Sufra Dayma:

Christmas Chestnut Cake

By Moushira Abdel-Malek

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Ingredients:

250 gms fresh chestnuts (shelled)

250 gms dark chocolate

250 gms castor sugar

250 ml whole milk

4 eggs (separated)

2 egg whites (extra)

250 gms butter

Vanilla essence

Method:

In a cooking pan, boil milk and chestnuts combined. Simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, until chestnuts are very tender. In a double-boiler, melt butter and chocolate combined, stirring over medium heat. Beat egg yolks with sugar until pale in colour. Gently mix into chocolate away from heat. Mix in the milk and chestnut mixture into chocolate. Beat egg whites and vanilla until firm peaks are formed. Fold gently into chocolate mixture. Pour into a buttered loose edge pan and bake in preheated oven of 180 degrees, until it rises and top is firm. Serve with cream or ice-cream.