The Simplest Quick-Mix Chocolate Cake

Here's a cake that's ideal for making with kids, or even just when you're in a hurry for chocolate. One bowl, two steps. You don't even need to get out the scales. Ready? Let's go!

Ingredients:

• 1 x 250ml* cup of self-raising flour
• 1 x 250ml* cup of caster sugar
• 2 x 20ml* tablespoons cocoa
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 a cup (125 ml*) milk
• 3 x 20ml* tablespoons of melted butter (let it cool down a little before pouring it in)

Method:

1. Preheat  oven to 180 degrees C (350 degrees F).
2. Put all ingredients except butter into a bowl and mix to combine.
3. Add butter and beat with electric mixer for 2 minutes, or use hand whisk for about 4 mins. The mixture should start to lighten in colour. 
4. Pour into lined, greased baking tin and bake for 35-40 minutes.
5. Test with a skewer: if the skewer comes out clean, it's ready to take out and cool on a wire rack. If there is some mixture on the skewer, leave for a few minutes and try again. 

It's very good eaten warm with vanilla ice cream. Hide it from yourself if you don't want to spoil your dinner.  If there's any left by the time it cools, add icing and hundreds-and-thousands.

* This recipe uses Australian standard size cups and tablespoons, which are larger than those used in other countries. If you do not have these cups you will need to measure the quantities by volume. I must confess, I'm not terribly precise with the measuring, and this recipe has always been very forgiving.