Step 1

Preheat the oven to 180C (356 degrees Fahrenheit) (356 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius)).

Step 2

Place chocolate and margarine into a bowl. Melt in the microwave (30seconds, stir, 30sec, stir…).

Step 3

Whisk the eggs and sugar together. Combine egg and chocolate mixtures.

Step 4

Sift flour, cocoa powder and baking powder together and mix into cake mixture until just combined.

Step 5

Pour into two lined 20cm (7.87 inches) (7.87 inches (19.99 centimetres)) round cake tins. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes. Test if its done by inserting a skewer into the centre, if it comes out clean it is ready. If the cake is looking done on top but is not yet cooked through put an empty baking tray on the shelf above it in the oven.

Step 6

To make the ganache

Step 7

Break the chocolate and put into a bowl. Bring the cream to a boil and then pour over the chocolate. Leave to sit for a couple of minutes and then stir until smooth. Cover with plastic wrap and leave on the bench overnight to firm up.

Step 8

To Decorate

Step 9

Whip the cream, vanilla and icing sugar until just thickened. Divide your bowl into half and then one half into thirds. Use one of these smaller portions between the layers. Add a generous spoon of ganache to the larger portion and mix in, use this to cover the sides of the cake.

Step 10

Press nuts onto the side of the cake and pipe ganache on top.