Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake for the Smaller Family

• 140g plain flour (1 cup)
• 1 1/2 TBS cocoa powder, packed (not chocolate drinking powder)
• 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 110g full fat or low fat mayonnaise (not no-fat) (1/2 cup)
• 95g granulated sugar (1/2 cup)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 120ml water (1/2 cup)

• 2 TBS butter
• 50g soft light brown sugar (1/4 cup)
• 1 TBS milk
• 60g sifted icing sugar (1/2 cup)

1. Preheat the cake to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4. Butter a 9 by 5 inch loaf tin and line with baking paper. Set aside.
2. Cream together the mayonnaise and sugar until smooth. Stir in the water and vanilla. Set aside.
3. Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and soda. Stir this into the wet ingredients until well combined. Scrape into the prepared loaf tin. Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean. Let cool completely in the pan.
4. To make the icing, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the brown sugar and bring to the boil. Boil until the mixture begins to thicken, about 1 1/2 minutes. Take off the heat and stir in the milk, carefully. Return to the heat and bring back to the boil. Rmove from the heat and cool until it is just warm. Stir in the icing sugar until smooth and then spread on top of the cake evenly.  Store any leftovers in an airtight container.

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