Christmas Candles

Ingredients

• 2 eggs
• 100 g sugar
• 50 ml vegetable oil
• 150 ml milk
• 40 g cocoa powder
• 10 g baking powder
• 200 g flour
• 250 g cream cheese
• 40 g cocoa powder (for the cream filling)
• 150 g condensed milk
• 300 g white chocolate (for decoration)
• 15 ml vegetable oil (for decoration)
• almonds (for the wick)

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 170°C (338°F).
2. Grease and line a shallow baking tin.
3. Whisk the eggs and sugar until combined and slightly foamy.
4. Add the vegetable oil and milk.
5. Sift in the cocoa powder, baking powder and flour.
6. Mix gently until smooth.
7. Pour the batter into the prepared tin.
8. Bake for approximately 15 minutes.
9. Leave the sponge to cool completely.
10. Mix the cream cheese, cocoa powder and condensed milk until smooth.
11. Cut or crumble the sponge and combine it with enough cream to hold its shape.
12. Form the mixture into eight short candle shapes.
13. Chill until firm.
14. Melt the white chocolate with the vegetable oil.
15. Coat each candle cake with the white chocolate.
16. Insert an almond into the top of each cake to resemble a flame.
17. Leave the coating to set before serving.