We're on the cusp of the end of berry season but there were these delicious strawberries at the grocer's the other day that complimented this huge marble mud cake sooo well. It smelt delicious.

It's hard to think of things to do for a guy's birthday. Especially when it's not a themed party and they don't have any particular interests that they want shared on a cake. I thought this was nice and safe and very appropriate for a 3 course restaurant setting.

The cake was served with ice cream, berries, coulis and cream so it would have been just perfect.

Yield 1 x 8 inch round

Ingredients:
250 g butter, softened
1 C sugar
3 C S.R. flour
1 T vanilla
4 eggs
1 t rum essence
1/2 cup milk
1/4 C cocoa
2 T sugar
3 T milk
2-3 drops red food colouring
1/2 t strawberry essence


Method:
1. Preheat oven to 165 degrees C and grease and line cake tin.
2. Whip butter until white and creamy.
3. Gradually add the sugar, vanilla and eggs and continue to beat until well blended.
4. Fold in sifted flour and add rum essence and milk, gently folding until incorporated.
5. Divide cake mixture into three portions in separate bowls.
6. In one portion, add cocoa, 2 T sugar and 3 T milk and combine well.
7. In the second potion, add food colouring and strawberry essence, and combine well.
8. Start with the white batter and spoon mixture into cake tin, alternating colours and swirling gently to incorporate.
9. Bake for about 50-60 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean when inserted into the cake. Cool cake on rack.