This wickedly sticky comfort dessert will have you coming back for seconds and is almost as good cold. Serve with lots of vanilla ice cream or pouring cream.

Ingredients: (Serves 4)

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 115 g/4 oz self-raising flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 140 g/5 oz caster sugar
• 40 g/1½ oz cocoa powder, sifted
• 55 g/2 oz brown sugar
• 440 ml/15 fl oz boiling water

Method:

Preheat the oven to 190ºC/375ºF/Gas mark 5.

Put the butter, flour, baking powder, caster sugar and 2 tablespoons cocoa in a bowl and stir until well mixed and evenly colored. Spoon into a greased 1.5 liter/3 pints shallow ovenproof dish.

Stir together the brown sugar and remaining cocoa and sprinkle over the cake mixture. Pour over the boiling water and bake for 40 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the sponge comes out clean. Serve warm.