Special Occasion Cakes Recipes - Valentine's Box of Chocolates Cake

Ingredients

• 20cm heart-shaped chocolate sponge cake

• 275g marzipan

• 120ml apricot jam, warmed and sieved

• 900g sugar paste icing

• red food coloring

• 225 16-20 hand-made chocolates

• 25cm square piece of stiff card

• pencil and scissors

• 23cm square cake board

• piece of string

• small heart-shaped cutter

• length of ribbon and a pin

• small paper sweet cases

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Method:

1. Place the cake on the card, draw around it and cut the heart shape out. It will be used to support the box lid. Cut through the cake horizontally just below the dome. Place the top section on the card and the base on the board.

2. Use the string to measure around the outside of the base. Roll the marzipan into a long sausage to the measured length. Place on the cake around the outside edge. Brush both sections of the cake with apricot jam. Tint the sugar paste icing red and cut off one-third. Cut another 50g/20z/8 tbsp portion from the larger piece. Set aside. Use the large piece to cover the base section of cake.

3. Stand the lid on a raised surface. Use the reserved one­third of sugar-paste icing to cover the lid. Roll out the remaining piece of icing and stamp out small hearts with the cutter. Stick them around the edge of the lid with water. Tie the ribbon in a bow and secure on top of the lid with the pin.

4. Place the chocolates in the paper cases and arrange in the cake base. Position the lid slightly off-centre, to reveal the chocolates. Remove the ribbon and pin before serving.