Cookbook:Flourless Chocolate Cake

| Desserts

Flourless chocolate cake is a type of baked chocolate confection. Without flour to provide structure, it is dense and rich. It requires baking and then refrigeration to set.

Ingredients

 * ½ cup (120 g) white granulated sugar
 * 4 eggs
 * ¾ cup (150 g) unsalted butter
 * ¾ cup (150 g) chocolate (suitable for melting)

Procedure

 * 1) Melt the chocolate and butter in a bowl set above another pan of simmering water (or use a double boiler).
 * 2) Lightly whisk chocolate mix until smooth, then remove from heat and allow to cool, whilst still stirring.
 * 3) Beat eggs and sugar in a bowl until the mixture is creamy.
 * 4) Gradually mix in the melted chocolate along with any other variants (see below).
 * 5) Pour mixture into mould (baking tray or 8 individual moulds).
 * 6) Cover moulds with aluminium foil and place the moulds in a deeper baking tray.
 * 7) Pour boiling water into the deep baking tray at a depth that is half that of the moulds.
 * 8) Bake for approximately 30 minutes in a preheated oven at gas mark 2 (300°F or 150°C). Insert a skewer to check if ready: if skewer comes out clean, then it is ready.
 * 9) Remove from oven and allow to cool at room temperature.
 * 10) Cool for approximately 10 hours in a fridge.
 * 11) Remove from mould, place on a plate and garnish.

Notes, tips, and variations

 * The cake can be made to set without refrigeration, by the addition of ½ tsp (3.7 g) guar gum or ¼ tsp (1.9 g) xanthan gum, dispersed in the chocolate mixture.
 * Try adding 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of dark rum, ½ tablespoon (7.5 ml) vanilla extract, and/or ⅓ cup (90 ml) of strong brewed coffee into the final mixing process for extra flavour.
 * Whipped cream, chocolate, and/or a dusting of icing sugar are all suitable garnishes.
 * Try various baking pans and moulds for different shaped cakes.