She exhales. Fallen Chocolate Souffle Cake.
Tired. Weary. Slump-shouldered.
Is it really almost October?
Where did another year go? All work and little play. Sometimes I wish time would stand still so that I could
Stop.
Breathe out.
Share a piece of chocolate cake with someone I love.
Fallen Chocolate Souffle Cake :
(serves 10; from Bittersweet by Alice Medrich)
1/4 cup blanched almonds
3 tablespoons plain flour
85g bittersweet (preferably 70%) chocolate, finely chopped
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup boiling water
2 large eggs, separated, at room temperature
1 tablespoon brandy
2 large egg whites, at room temperature
scant 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 190’C. Place a round of baking paper in the bottom of an 8 x 3 inch springform pan and spray the sides with vegetable oil spray.
In a food processor or blender, grind the almonds with the flour until very fine. Set aside.
Combine the chocolate, cocoa and 3/4 cup of the sugar in a large bowl. Pour in the boiling water and whisk until mixture is smooth and the chocolate is completely melted. Whisk in the egg yolks and brandy; set aside.
Combine the egg whites and cream of tartar in a medium bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually sprinkle in the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and beat on high speed until stiff but not dry.
Whisk the flour and almond mixture into the chocolate. Fold about a quarter of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture to lighten it, then fold in the remaining egg whites. Scrape the batter into the pan and level the top if necessary.
Bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick or wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs clinging to it. Cool in the pan on a wire rack. The torte will sink like a souffle.
Taking care not to crack the edges of the torte, run a knife between the torte and the sides of the pan to release the cake. Remove the sides of the pan and invert the cake onto a plate. Remove the pan bottom and paper liner. Turn right side up on a platter. Using a fine-mesh sieve, sift a little powdered sugar over the top. Serve with a little whipped cream, if you like.
[Note: Amazingly, this cake has no butter. It has a pure chocolate taste, that calls for the use of the best chocolate possible. I served mine with a dollop of double cream]
Gabriela said,
October 1, 2008 @ 11:19 am
I think this year has gone by rather quickly for a whole lot of people. Me included. Though I wish I could say I was as productive as the rest of the world. Judging by your past entries though, you certainly deserve a breathing break, and I hope you get that extended.
As for the cake … I have a feeling I am going to become redundant – so please forgive me – but it looks delicious. I don’t fancy chocolate very much, but when I do, it’s either a slice of chocolate cake or a dark chocolate marzipan bar.
Vera said,
October 1, 2008 @ 12:00 pm
Y, I know this cake 🙂 It is delicious!
Hannah said,
October 1, 2008 @ 12:55 pm
That cake looks like one thick slab of heaven!
joy said,
October 1, 2008 @ 12:56 pm
Oh my…that looks so yummy!
Lorraine E said,
October 1, 2008 @ 1:06 pm
That looks great and surely without the butter, it falls into the “good for you” category? Love the name too!
cakebrain said,
October 1, 2008 @ 1:28 pm
I have that recipe too and am so glad you made it! I’ll have to look into making it soon one day!
Y said,
October 1, 2008 @ 2:18 pm
Yes, for anyone who is thinking about making this, don’t wait! It’s another stunning recipe by Alice Medrich, and now one of my all time favourite chocolate cakes!
FFichiban said,
October 1, 2008 @ 4:59 pm
Oohh looks divine…added to list. Thhhxxx ^^!
clumbsycookie said,
October 1, 2008 @ 8:03 pm
I can’t believe it’s October allready! What I do believe is that that fallen chocolate cake must be delicious!
Dana said,
October 1, 2008 @ 9:54 pm
Hope the cake cured your woes! I know finding a nice little set up like that on my table would certainly be cheering!
the caked crusader said,
October 1, 2008 @ 9:56 pm
ooooh, could I do with a slice of that right now!
Mandy said,
October 2, 2008 @ 2:27 am
I have been wondering the same thing too! how does the time fly so fast. It almost happen in the blink of an eye.. Your fallen chocolate souffle cake looks super decadent.
grace said,
October 2, 2008 @ 3:28 am
yep, october is here. it completely ignored me when i asked it to come back later. 🙂
awesome cake, obviously.
Lael said,
October 2, 2008 @ 4:03 am
Oh, October. Here it means that the summer heat is leaving, and for that I am very grateful because Texas has always been too hot for my liking. Whether in sun or snow, though, chocolate cake is always appropriate, and this sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing. I can’t wait to try it.
snookydoodle said,
October 2, 2008 @ 5:16 am
Chocolate is always a winner with me. This looks so gooddddddddddddd
Sophie said,
October 2, 2008 @ 1:21 pm
I know what you mean about the year flying by. Sometimes I think I need to start cutting out sleep so I can fit everything in! I’ve got to try this. No butter, eh? Very impressive :). Looks perfectly dense and rich!
Christie@fig&cherry said,
October 2, 2008 @ 2:02 pm
Looks fantastic! Love the cream the cake ratio. Perfect 😉
Any left? You promised to save something for me last time…
Christy said,
October 2, 2008 @ 2:27 pm
I was just thinking the same thing!! October already??!! Where did my entire year go?? But I’m so glad that summer’s almost here!!
No butter? How interesting!! Looks so mouth-watering-ly rich!!
Rosa said,
October 2, 2008 @ 3:48 pm
A gorgeous cake! It looks beautiful and very tempting! Nice pics, by the way!
cheers,
Rosa
Janet_Gourmet Traveller said,
October 2, 2008 @ 6:00 pm
This looks so yummy and irresistible! I am craving for this dessert before 9am in UK time already!
Shari said,
October 2, 2008 @ 10:36 pm
Now this is my kind of dessert! I wish time would stop sometimes too!
zarina said,
October 3, 2008 @ 2:58 am
hi, this scrumptious cake is truly decadent. a feast for chocolate lovers like me.
Patricia Scarpin said,
October 3, 2008 @ 3:26 am
I know – it’s almost Christmas already. :S
This is an interesting cake – looks decadently and sinfully dark!
matt wright said,
October 3, 2008 @ 5:24 am
YUM – this looks awesome. Chocolate cake is just hard to beat. Talk about super dark.
Cakelaw said,
October 3, 2008 @ 12:45 pm
This looks absolutely heavenly …
Eva said,
October 3, 2008 @ 1:44 pm
Actually, after thinking for days on end what cake to make to welcome my husband (who’s on a business trip), I had finally settled on cheesecake. However, seeing this wonderful chocolate temptation, I have to think again..;-)
Jude said,
October 3, 2008 @ 3:19 pm
Hmmm no butter, huh? that’s not good at all.. Somewhere in the back of my mind I’m going to start thinking of this as health food.
arfi said,
October 3, 2008 @ 4:58 pm
a bit curious. but october is our planting time. the glorious gardening time of the year when seeds are sprouting, lawns are growing so much that you have to keep it mowed every fortnight… it’s spring! love the cake. love everything in chocolate hehehe
Helen said,
October 3, 2008 @ 5:14 pm
oooh – that looks so wicked! I love these kinds of nutty cakes with a bit of booze and how amazing that it calls for no butter?! I love it – I bet it is squidgy-goo fun
Gertrude said,
October 4, 2008 @ 7:30 am
Hi, thanks for stopping by at my blog. I love this recipe and booking marking it to try out soon as it has no butter in it 🙂
Leonor said,
October 4, 2008 @ 9:35 am
This is what I call a pure delight!!
Fantastic!
🙂
Shreya said,
October 5, 2008 @ 10:23 pm
hi, this is pure unadulterated joy (no butter!) Only chocolate taste is just perfect. Love the picture with the cream:-)
zita said,
October 6, 2008 @ 5:16 am
Oh Y! I love your pics, its kinda fragile (like the title) but yet so beautiful 😉
the cake is must be undeniably delicious 🙂
megan said,
October 6, 2008 @ 11:27 am
i have been on a wild goose chase for a chocolate cake that won’t turn out too dry. this looks like it could be the winner 🙂
Reemski said,
October 6, 2008 @ 8:12 pm
yum, this looks fantastic
cathy x. said,
October 7, 2008 @ 5:16 pm
i started salivating, just gazing at the photos 😛
oh how i despise alice medrich! how she taunts me with all those delicious pictures and recipes that require an electric mixer!
..and that ..cream ..mmmm
yes it does look fantastic doesn’t it?
have you tried making portugese tarts yet?
Eileen said,
October 8, 2008 @ 12:14 am
Great photos and great recipes on your website! I’ll be back.
pumpkinpie said,
January 2, 2009 @ 12:50 am
I just made this and it is fantastic! Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Y said,
January 2, 2009 @ 9:10 am
Hi pumpkinpie! Great to hear the you liked the cake too. I still dream about it occasionally 😀