Cap and headphones

Basic chocolate cake

• 100 g unsalted butter, cut into pieces and softened
• 300 g plain flour
• 40 g Dutch cocoa powder
• 270 g white sugar
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1 pinch salt
• 250 g full cream milk
• 1 tsp natural vanilla extract
• 2 eggs, room temperature

Buttercream icing

• 250 g icing sugar (see Tips)
• 120 g unsalted butter, cut into pieces and softened
• 2 tsp boiling water
• ½ tsp natural vanilla extract

Fondant

• 40 g water
• 3 tsp gelatine powder
• 100 g glucose syrup
• 15 g glycerine (see Tips)
• 620 g icing sugar, plus extra sifted for dusting and kneading (see Tips)
• natural food colouring of choice (see Tips)