Chocolate and Strawberry Birthday Cake

It was my birthday on Friday and this was the cake I made for myself. For the main cake, I used a foolproof recipe that my mum has made for years (that's why its all in imperial measurements). Its really easy to make, looks impressive and tastes delicious!!

Recipe

Ingredients
6 oz caster sugar
6 oz butter or margarine
4 oz self raising flour
2 oz cocoa powder
3 medium eggs
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp warm water

Chocolate Buttercream 
250g  unsalted butter at room temperature
500g icing sugar
100g dark chocolate, 70% cocoa solids, melted and cooled slightly


Decoration
2 boxes of chocolate fingers, 1 white and 1 milk chocolate
2 Punnets of strawberries or any fruit of your choice

• Preheat oven to 170C or gas mark 3 and grease and line two 7 inch sandwich tins.
• Put all of the ingredients in a food processor or food mixer and mix very well until combined.
• Divide mixture between the two tins and spread evenly. I always weigh each tin to make sure I have an equal quantity in each one. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the top springs back once touched. Leave to cool for about 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Cool completely before icing.
• In an electric mixer, cream together the butter and icing sugar. Stir in the cooled, melted chocolate and mix well.
• In an electric mixer, cream together the butter and icing sugar and then add the cooled melted chocolate. Mix until all the chocolate is incorporated.
• Using some of the buttercream, sandwich together the cakes with a nice thick layer. Then using the rest of the buttercream cover the sides and the top of the cake. Stick the chocolate fingers round the edge and alternate between the white and milk chocolate.
• Pile your strawberries or other fruit on the top of the cake.