Rich chocolate and strawberry cake

Method

• 1
  Preheat oven to 160°C. Brush a 24cm (base measurement) square cake pan and a 20cm (base measurement) square cake pan with melted butter to grease. Line the base and sides with non-stick baking paper.

• 2
  Place the butter, chopped dark chocolate and vanilla in a large heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (make sure the bowl doesn’t touch the water). Stir with a metal spoon until chocolate melts and the mixture is smooth. (See tip 1.)
• 3
  Add the sugar, combined flour, cocoa powder, egg and buttermilk to the chocolate mixture. Use a balloon whisk to whisk until well combined.
• 4
  Pour the mixture into the prepared pans. Bake for 1 hour 20 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the small cake comes out clean. Remove the small cake from oven and set aside in the pan to cool completely. Bake the large cake for a further 30 minutes. Set aside in the pan to cool completely.
• 5
  To make the chocolate panels, cut non-stick baking paper into four 7 x 60cm strips. Place the strips on a clean work surface. Place the dark choc melts in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (make sure the bowl doesn’t touch the water). Stir with a metal spoon for 5 minutes or until the chocolate melts and is smooth. Spoon the chocolate along each of the baking paper strips. Use a palette knife to spread the chocolate over the baking paper strips. Set aside for 30 minutes or until set. Reserve the leftover chocolate. Use a small sharp knife to cut the chocolate crossways into 6.5cm-wide panels to make 28 panels.
• 6
  To make the chocolate ganache, place chocolate and sour cream in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (make sure the bowl doesn’t touch the water). Stir with a metal spoon until the mixture is smooth. Place in the fridge for 40 minutes to chill.
• 7
  Meanwhile, line a baking tray with non-stick baking paper. Melt the reserved chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (make sure the bowl doesn’t touch the water). Stir with a metal spoon until smooth. Dip one-third of the strawberries halfway into the chocolate to coat. Place on the lined tray and set aside for 15 minutes to set. Repeat, in 2 separate batches, with remaining strawberries and the white choc melts, and milk choc melts.
• 8
  Use a large serrated knife to trim the top from both cakes. (See Tip 2, below). Place the largest cake, cut-side down, on a serving platter. Use a palette knife to spread two-thirds of the chocolate ganache evenly over the top and sides of the cake. Place the small cake, cut-side down, on top. Spread the remaining ganache evenly over the top and sides of the small cake. Attach the chocolate panels to the sides of the cakes, overlapping slightly. Wrap ribbon around the large cake and tie or use double-sided tape to secure. Arrange strawberries on top to serve.