You would barely believe that this is sourdough. With a full chocolate flavor and a great sourdough texture, this is a cake that is good for your gut.

Step 1: Ingredients

For the entire cake you will need:

400 grams of flour
100 grams of cocoa
1 teaspoon of vanilla essence
80 grams of sourdough starter Sourdough Starter
600 mls of warm water

230 grams of sugar
150 grams of butter
1 teaspoon of baking soda
2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar

Step 2: Adding the Ingredients

Sieve the flour and cocoa into a bowl then add the sourdough starter, vanilla and water.

Step 3: Stirring

Stir until combined then leave your mix to sit for around 5 hours (I leave it overnight and make the cake in the morning) so the ferment can work through the batch. The appearance of bubbles tells you it's ready.

Step 4: Moving to a Fresh Bowl

Once it has fermented until bubbly it is time to move it to a clean bowl. Why? We don't want any of the dry, lumpy mixture on the side of the bowl in the batch.

You will also need to line a cake tin with baking paper.

Step 5: Sugar and Soda

Add the baking soda to the sugar and stir it through. Then add it to the chocolate ferment and give it a really good stir.

Step 6: Add Melted Butter

Pour in around half of the butter and stir it through. You will need the rest of the butter in the next step.

Step 7: Remaining Butter

Add 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to the remaining melted butter then mix it thoroughly into the cake batter.

Step 8: Bake That Cake!

Quickly pour into the cake tin and place into your pre-heated oven at 175 C (350F) for 50 minutes or until a tooth pic comes out clean.

The reason why we work quickly is to make the most of the raising agent.

While cooking if it looks done on top but not cooked yet, sit some tin foil on top until cooked.

Step 9: Looking Good...but We're Not Done Yet...

Step 10: Make a Rich Chocolate Icing

You'll need:

2 tsp cocoa powder
4 tbsp icing sugar
small amount of warm water (add sparingly until you achieve the desired consistency)

Mix it all together.

Step 11: Ok, Ready to Serve

Spread the icing evenly on to the cake. Or, unevenly and let it run over the sides...your choice!

Pro tip: You may wish to garnish with white and dark chocolate chips, cherries or try some slices of fresh peeled orange. You may also want to serve with a good dollop of yogurt or cream.