DEATH BY CHOCOLATE TORTE
Makes at least 10 servings
1 stick unsalted butter, softened, plus some for greasing the pan and paper
1 cup AP flour, plus some for dusting pan
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate
½ cup water
7 eggs
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
pinch salt
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
Preheat oven to 350. Butter the bottom and sides of a 9-inch cake pan. Cover bottom with a circle of waxed or parchment paper; butter the paper, sift a little flour over the whole pan; invert to remove excess flour.
Cake
Melt the 3 ounces of chocolate with the water over low heat, cool. Use electric mixer to beat five of the eggs until light; gradually add 1 cup of the sugar; continue beating until the mixture is very thick. Gently stir in half the flour, then the chocolate mixture, then the remaining flour, and finally half the vanilla and a pinch of salt.
Turn into prepared cake pan and bake 40 to 50 minutes, until the cake is firm and toothpick comes out dry, or nearly so. Cool for 5 minutes before turning out onto a rack.
Butter Cream Filling
Place 2 egg yolks (reserve whites for another use or discard) in the container of a blender. Add the remaining sugar, remaining vanilla, and cocoa. Turn on the blender and add the butter a little bit at a time. When the butter is blended in, chill to a spreading consistency.
When the cake is completely cool, use a serrated knife to split cake in half horizontally (go slow! - this cake does not rise much). Spread the bottom layer with the chilled butter cream, then put top layer in place. Chill for an hour or so, then make Dark Chocolate Glaze (below). Use a lightly oiled spatula to spread the glaze over the top and sides of torte. Serve small slices, with whipped cream if you like.
Because of its dense texture, the cake keeps better than most. You can cover and refrigerate it for up to a couple of days-it will remain a treat.
Dark Chocolate Glaze
Apply this glaze while it’s hot, with an oiled spatula, on a chilled cake, and it will solidify perfectly and almost instantly.
¾ cup top quality unsweetened cocoa powder
½ cup heavy cream
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, cut into bits
¾ cup confectioner’s sugar
tiny pinch salt
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Mix everything except vanilla together in a small saucepan and cook over low heat until combined and thickened – about 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in vanilla and use immediately.