Mini chocolate nests recipe

These are fun to make and decorate with small helpers. Perfect for Easter they can also be made into individual birthday cakes with the simple addition of a candle in the centre of each one.

Ingredients

• Little oil for greasing
• 25 g (1 oz) cocoa
• 3 tablespoons boiling water
• 175 g (6 oz) soft margarine
• 175 g (6 oz) caster sugar
• 150 g (5 oz) self-raising flour
• Half teaspoon baking powder
• 3 eggs

To finish

• 300 ml (1/2 pint) double cream
• 100 g (4 oz) white chocolate curls
• 250 g (9 oz) raspberries

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180oC, 350oF, gas mark 4. Lightly brush the insides of a 12 section deep muffin tin with a little oil and line the base of each one with a circle of greaseproof or non-stick baking paper.
2. Put the cocoa into a small bowl, mix in the boiling water until a smooth paste then leave to cool.
3. Put the margarine, sugar, flour and baking powder into a mixing bowl, add the cocoa paste and the eggs and beat until smooth. Divide the mixture evenly between the sections of the muffin tin, smooth the tops level then bake for 12-15 minutes until well risen and the tops spring back when lightly pressed with a fingertip.
4. Leave for 5 minutes then loosen the edges with a knife, turn out on to a cooking rack and peel off the paper.
5. Whip the cream in the rinsed and dried mixing bowl until it forms soft swirls. Split the cakes in half then sandwich back together with cream, spreading the remainder on top. Arrange the raspberries in the centre of each cake then sprinkle the chocolate curls around the edge to make a nest.
6. To make chocolate curls, unwrap a block of white chocolate and turn over so the underside is uppermost on a chopping board. Run a swivel bladed vegetable peeler along the edge to make curls.