small whisk. Add in the butter mixture in portions. Add the flour mixture and mix together well with a spatula.

4. Put into pans that have been coated with butter and flour. Bake at 180 degrees Celsius for 20 - 25 minutes.

Cakes ready for the oven

Cake just out of the oven

Baked in a kugelhopf pan