Chocolate Sesame Loaf Cake

• unsalted butter↗200g g

  plus extra for greasing

• dark chocolate↗200g g

  chopped

• golden sugar↗200g g
• strong espresso100ml ml
• sour cream↗100ml ml
• eggs↗2
• self‑raising flour↗200g g
• cocoa powder↗5 tsp tsp
• self‑raising flour↗250g g
• tahini↗150g g
• baking powder↗1 heaped tsp tsp
• strong black coffee↗150ml ml
• golden sugar↗150g g
• cinnamon↗¼ tsp tsp
• milk↗2 tbsp tbsp
• вершки↗200ml
• вершкове масло↗40g
• темний шоколад↗200g

  нарізаний

• кунжут↗4 x 30g pack

  палички

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Preheat the oven to 180 °C/160 °C with convection/gas 4. Grease two 900 g loaf pans (8.5 cm deep) and line them with baking parchment.

2. 2

   First prepare the chocolate batter. Place the butter and dark chocolate in a large heat‑proof bowl set over a pot of simmering water, stirring occasionally. In a large mixing bowl add all the other ingredients, and when the chocolate and butter have melted, pour them into the bowl and whisk with an electric mixer until smooth and fully combined. Set aside and rinse the whisk.

3. 3

   In another large bowl add all the ingredients for the sesame batter, then whisk with an electric mixer until smooth.

4. 4

   Alternating portions of each batter, distribute them between the two pans. Smooth the top, then run a skewer through the batter to create a marble effect. Bake in the centre of the oven for 45‑50 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Let the cakes cool completely on a rack while you prepare the glaze (enough for both cakes, but the glaze recipe can be halved if you want to freeze one and decorate later).

5. 5

   Gently heat the cream and butter together in a small saucepan until they just begin to simmer, then remove from heat and add the chocolate. Stir until smooth, then place in the refrigerator for 20 minutes to thicken.

6. 6

   Beat well with a wooden spoon, then transfer to a disposable pastry bag. Cut off the tip to create a wide opening, and pipe thick, overlapping zigzags over the cakes. Cut the sesame sticks into pieces and scatter them on top, sprinkling over the crumbs, then serve.