Thursday, April 21, 2011

{Make This!} A flourless chocolate cake
{gluten free living}
It doesn't taste like sadness!

flourless chocolate cake - yummo

Since we decided to go gluten free as a family this past January, I have really tried to modify our family {food} traditions to not only be as healthful as possible, but also super yummy. Because, really? NO ONE wants their child's birthday party memories to taste like sadness and deprivation, right? While thinking about what type of cake I could make for Kennedy's birthday {this was in February}I stumbled across a bunch of flourless type cake recipes. And these made me think back to my 16th birthday, when my dad took me for lunch at a local {fancy} Italian food restaurant, where I tasted flour-less chocolate cake for the first time. I remember it being heavenly. So, I attempted one for Ken's birthday, with great success. And then again, yesterday for Camden's birthday. Please note two things. 1) This is SO to die for, you don't need to be on a GF diet to appreciate it and  2) No one should EVER have to eat Betty Crocker's gluten free cake mixes and think they are acceptable or delicious. They are neither. They are gross. They taste like sadness. Betty should be ashamed of herself. And at 6 dollars a box? Arghhhh! There are so many better things out there, you shouldn't to think that is as good as it gets. 
flourless chocolate cake - ingredients


Start out with these ingredients:
*1 {12 oz bag }gf, high quality bittersweet chocolate chips {or baking chocolate squares}
*1 cup + 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into chunks
*1 1/4 cup granulated sugar
*6 eggs
*1 cup gf unsweetened cocoa powder
*1 tablespoon half & half {you can substitute any kind of 'milkish' drink}
*1 tablespoon honey
*1/4 teaspoon gf vanilla extract

flourless chocolate cake - parchment paper

Also, gf cooking spray, parchment paper and a 9" spring-form pan.
flourless chocolate cake - parchment paper - trace circle

First, you need to prepare your pan. Cut out a circle of parchment paper to line the bottom of your pan. {I trace the bottom and then cut out the circle. Because I suck at cutting circles, free hand. So. Not. Martha.}
flourless chocolate cake - spray the pan

Now, spray your whole pan with cooking spray.
flourless chocolate cake - prepared pan

And stick your perfectly cut circle into the pan. You pan is now ready for the party. Set her aside for a minute.
flourless chocolate cake - chocolate chips 

Now, measure out 8 ounces of your chocolate.  
flourless chocolate cake - melt chocolate and butter

Cook the chocolate chips and 1 cup {2 sticks} of the butter {cut up} over medium-low heat, stirring often, until melted.
flourless chocolate cake - melt chocolate and butter 2

Stir. Stir. Stir. Don't burn, burn, burn.
flourless chocolate cake - my assistant

It really REALLY helps if you have a cute kitchen helper named Brighton :)
flourless chocolate cake - melted chocolate and butter

When everything is melted and it looks like this ^ carefully transfer to a large bowl.

flourless chocolate cake - add the sugar

Add sugar and mix well. {worst picture EVER and I only took one. Sorry.}
flourless chocolate cake - add the eggs

Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each one.
flourless chocolate cake - add the cocoa powder

Sift cocoa powder into bowl {ahem. or not. I hate to sift. my cakes have still been delish.}and stir until blended.
flourless chocolate cake - batter is ready for the pan

Your batter is ready to bake! So easy, peasy!


flourless chocolate cake - pour batter into pan

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake 35-40 minutes or until cake has risen and top has a crust. The cake should be firm-ish in the middle when done.
flourless chocolate cake - cool

Cool on a rack for 10 minutes. {or... the top of your gas stove that is rack-ish}
flourless chocolate cake - invert the pan

Then, invert on your serving dish and remove the spring form pan.
flourless chocolate cake - cool on cake plate

Is your mouth watering? OMG This cake is SO YUMMY!
flourless chocolate cake - mmmmm cake

It has the BEST texture! Now, let the cake cool completely - for like, an hour? You can speed up cooling by sticking it in the fridge. Yeah. I know, I am a last minute girl, too :)
flourless chocolate cake - make the glaze

To make the SUPER EASY glaze {make it when you are ready to glaze your cooled cake} take the rest of your chocolate chips {4 ounces) and butter {3 tbsp}and melt over medium low heat. {Don't tell Chef Ramsey, but I use the same pan from before WITHOUT WASHING IT! Ahhhhhh the HORROR!}
flourless chocolate cake - make the glaze02

Remove from heat and then, just stir in the honey {1 tbsp}, half and half {1 tbsp} and vanilla {1/4 tsp} and mix until combined.
flourless chocolate cake - spread the glaze

Pour the glaze onto the center of the cake.

flourless chocolate cake - spread the glaze02

Use your spoon to gently coerce the chocolate to the sides of the cake. I like it to drip over the edges a bit.
flourless chocolate cake - spread the glaze03

It will look like this when you are done. Now is the time to add chopped nuts, if you so choose. {while the glaze is wet.}
flourless chocolate cake - happy bday camden

Now, chill the cake {uncovered} for 30-60 minutes and enjoy. And oh, my. You WILL enjoy it!



4 comments:

  1. That looks so yummy! I've only had flourless cake once and it was on a cruise and I remeber thinking it was the best thing I've ever tasted and I'm a HUGE chocolate FREAK. I've always wanted to try to make one. Maybe I will now. (Do you taste the honey? I'm not a big honey fan.)

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  2. I don't think you can taste the honey at all {but I like honey, so...} but you could easily substitute with agave nectar or maple syrup or even corn syrup. Just something liquid-y and sweet. IT IS SO DELICIOUS!!!!

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  3. YUM! The picture of the ingredients alone was enough to make my mouth water. I'm going to try this! :)

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  4. Just got my mouth watered seeing the delicious chocolate cake. The photos look so appealing and inspiring. Thanks for mentioning the ingredients. I have to try to make this at home surely. Just wanted to find out appliance repair technicians in Barrie so that I can get them at the time of the trouble of any kitchen appliance, But I have to admit that it was a delicious read.

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