Congratulations Jeanne Takenaka, Winner of the Seekerville:
"NOMINATE YOUR CAKE CONTEST!"
"Flourless Chocolate Cake"
Ruthy here.... Now you and I know this cannot be a cake, right? I mean, no way, no how, it's got no flour....
None.
NOT A SMIDGE!!!!
But Jeanne insists it's a cake. And her nomination was chosen by a team of random auditors, then sealed in an envelope provided by Price Waterhouse Coopers.
(None of that is true. My kid works for PWC and he says THEY NEVER SAW ANYTHING ABOUT A CAKE CONTEST AND ACCUSED HIS SWEET MOTHER OF STRETCHING THE TRUTH....
Huh. As if! :)
And here's the young finance wizard in question... He's the tall one. These three look alike, and Luke was in town for Grandpa's funeral.... a happy time of remembering with just a few tissues needed.
And here's the young finance wizard in question... He's the tall one. These three look alike, and Luke was in town for Grandpa's funeral.... a happy time of remembering with just a few tissues needed.
So let's start with ingredients. Right now this... this... THING is baking in my oven and it smells HEAVENLY.
I do not lie.
*Author's note: I do stretch the truth to meet my own ends from time to time. I'm Celtic. This is allowed. (end note)
10 oz. bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
6 oz. bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate, chopped (for glaze)
10 Tablespoons (10 oz.) unsalted butter
6 Extra Large eggs, separated (Not divorced because they will get back together soon. I promise.)
2/3 Cup Sugar
1/2 cup whipping cream (for glaze)
1/4 cup sweetened, flaked coconut, toasted (toasting directions on package)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour 10" cake pan. (or spring form pan)
Line pan with parchment paper. (Did you notice how cool I was that I had parchment paper in the cupboard???? SUHWEEEET!
Separate eggs. No lawyer required. It's a temporary separation. :) Keep whites in large mixing bowl, yolks in smaller bowl.
Stir 10 oz. of chocolate and 10 oz. of butter in a metal bowl over a pot of simmering water. (Ruthy note: Oops. We had a house full this week, so I used my stash of chocolate chips to make cookies on Wednesday morning, but I had a dozen semi-sweet chocolate bars with toffee and sea salt, so I used that instead. The sea salt chocolate makes the unsalted butter a non-issue, right???? So I used regular butter. Have I mentioned that salt and I have a thing for one another? Whither salt goest, I will go.... and so on.)
Remove chocolate and butter from pan and set bowl aside to cool slightly.
Whisk egg yolks and sugar together. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold egg yolk mixture into egg whites, just until blended.
Pour chocolate and butter mixture into egg white/egg yolk mix. Fold with large spatula just until blended.
Stop to feed hungry baby:
So I did.... And then:
Transfer batter to prepared cake pan. Gently tap cake pan on work surface to eliminate large bubbles.
Bake cake for about 35 minutes, until toothpick or cake tester inserted into center comes out clean.
Transfer cake to rack and cool completely. Center will fall. (awww.....) Press outer edges of cake down to level of center once cool. Run think knife around pan sides to release cake. Turn cake out onto rack and peel off parchment paper. Invert cake onto platter.
Place remaining 6 oz. chocolate in medium bowl. Bring whipping cream to boil in small saucepan. Pour cream over chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth. (Doesn't that just sound heavenly????) This is Elijah, helping me.... He wants you to know he's making a "funny face"... :)
Pour chocolate mixture onto cake, spreading just to edges.
You might have to lick the bowl. Just because it's there!
Sprinkle with toasted coconut. Refrigerate until chilled.
Pour chocolate mixture onto cake, spreading just to edges.
You might have to lick the bowl. Just because it's there!
Sprinkle with toasted coconut. Refrigerate until chilled.
(Okay, I was out of toasted coconut. And I know I'm not out of coconut, I know it's HIDING....LURKING... and it will show up on Monday, but I couldn't find it to toast it today. Dad gum.)
Serve! This has a deep, dark chocolate flavor, a consistency almost like brownies... And the glaze is to die for, of course!
Jeanne, thank you so much for sharing this with us! It was a lot of fun to make, as you can see!
Jeanne, thank you so much for sharing this with us! It was a lot of fun to make, as you can see!
I'm not sure sure which I'm supposed to be commenting on first, but this line made me snort.
ReplyDeleteSeparate eggs. No lawyer required. It's a temporary separation. :)
Yeahhhhhhh.....
And that picture of Luke! OHMYGOSH! He's sooooo cute!! Oh, the tall one? Okay, he's cute, too. But that little bald guy? I want him over here...
I had a bald baby once. It was the funniest thing. All the babies come out with tons of hair but this one... BALD. We just couldn't believe it. A baby without hair! Weird! He grew some after about 6 months but it's still blond. Even weirder.
Virginia, my youngest was bald too. :) He didn't get his hair cut till he was two, and even then it only REALLY needed it in the back. :)
DeleteJeanne, it took me a while to get used to being able to see the veins in his head. I mean, ew. he wore a lot of little hats.
DeleteOh, yeah, cake looks YUMMO.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure I'll get roped into making this by the chocolate addicted girl child.
Virginia, that's so funny! Both Beth's boys have been bald. Elijah gets his 'fuzz' buzzed now, and it gives the illusion of hair, LOL!
ReplyDeleteXavier is adorable, isn't he? Precious boy. He's a little snarky (hahahahahahaha!) so it's always a sunny day when he's SMILING...
We refrigerated the cake overnight... Feasting today! But the crumbs... and the glaze.... were delicious. And a totally different texture than usual. I'm smiling, just thinking about eating this cake!
I have heard of a flourless cake before.
ReplyDeleteI love the not divorced line also. (im tired now brain not working toe hurt Oh if you are going to be stupid like me and accidently kick the door with your little toe just one peice of advice dont cos its hard to ice and holding ice to it is rather annoying. and how I kicked the door I have no idea but my toe hurts). Oh its the other foot to the one I hurt bad when I went to hospital. guess I will be evened up now.
Of the topic I made another roast today and this time its not masterchef pink in the middle its just right falling of the bone yummy. To think I was scared to cook a roast one cos of the price but two cos I thought it was so hard. (its on special $8 a kilo thats about $4 a pound I think anyway its a good price right now and a little over a kilo will do me about 4 - 5 meals as I have it with salad for a few days).
Ps this is Ausjenny I am using chrome and its set for this account (the Australian Christian readers blog alliance).
DeleteJenny, I love this pic!!! Adorable, my friend! And I'm glad you're tackling the roasts.... Meat and veggies are just such a delicious combo, aren't they? I mean, totally good, good, good!
DeleteWe've been finding that Chrome works better with Blogger.... They're both "Google" enterprises, so I think they're programmed to integrate more easily. On purpose, no doubt! Love you, Christian Reader! :)
Yes Chrome works well as does safari. I use both so I can have both accounts open (I am one of the co-founders of ACRBA and have to do the sending out of info for blog tours etc so its easier to use 2 browsers.)
DeleteI do like roasts and I even like the roast potatoes which is a plus. tomorrow it will be more beetroot (beets). But now my jigsaw is finished I am off to bed and hopefully to sleep.'
Thank you Ruthy and Jeanne for this wheat and gluten-free bit of heaven. I have had a version in restaurants but now I can indulge at home.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, thanks for the calories. Well worth it.
Peace, Julie
Julie, I can't wait to try it! Getting hair cut this AM... Badly needed, I look like the dog on My Three Sons, no lie....
DeleteAnd then cake and coffee when I get back here. YUM!!!
Julie, I hope you enjoy it. :) My family like it, except for my boy who would rather have raisins than chocolate. Anyday. God has a sense of humor putting him in a family of chocoholics. :)
DeleteI have a granddaughter who is allergic to eggs. You might as well take me out back and shoot me. How does a granny make treats for a child like that? Well, she's 1.5 yo and as never had sugar yet either.
ReplyDeleteWell, I think I can smell this cake! Yum!
First, feed the kid sugar when her parents aren't looking.
DeleteAnd did you know that you can make cookies without eggs? Make your traditional recipe without eggs and see how nice they come out. They'll be a little crisper... less chewy. But still delicious! And you can adjust the flour down a little to make up the moisture ratio difference. So subtract like 2 tablespoons of flour from a traditional recipe and they should come out wonderfully.
Most cookie recipes can be adjusted this way. It might take a bit of 'doing' on your part to get it just right, but less flour and decreasing cooking time slightly gives you a really nice result!
Debra, my sister was allergic to eggs. My mom used to melt chocolate, stir in Cheerios and press them into a pan, probably 8x8, I don't remember for sure. When it cooled, she'd cut it into squares for us. They were addicting. :)
DeleteHmmm, no flour? But lots of chocolate? Okay! I'm in!
ReplyDeleteAnd Ruthy, I'm so glad your eggs stuck it out for the long haul. Separations are so devastating, but reconciliation is sweet. Especially in cake.
It sounds like you had a good, bittersweet time this week. My father-in-law's funeral was like that - we mourned for his passing, but enjoyed the memories so much. It's the way the funeral week should be.
Hi to Jeanne, if she drops by later!
We're going car shopping today. It's a beautiful, crisp October day, and I'd rather be up in the Hills, but we really do need another car.
Sigh.
Jan, car shopping? Fun, as long as you don't have to negotiate too much. :)
DeleteWe're away spending time with the boys this weekend. This has been my first chance to get online. :) It's fun to "see" you--miss seeing you in the mornings like at ACFW. :)
Car shopping!!!! SWEEEEEET! Kind of. I love our Eco Cruze, I love the crazy high mileage without the hybrid price.
ReplyDeleteOkay, the eggs are doing wonderfully well together, I think you're right, Jan. The reunion was sweet!
And our funeral week was just lovely, a true celebration of Grandpa's life... and Grandma's service to him. What a great example they set as people of faith and industry. Amazing.
And so nice to have the whole family together. I loved that, Blodgetts everywhere! Wonderful!
And don't you think Dave's Dad was just enjoying the whole thing?
DeleteOh, Jan, I'm sure of it! I just got off the phone with Mom... she was on her way to the cemetery but was delighted with the carrot cake sent by friends. We talked gardens for the gravesites next spring. And we talked about what a joyous, peaceful funeral it was. And that's exactly what it was like. A gentle passing, to health and happiness in God's mansion. Delightful!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete6 Extra Large eggs, separated (Not divorced because they will get back together soon. I promise.)
ReplyDeleteSnort -- I have to quote this too. Unexpected and so funny I snorted sprite up my nose and I'm at the circulation counter at the college library. So not pretty. (didn't sound great either.) I'm so uncouth.
Even though I read the instructions twice, I still can't fathom this cake. I'm going to try it though because I have a friend who can't have gluten and she's given me a few rides lately I wanted to bake something for her. Couldn't figure out what so your posting is fortuitous.
And Ruthy -- at the risk of being a nag. I can't find your book on eharlequin. I thought it was a November release but it wasn't there. I'm getting antsy. I found Virginia's though and I'm reading it now...she has a great hook! I'm loving it! What's Yuletide Hearts release date again?????
Kav, you made me laugh. :) Hopefully your nose, and the rest of you have recovered by now. :) I promise, this cake is t-a-s-t-y! :)
DeleteKav, it's actually due to come out November 16th, so it should be popping up on eharlequin.com soon.
DeleteThe e-reader is slated for December 1st... I wonder if the other date is incorrect? Or if they're just a few days behind. I went and checked, and you're right. It's not there yet! Soon....
And I'm not bragging or anything, but I just love the hero and heroine in this book. It's a May-December romance. He's older and has seen too much of life. Given too much. She's younger, and has never been cherished by anyone in her life. But she longs for the normal family others take for granted, and he's certain that he's missed the chance for anything remotely resembling a happy-ever-after.
He's wrong. ;)
Kav, Julie Hilton made me snort over something on facebook the other night and I woke up the baby and had to get off the computer.
DeleteI think I'd take awake baby over SPRITE up the NOSE in PUBLIC in a LIBRARY!
Ow. Embarassing. Ow.
And I'm glad you're liking the book. They cut all the funny lines, just so you know. And the cat was pooing in her shoes. LI doesn't do cat poo.
Probably no one wants to read about evil cats pooing in shoes.
I hear you all yelling AMEN!
Oh, Ruthy, if I didn't read all your books the moment they came out, I would go get that one just on the blurb.
DeleteSweet!
Virginia, I just love your potty and pet humor. You need to promise to self-publish your humorous kid and pet stories. :)
DeleteKav, I'm totally laughing, picturing you snorting Sprite at work. I bet they have library policy against snorting on the job!
Wow! Anything like brownies it right up my alley!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite line was the comment about salted butter! LOL I use it even when they call for unsalted too. Just because salt and I like each other so much. We have good taste, Ruthy. :)
Thanks, Jeanne, for sharing!!
Jenny, you just reminded me that I had meant to put in a roast this morning. Dang it! Now we'll have to eat it tomorrow. So...what's for dinner now???
I'm with you, Missy. I never met a bar of salted butter I didn't like...and couldn't use in place of unsalted butter. :)
DeleteOh, girls, I'm so glad! I've gone back to adding a pinch to chocolate frosting, just because if Lindt Chocolate can add sea salt to their chocolate and have us LOVE it!!! I can add a pinch to frosting to bring out the sweetness.
DeleteSalt's an amazing invention, isn't it? Love you, God! Thanks for salt!!!
Car shopping was a success! We went back to the dealership where we bought our last car, and they had just gotten in a Honda Fit. Newer model, our price range, great gas mileage...and Bernard fits in it.
ReplyDeleteAmazing answer to prayer :)
PS - Bernard is my daughter's double bass. He's big. Really big. Takes up a lot of room, but has a fantastic voice.
hahaha! I thought Bernard was your husband!
DeleteRuthy, thanks so much for sharing this recipe today. I hope it turns out and that you like it. :) I still want your opinion on it. :)
ReplyDeleteWe've been away with the kiddos this weekend, so I'm sorry I couldn't stop by sooner. :)
First, I hope my children don't run across this post. They blame their Celtic heritage for a lot of things, they don't need to add 'stretching the truth' to it. ;)
ReplyDeleteI for one, being a flourless, can't wait to make this! Sounds like a lot of work, but totally worth it.
Ruthy, thanks for making the cake. Jeanne, thanks for sharing the recipe.
Happy to. Enjoy, Christine. :)
Delete