Chocolate Cake Recipe

I have been asked by a number of people for the Chocolate Cake Recipe so here it is, its quick, simple, moist and delicious. Enjoy!

Rich Chocolate Cake
185g butter
2 teaspoons vanilla essence
385g (1.75 cups) caster sugar
3 eggs
300g (2 cups) self raising flour
70g cocoa powder
250mls water

For the chocolate icing
90g dark chocolate chopped coarsely 
30g butter
160g (I cup) icing sugar
Approx 2 tablespoons hot water

Pre heat oven to 180C/160C if fan assisted, Gas Mark 4.  Grease the base and sides of a 23cm round cake tin, line base with greaseproof paper/baking parchment.
Combine all cake ingredients including water in a large bowl or use an electric mixer until all ingredients combined well and mixture is smooth. 
Pour into cake tin and level the top.
Bake for 1.5 hrs. Allow to stand for 5 mins before turning out onto wire rack to allow to cool before spreading with chocolate icing.

Make Chocolate Icing by melting chocolate in bowl over hot water, gradually sift in icing sugar, then add enough hot (not boiling) water to mix to a spreadable consistency before icing cake.