Christmas Pud Hemisphere Cake | Lakeland Inspiration

Ingredients

• 500ml, boiling water
• 450g, whole dates
• 4 tbsp, dark rum
• 3 tbsp, brandy
• 4 tbsp, strong brewed coffee
• 90g, cocoa powder
• 600g, self-raising flour
• 2 tsp, salt
• 2 tsp, cinnamon
• 2 tsp, baking powder
• 300g, butter, softened
• 340g, dark brown sugar
• 9, large eggs
• 1 tsp, bicarbonate of soda
• 225g, chopped dates
• 300g, dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 100g, milk chocolate
• 140ml, double cream
• 1 tbsp, golden caster sugar
• 50g, good quality dark chocolate (minimum 70% cocoa solids)
• 100g, unsalted butter
• 200g, icing sugar
• 1 tsp, vanilla extract
• A few drops, milk
• 1kg, ready-to-roll white icing
• A few drops, brown food colouring
• 50g, ready-to-roll green icing
• 25g, ready-to-roll red icing