Chocolate Cake which is a Dream

Chocolate Dream Cake

Here is something one can relate to as' Death By Chocolate'. It is dense, terribly chocolaty, and a chocoholic's dream cake. Use your favourite kind of chocolate to ensure its success. I like dark chocolate best and generally use at least 50% cocoa content. If you want to recreate this old-fashioned decadent dessert that has always been loved by both young and old, I recommend using dark chocolate rather than milk chocolate.

Eating it at room temperature is best, but again, a personal preference. There are many who prefer it chilled. I am guessing you will want to try that out for yourself.

Made this last month for our foodie group called PER

Prepare two 33 cm/ 10-nch round pans with parchment and butter.
Preheat the oven to 160 C| 325 F

Cake
200 g/7 oz butter
200 g/7 oz dark chocolate
9 large egg yolks
1 cup fine white sugar
6 large egg whites

Ganache` icing

1 cup cream
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp sugar
375 g/ 12 oz dark chocolate

In a pan over the lowest heat, melt the butter and chocolate together. It should not boil. Keep aside 

In a large metal bowl, whip the egg yolks and sugar for approximately 8 minutes, until light in colour and it leaves ribbon like trails. 

In another large bowl, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. 

Prepare to incorporate the 3 parts of the cake. Pour the melted chocolate into the egg yolks. 
Once it is all mixed in, start folding the egg whites into thirds. Start with 1/3rd. Gently and lightly fold them into the egg yolk and chocolate mixture. Repeat with the remaining 
Pour into the prepared pans. 
Bake in the oven for 22 minutes. Test the cake in the centre of the cake with a skewer before removing it. It should be clean. 

While the cake is baking, prepare the ganache. 
In a pan heat together the cream, butter and sugar until just warm. Do not allow it to boil. 
Add the pieces of chocolate to it. Cover. Turn the stove off and leave it to melt for 10 minutes. 
Mix lightly, just until smooth. Allow it to cool until it is thick yet soft enough to apply to the cakes. 

Once the cakes are cooled, Loosen the sides, overturn the cake on a cake plate, and pour 1/3rd of the ganache over the cake. Place the second cake over the ganache and continue to ice the cake with the remaining chocolate ganache. 

Refrigerate if the cake is for the next day. Remove from the oven for at least an hour or two before serving.
The cake will be dense yet soft to eat.

Tips

Eggs should be at room temperature for best results. 

Egg whites must be clean as a whistle. Even a drop of egg yolk will not allow them to beat well. The bowl and the beaters must be clean for success. 

If your sugar is slightly larger, run it through a grinder you may have. 

If you are unsure of putting the chocolate on a stove, put it on a pot of boiling water and allow it to melt with the ''steam''. First reduce the heat to a simmer, then place the pan of chocolate over it. Do not allow the pan with the chocolate to touch the water. Remember, we need to allow the steam to rise. 

This cake is dense and rich. One can only eat little slivers. Although this cake will make 10 generous slices, more or less can be eaten from it depending on the age group. 
A bowl of fresh berries, whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, and a cup of coffee go well with it. 

I often like to add a few drops of cognac or rum to my chocolate ganache. 
It cuts the sweetness and enhances the chocolate flavour. 
Add this after it has all melted and before you allow it to cool and turn into the right consistency to become a ganache.

My published cookbooks are available for sale through myself and on Amazon.

The World of Parsi Cooking: Food Across Borders is a 3 award winning book. It has been self published in July 2019 and will be going into its second print in 2022. 

The Art of Parsi Cooking; reviving an ancient cuisine was published in 2016 by Austin Macauley and continues to be available through amazon book depot book depository and from the publishers.

Readers Comments
11th October 2017

Dilnavaz Shroff Congratulations Niloufer! Terrific milestone! For me there is an obvious choice of my favorite....the absolutely yummy, moth watering chocolate cake you made especially for us! Kudos!