I never tire of chocolate. It’s a classic. Like a favorite pair of blue jeans, bourbon or the one and only, Led Zeppelin.
About once a year, I purchase a 10 lb bar from the Co-Op. Buying in bulk, the overall cost is reduced. Most of the time though, knowing a big bar of chocolate is in the pantry, my desserts and/or sweets end up having some sort of chocolate component. Not a bad thing… especially if one is a lover of chocolate.
Chocolate has been treasured and sought after dating back to 1900 BC. The Aztecs and Myans used it as currency and also consumed it as an elixir, referred to it as Xocoatl, reserved for the wealthy. But it wasn’t until 1847 that chocolate was developed into a closer resemblance of how we recognize it today: the chocolate bar.
My obsession with chocolate began about 10 years ago. Milk was my chocolate of choice, until I tried a bittersweet truffle from Fran’s Chocolates. I was forever changed. I could actually taste the chocolate, and appreciate it for its bittersweetness. I don’t pick up anything under 60% bittersweet now.
Chocolate Decadence comes together quick, in terms of hands-on time. It’s the hands-off time that takes a bit of patience: chilling overnight, and allowing the ganache to thicken. The waaaaiting is the hardest part.
Finishing a cake is a matter of personal preference. I decided more chocolate was necessary and piled on the ganache. If that wasn’t enough, I added more by garnishing with shaved chocolate. It is Valentine’s after all. Now, you could forget all that and sprinkle the cake with a dusting of confectioner’s sugar and some delicious berries or go with vanilla bean whipped cream. Still, I prefer ganache…
and more chocolate.
Celebrating Valentine’s or not, this cake is an elegant choice for any occasion. A little goes a long way and leaves a lasting impression. It is not overly sweet; rather, the subtle sweetness balances the richness of the chocolate.
It is creamy, rich, decadent and everything you’d expect from dark chocolate. It’s a classic.
Chocolate Decadence
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- Coconut Oil Pan Spray
- 8 oz or 2 C Bittersweet Couverture 70-72% chopped (I use 70% Guittard) (230 g)
- 5 Tbs Unsalted Butter room temperature (65 g)
- 1/8 tsp Sea Salt
- 2 Whole Eggs room temperature
- 1/2 Tbs Granulated Sugar
For the Ganache:
- 2/3 C Heavy Whipping Cream 150 mL
- Pinch of Sea Salt
- 5 1/4 oz or 1 1/4 C Bittersweet Couverture 70-72% finely chopped (I use 70% Guittard) (150 g)
- 2 tsp Unsalted Butter 9 g
- 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract I use Rodelle
To Finish:
- Chocolate Shavings
- or
- Confectioner's Sugar optional
- Raspberries or any seasonal berry optional
Instructions
For the Cake:
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Preheat oven to 300F. Spray the bottom and sides of a 6" round pan with pan spray. Line the bottom with parchment, pressing it in so that it's flat, and spray the parchment with pan spray. Doing this will aid in an easy release.
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Set up a Bain Marie by bringing a pot of water to steaming and having ready a stainless steel bowl that can sit in the steaming water. A double boiler system will work here as well. Just make sure the water is not boiling.
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In the stainless steel bowl add the chocolate and butter and set it in the Bain Marie. Gently melt the butter and chocolate stirring occasionally. Remove from Bain Marie when the chocolate mixture is melted, smooth and shiny and stir in the sea salt. Set aside.
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Place the eggs and sugar in a stand mixer bowl and place it in the Bain Marie using the whisk to mix the sugar and eggs together until the mixture is warm to the touch. Immediately place on stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment and beat the mixture on medium speed until the eggs double in volume, about 5 minutes. The eggs will be thick and frothy.
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Fold 1/3 of the egg mixture into the chocolate mixture. Then fold all of the chocolate mixture into the remaining egg mixture. Gently fold until no streaks are visible.
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Pour into the 6" prepared cake pan and tap the pan firmly, flat on the counter at least three times to release any air bubbles.
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Bake for 28-30 minutes on the center rack until it is almost baked yet still sticky to the touch.
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Cool the cake in the pan on a wire rack. Cover when cool and refrigerate the cake in the pan overnight.
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To release the cake hold the pan over a low flame, moving the pan around, on a stovetop for short periods of time (5-10 seconds), carefully checking several times to see if it will release when gently inverted. Do this several times. Alternatively, a shallow sink full of hot water will warm the bottom of the pan as well, again, for very short periods of time. If heated for too long, the cake will melt. Be sure to dry the bottom of the pan each time you invert the cake. Place the cake on a cake stand and cover until ready to top with ganache.
For the Ganache:
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Pull the cake out of the fridge so it has time to come to room temperature before pouring the ganache on.
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Place finely chopped couverture in a heat-proof bowl. Pour the heavy whipping cream into a 2-quart saucepan, add the sea salt and bring the cream to a scald, where just the edges of the milk are bubbling. Remove the cream from the heat and pour the cream all over and onto the couverture. Let the mixture set 2 minutes. Using a spoon or silicon spatula, slowly stir the mixture until a smooth emulsion is formed. Once all the chocolate is melted, add the butter, 1 tsp at a time, stirring gently to fully incorporate the butter. You'll notice the ganache is shiny and starting to thicken. Stir in the vanilla extract.
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Allow the ganache to set at room temperature to thicken. The rate at which thickening will happen is dependent on the temperature of your kitchen. Mine took about 45 minutes to set up. Gently stir the ganache occasionally so that it cools evenly and throughly. You're aiming for a thick yet pourable, spreadable ganache. Keep your eye on it and have your cake on standby.
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Once the ganache is to the desired consistency, it's time to pour it on the cake. *If you find the ganache is too thick to pour, gently reheat it in the Bain Marie. It will reheat quickly, so just a quick dip in and then out! Just make sure the Bain Marie water is not boiling. Use an offset spatula to work the ganache over the top of the cake. Start in the middle and work your way out. It will start to thicken quickly now, so work fast. You may have some ganache left over. If so, use it to make a few truffles once it becomes thick enough to roll... and it will, with a bit of time.
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If finishing with chocolate shavings, use a vegetable peeler to make curls.
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Serve at room temperature to get the most luxurious mouth feel!
Recipe Notes
Chocolate Decadence can be stored covered, at room temperature for up to two days.
Adapted from Chef Kimberly Smith's recipe.
Thank you for reading! If you make this recipe, or any others on Vanilla And Bean, be sure to post it to Facebook or Instagram, notify me @vanillaandbean and tag #vanillaandbean! I’d love to see what you’ve made! Also, if you like my content, please consider sharing it with three friends and/or family and follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and/or Twitter. Thank you!
Traci,
Love the stop action photography! I haven’t mastered that yet, although I’m trying. Beautiful photos as usual and cake looks to die for.
Awh, thank you Donna! Keep at it, you’ll get it! :D
This looks SO BEAUTIFUL. I didn’t think I could love another chocolate cake, but I do this one, so much :)
<3 <3 <3
Thank you, Pang! It is like a big ole’ slice of truffle! Love it! So happy to see you here! :D
This cake looks incredible! I can’t believe how simple that ingredient list is. I think this will be the cake I try for a friend’s birthday coming up. Thanks so much for the recipe! :)
Oh yea, it’s so quick to whip up, it just needs some time in the fridge and the ganache, a bit of babysitting. It’s so worth it! How sweet to make this for a friend. I hope y’all enjoy the recipe! :D
what a beautiful cake! I love the chocolate shavings… so elegant.
Thanks so much Mondo! :D
Oh. My. WORD!! Just stop! By the second picture I was literally almost drooling on my keyboard! This torte is a chocaholic’s dream!! PINNED!!
You made me LOL, Ceara! It’s crazy… I know… it’s the power of chocolate! :D Thank you for your pin!
I can’t tell you how utterly obsessed I am with this cake. I adore dark chocolate – the more the better, and the darker the better. I just know I would love this!
Hehe! Chocolate seems to do that to me too! :D
WOWZA! My chocolate heart beats wildly at the sight of that cake! Such a lovely story you told with the photography as well….
Thanks so much Katie! :D
Ohhh man, this looks insane and amazing! Ganache is my favorite thing to top a chocolate cake with, hands down. Love love love your pictures here too!
One can never go wrong with ganache, right? Thank you Abby! :D
Is it OK to say this may be your best recipe yet? At least in my eyes it is! From the photography to the rich cake to the inch (or more!) thick ganache… is it too late for it to be my valentine?
It is okay with me! Thank you Sarah! It’s never to late for chocolate to be your valentine! :D
Ok, you and me are in the same camp girlfriend! I will never tire of chocolate either *and* less is definitely more when it comes to chocolate, ovbs. Besides, I’m of the mindset that dark chocolate is good for you anyway!
Beautiful, sultry cake! I will have a slice with my morning coffee please :)
Ohhhh, love that; sultry! Indeed it is! Is it fair to say the more chocolate one eats, the more sultry one becomes? :) Just sayin….
This is the most decedant chocolate cake I have ever laid my eyes on, Traci!!! OMG, it looks amazing! I really don’t understand when people say they don’t like chocolate! They must have something wrong with their taste buds :) This cake seriously looks amazing and I wish you could send me some! I try not to have too much chocolate in the house because I will eat it all! That giant chunk of chocolate wouldn’t have lasted too long at my house :)
Awh, Izzy! That makes me happy! :D IDK how one could not like chocolate either. Believe me, I have to pace myself with that block of chocolate…. it is soooo good.
This is out-of-control spectacular, Goes on the list to bake when I have a proper oven again!
Thank you, Deb. Hopefully you’ll have your oven sooner than later!
My grandmothers chocolate decadence recipe will forever remain one of my absolute favorite chocolate treats to make. I am intrigued by this gorgeous one and love the shards of chocolate to really top it off. Lovely!
Ooooh I’d love to see your grandmothers chocolate decadence recipe. One can never try enough recipes, you know. Espcially those that have been handed down through the family. Thank you Jolena! :D
This looks fantastic, Traci! So dark and chocolaty, I can almost feel how it would melt in my mouth…Yummy!
The pictures are amazing again, of course :)
Awh, thank you Evi. It is a melty, dreamy cake! Hope you enjoy it! :D
Oh my, these photos. It’s not even 9am and you have me dying for chocolate cake!
Thank you Marissa! I know, right?! It’s good ANYtime!! Thanks for stopping by! :D
Okay…so you know how I feel about flourless chocolate cake. Luhuv! But this – Oh my, Traci!! So beautiful…so decadent…I want the whole cake. Right now! Thanks for sharing your amazing recipe with us! Pinned!
Oh Annie, yes, I know. It’s the little black dress. Always… a classic. It never, ever gets old. But that’s chocolate, right? I adore it! Thank you for your pin! :D
My mouth. Is watering. I NEED NEED NEED this in my life ASAP! That seriously is a chocolate lovers dream, which is aka me!! And as always, such beautiful photography! Pinned :)
Thank you, Christina! I know…. so much chocolate, so little time! :)
All that chocolate is seriously making me salivate here Traci. This decadent chocolate cake looks divine!
Chocolate has that affect on me too, Thalia! :)
Oh. My. Food. Goddess.
:D
All I want is this cake for Valentine’s Day. The entire masterpiece to myself!
I think I could have devoured the whole thing too… but I quickly shuffled 1/2 of it out the door to my neighbors! I can’t have things like this in the house for too long! hehe… :D
Wow, Traci – this is just gorgeous! I used to only eat milk chocolate but, like you, have gone to the dark side ;). I’ve never tried making a ganache before – I’ve always wanted to try it but thought it was complicated – but now I see it’s pretty straightforward – will definitely be giving it a try soon . Your photos are beautiful and inspiring as always.
Thank you!! :D Ganache can be fussy sometimes. Making sure no air is incorporated (unless making whipped ganache) is key, so slow stirring is golden here! I hope you’ll give it a go, Geraldine!
TRACI!!!!!! This cake. I can’t even. It’s my jam. Love love love your photos. XO
Oh Liz! LOL :D It’s the chocolate!! That is all. <3
Oh Traci! This cake looks divine! The only kind of cake I eat is chocolate and I am always looking for flourless ones. That means I can eat much more of it lol ;)
This is the chocolate cake I will eat next! I can’t wait. Thanks for the recipe!
Thank you Julie! Yup.. no flour = more cake! And really, there’s not much sugar added either.. it’s all about the chocolate!
This cake is a chocolate lover’s dream! I’m all about the bittersweet chocolate too. That’s a smart idea to buy it in bulk. I’ve never done that before, but I might need to start doing that. Do you store it in any special way to keep it good for the long term?
Oh, isn’t bittersweet the best?! It’s so much cheaper in bulk. Check with your local Co-Op…. and if they sell it in chunks in the bulk bins, they have it in 10 lb bar form in the back. They’ll typically pass the savings on to you! Just ask the bulk manager. :D For storage, store it in a cool, dry, dark place. I keep mine in large zip bags or sealed tight (taped up) in the bag it came in.
I am obsessed with these photos AND this recipe. Seriously, these photos belong in print! Also – there ain’t nothin’ wrong with an enormous bar of chocolate in your cabinet at all times;)
Thank you, Sarah :D. Touche’ my dear. Hehe… chocoholic? Why, yes.