Chocolate Mud Cake

I found this recipe some years ago on a personal web site from Melbourne, Australia. That web site now seems non existent, and I don't remember the owner's name. However, when introducing his recipe he stated: "This is the mud cake recipe that has given me some sort of fame!" This marvellous recipe makes a lovely BIG cake.

Ingredients:
2 cups sugar
1 cup self raising flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
pinch of salt
300g butter (10 1/2 ounces), melted
300g (10 1/2 ounces) dark chocolate, finely chopped

Icing:
200g (7 ounces) dark chocolate, chopped
1/3 cup cream

Preparation:
Preheat over to 150 C (300 F). Spray a deep 23 cm round cake tin with non stick cooking spray.

Place sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add sifted flours, cocoa and soda. Make a well in the centre. Using a metal spoon, fold in combined eggs, buttermilk, essence and salt. Combine well.

Add butter and chocolate, mix well. Pour mixture into prepared pan and smooth surface. Bake for 2 to 2 1/4 hours or until skewer comes out clean when inserted in centre of cake. Leave cake in tin until cold, then turn cake onto a wire rack (cake will crack on top). Using knife with a serrated edge, cut a dome off the top of the cake horizontally. Turn the cake upside down and stand it on a wire rack over a paper lined tray.

Pour icing completely over the cake, smoothing top and sides with a flat bladed knife. Allow to set. Transfer the cake carefully to a serving plate. Serve in wedges with whipped cream.

To make icing:
Combine chocolate and cream in a small pan. Stir over low heat until chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth. Remove from heat. Cool slightly.