60
Preheat oven to 300°F. Brush a 9x3-inch round cake pan
with melted unsalted butter. Line bottom with a 9-inch
round of parchment paper and brush parchment with
melted butter.
Place water, granulated sugar, ¼ cup of the brown sugar,
and espresso powder in a 2½-quart saucepan. Bring to
a simmer over medium heat and cook until sugars are
dissolved. Reduce heat to low. Add all chopped
chocolate and stir with a wooden spoon until smooth.
Remove from heat and add half the butter; stir until
smooth. Add remaining butter, vanilla, and liqueur or
brandy; stir until smooth. Let cool while continuing.
Place eggs and remaining ¼ cup brown sugar in the
Cuisinart
™
mixing bowl. Insert fl at mixing paddle. Set
timer for 12 minutes and mix on speed 10 until thick-
ened and light, similar to mayonnaise in texture. With
the stand mixer set on speed 2, add the slightly cooled
chocolate mixture in a steady stream, and mix for 1
minute. Scrape the bowl and paddle. Remove the bowl
from the stand mixer. Using a large rubber spatula,
gently fold until the mixture is completely homogenous
in color, with no streaks of chocolate or egg – be gentle,
taking care not to defl ate the egg mixture to much.
Transfer to prepared pan. Place fi lled cake pan in a
larger pan and add hot water so that it is halfway up the
sides of the cake pan. Place in preheated 300°F oven
and bake for 1 hour 20 minutes. Cake should rise evenly,
and when done, the top will have the appearance of
brownies, but the cake will still seem a little jiggly. Let
cool at room temperature, then cover and refrigerate for
8 hours or overnight.
To unmold, dip the bottom of the cake pan in hot water
for 10 to 15 seconds. Dry pan and invert cake onto a
serving platter. Remove parchment. Dust with powdered
sugar before serving, or top with Chocolate Glaze (page
53). Smooth chocolate glaze over top with a minimum
of strokes to keep its shine and allow to drip down the
sides of the cake.
melted, unsalted butter
½ cup
water
1
cup granulated sugar
½
cup brown sugar, divided
1 tablespoon
instant
espresso
powder
12
ounces semisweet chocolate,
chopped into ¼-inch pieces
6
ounces bittersweet chocolate,
chopped into ¼-inch pieces
1
cup unsalted butter, cut into
½-inch
pieces
1
tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1
tablespoon crème de cacao,
brandy or coffee liqueur
6 large
eggs
powdered sugar for dusting
cake or Chocolate Glaze
(page
53)
Makes one 9-inch cake, 12 to 16 servings
Rich, creamy, chocolaty – absolutely deliciously decadent – need we say more?
the ultimate
fl ourless
chocolate cake