🍫 Amandine Romanian Chocolate Cake

Instructions:

1. Prepare the sponge cake:

• Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F).

• Beat eggs with sugar until fluffy and pale.

• Sift flour, cocoa, and baking powder together.

• Gently fold the dry ingredients into the egg mixture.

• Pour into a greased or lined baking pan.

• Bake for 20-25 minutes. Let cool and cut into rectangular pieces.

2. Make the syrup:

• Boil water with sugar until dissolved.

• Remove from heat and add rum essence. Let cool.

3. Prepare the chocolate cream:

• Heat milk in a saucepan.

• In a bowl, whisk egg yolks, sugar, cocoa powder, and flour.

• Gradually pour hot milk into egg mixture while whisking.

• Return mixture to saucepan and cook over medium heat until thickened.

• Remove from heat and let cool.

• Beat butter until fluffy, then gradually add cooled chocolate custard, mixing well.

4. Assemble the cake:

• Dip each sponge piece briefly in syrup.

• Spread chocolate cream generously on each piece.

• Stack if desired or keep single layers.

5. Prepare the glaze:

• Heat cream until almost boiling.

• Pour over chopped chocolate and stir until smooth.

• Pour glaze over each piece of cake.