Homemade Chocolate Cake

1 . Stage

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a heart-shaped baking dish or a fluted tube pan.

2 . Stage

Beat butter in a large bowl using an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Add sugar 1/4 cup at a time, and mix in well. Add eggs 1 at a time, and mix well after each addition. Add ground nuts, cinnamon, cocoa powder, and creme fraiche to batter and mix well after each addition.

3 . Stage

Sift flour and baking powder together into a bowl; mix into the batter. Pour batter into the prepared baking dish.

4 . Stage

Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Run a table knife around the edges to loosen. Invert carefully onto a serving plate or cooling rack. Let cool completely.

5 . Stage

Place chocolate chips in a large bowl. Pour the cream into a saucepan and bring to a boil. As soon as the cream boils up to the top of the pan, quickly remove it from the heat and pour it over the chocolate chips in the bowl. Let stand for a minute or two, then stir with a whisk until smooth. Be sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl occasionally. Stir in vanilla extract until well blended. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of ganache and allow to cool at room temperature or in the refrigerator.

6 . Stage

Pour ganache over the cooled cake and allow to dry for a few minutes. Decorate cake with candy or fruit.