chestnut gateaux

Ingredients
 
• 3 eggs (separate the whites and the yolks)
 
• 4oz light brown castor sugar
 
• 2oz plain or all purpose flour
 
• 1oz cornflour
 
• 1 level teaspoon baking powder
 
For the filling:-
 
• 8oz sweetened chestnut puree
 
• 2oz butter
 
For the Chocolate Icing

•  3oz plain chocolate

•  1 tablespoon rum or coffee

•  2oz unsalted butter.
 
Method
 
• Preheat your oven to 250°C/350°F/Gas 4
 
• Mix the egg yolks with the sugar until light and creamy
 
• Sift together the flour, cornflour and baking powder
 
• Whisk the egg whites until stiff (make sure your bowl is completely clean with no traces of grease or they will not become stiff)
 
• Gently fold in the flour and the egg white, alternatively into the creamy yolk mixture.
 
• Pour into your prepared tin and bake for about 30 – 40 minutes or until is firm to the touch.
 
•  Cool on a wire tray.
 
• Prepare the filling by creaming the chestnut puree with 2oz softened butter.
 
• Slice the cake when cold into three and fill with the chestnut filling.
 
• Now prepare the chocolate icing by melting the broken chocolate in a small dish over a pan of hot water. Add the rum and remove from the heat and beat in the softened butter.
 
• Pour this lovely chocolate icing over your cake.