Prep 40min (+30min cooling time)
Bake 25minMakes about 10

Everyone needs a good classic yellow cake in their repertoire and this one, made as cute individual cakes with a rich, velvety fudge frosting, is the one to add. Have some fun with the decorations – there are so many edible sprinkles to choose from you may want to give each individual cake its own unique identity.

Ingredients

• 20g butter, melted and combined with 1 teaspoon plain flour, to grease
• 125g salted butter, softened
• 165g (¾ cup) caster sugar
• 2 teaspoon natural vanilla essence or extract
• 1 egg, at room temperature
• 2 egg yolks, at room temperature
• 225g (1½ cups) plain flour
• 2½ teaspoon baking powder
• 125ml (½ cup) buttermilk or milk
• Sprinkles of your choice, to decorate

Chocolate fudge frosting

• 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, sifted
• 1 tablespoon hot water
• 185g salted butter, softened
• 60g (½ cup) icing sugar mixture, sifted
• 1 teaspoon natural vanilla essence or extract
• 250g good-quality dark chocolate (54% cocoa), melted and cooled

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 190°C (170°C fan-forced). Brush a 12-hole 80ml (⅓ cup) muffin pan with the melted butter mixture to grease.
2. Use an electric mixer with a paddle attachment to beat the butter, sugar and vanilla until very pale and creamy. Add the egg and beat until well combined. Beat in the egg yolks, scraping down the sides of the bowl when necessary, until well combined and the mixture is pale and creamy.
3. Sift together the flour and baking powder. With the motor running on lowest possible speed, add half the flour mixture and beat until just combined. Add the buttermilk or milk and beat on low until just combined. Add the remaining flour and beat until just combined.
4. Divide the mixture evenly between the muffin holes and use the back of a spoon to smooth the tops. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden and cooked when tested with a skewer inserted in the centre. Stand in the tin for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool.
5. Meanwhile, to make the Chocolate Fudge Frosting, combine the cocoa powder and water in a small dish and stir until smooth and a paste forms. Set aside until cooled to room temperature. Use an electric mixer to beat the butter and icing sugar until very pale and creamy, scraping down the sides of the bowl when necessary. Gradually beat in the cooled chocolate and cocoa mixture until smooth and well combined.
6. Cut each of the cooled cakes in half horizontally. Use a palette knife or the back of a teaspoon to spread a little of the chocolate fudge frosting over the bottom half of a cake and sandwich with the top half. Spread the top and sides of the cake generously with some of the remaining frosting, swirling on top and making an indent in the centre. Decorate with sprinkles. Repeat with the remaining cakes, frosting and sprinkles.