Happy Birthday

Up early with Bella to give Joe a lie in and make him a cake.
The rest of the day was lovely doing nothing in particular.
Bella was so excited about giving Joe his cake that she couldn't eat any.

A few people were enquiring about the cake on G's journal, so here is the recipe and you can get the cake tin here.

Mississippi Mud Bundt Cake

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, cut into pieces
6 ounces unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
1/2 cup brewed espresso or very strong coffee
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup bourbon
4 large eggs, at room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350F. Butter a 12-cup Bundt pan.

Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium mixing bowl.

Combine the butter, chocolate, and espresso in a medium saucepan. Stir over low heat until the chocolate and butter have melted. Remove the pan from the heat.

Add the sugar and bourbon and whisk until the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is smooth.

Place the eggs and vanilla in a large mixing bowl and mix with a wooden spoon or electric mixer on low speed. Gradually beat in the chocolate mixture. Add the flour mixture and stir until just combined. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a rubber spatula.

Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Let the cake cool in the pan for about 5 minutes, invert it onto a wire rack, and then turn it right side up on a rack to cool completely.