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slice of flourless chocolate cake on a white round plate topped with raspberries and a dusting of powdered sugar.

Flourless Chocolate Cake

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chocolate cake, flourless chocolate cake
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Refrigerate: 6 hours
Total Time: 7 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 16
Calories: 331kcal
This Flourless Chocolate Cake is incredibly rich and decadent with a deep chocolate flavor. It's super easy to make and is so impressive for holidays, parties and more! Serve with fresh fruit or whipped cream or on it's own - you can't go wrong! Rich, flavorful and simply the ultimate chocolate treat! Dense with an almost fudge-like texture.
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Ingredients

Cake

  • 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate or bittersweet - 2 cups, slightly mounded, good quality chocolate chips
  • ¾ cup Challenge unsalted butter 1 & 1/2 sticks
  • 5 eggs room temperature
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder I used Ghirardelli

Glaze

  • 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate or bittersweet - 2/3 cup good quality chocolate chips
  • 3 tablespoons Challenge unsalted butter

Garnish (Optional)

  • fresh raspberries or fresh strawberries
  • powdered sugar
  • whipped cream

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 300°F.  Prepare a 9" cake pan by lining the bottom with parchment and lightly buttering the sides, then dust with cocoa powder and tap out any excess.
  • In a medium sized (microwave safe) bowl, heat the chocolate (break into pieces if using large bars) & butter at 50% power in the microwave until mostly melted (about 2 minutes, but check after 1 minute and every 30 seconds after).  Stir until fully melted and smooth, then set aside.
  • In the bowl of an electric mixer, fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk the eggs on medium speed about 1 minute.  While mixing, add sugar, vanilla, salt and water and continue whisking another minute or so, or until the mixture is very foamy, pale in color and has doubled in volume.
  • Reduce mixer speed to low, and gradually pour in the (cooled) chocolate mixture.  Increase mixer speed to medium and blend until well incorporated, about 30 seconds.
  • Add the cocoa powder and blend just until fully incorporated.
  • Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 40-45 minutes.  Bake just until the outside edges are fully baked, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist clumps, but not just wet batter.  It will seem under-baked by most cake baking standards.  Don't overcook.
  • Remove from oven and cool in the pan (on a wire rack) for 30 minutes.  The cake will sink quite a bit in the center, leaving a rim around the edge, this is OK.  Cover the pan with foil and move the cooled cake to the refrigerator and refrigerate until very cold, at least 6 hours or overnight.
  • Once well chilled, run a knife around the edge of the pan to loosen the cake.  Remove from pan and trim off the raised rim around the edge of the cake, as necessary to level.  Turn cake upside down onto a platter (so the bottom of the cake is now the top) and remove parchment paper.
  • Prepare glaze by heating the chocolate and butter in the microwave (at 50% power) until almost melted, then stir until fully melted and smooth.  Cool slightly, then use an offset spatula to spread the glaze evenly to within 1/4 inch from the edge of the cake.  Allow to set up (at room temperature, unless your house is very warm and in that case, cool in the fridge).  Cake should be served at room temperature.
  • To serve, cut into very thin slices using a knife that has been run under hot water, then wiped dry.  Clean knife between cuts as needed.
  • Garnish as desired and enjoy!

Notes

Chocolate is the star of this dessert, so choose high quality chocolate and cocoa powder (such as Ghirardelli or Guittard) for best results.
Garnish cake with fresh raspberries or fresh strawberries (make sure they are dried really well after being rinsed). The fruit garnish is not only beautiful, but a perfect flavor compliment.
I used Challenge brand butter, please feel free to use a high quality brand of your choice.

Nutrition

Calories: 331kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 61mg | Potassium: 203mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 420IU | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 2mg