Chocolate Pound Cake

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter
• 3 cups granulated sugar
• 5 eggs
• 3 cups sifted all purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup cocoa
• 1 1/4 cups milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Ganache

• 4 ounces dark chocolate
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• pinch of salt
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325F.
2. Grease and flour 1 tube pan with oil or butter.
3. Using an electric mixer,cream butter in large bowl.
4. Gradually add sugar.
5. Add eggs, one at a time.
6. In another bowl, sift flour, salt, baking powder and cocoa together.
7. Gradually add dry ingredients to the butter.
8. Add milk and vanilla.
9. Pour into the prepared pan.
10. Bake for 1 hour and 25 minutes.
11. Let cool for 25 minutes before removing from pan.
12. Sprinking on the walnuts,(if using) then spread on the ganache.

Ganache

1. Chop the chocolate into fine pieces and put into a heat proof pot.
2. In a small pot, bring the heavy cream to a boil over medium to high heat.
3. Pour the boiling cream over the finely chopped chocolate. Add a pinch of salt.
4. Leave to sit for 10 minutes and do not stir. Stirring will cool the ganache too quickly and make it grainy.
5. After 10 minutes, stir with a whisk until the ganache is nice and creamy.
6. Use a spatula to scrape down the sides to be sure the chocolate is off the bottom of the pot.
7. The ganache is ready to use.