Rich and Fudgy Flourless Apple Chocolate Cake

Yahoo Food Recipes

Every week, we spotlight a different food blogger who’s shaking up the blogosphere with tempting recipes and knockout photography. Below, Gabriel Cabrera of Artful Desperado shares one of the most decadent chocolate cakes we’ve ever seen. If you’re into desserts that are dense and flourless, this is for you.

image

Photo: Gabriel Cabrera

This is one of those recipes that requires only a few ingredients and turns out amazing — super rich and fudgy — every time. The look of this cake is rustic, which is also why I love it. You can swap the brandy out for calvados (fancy French apple brandy) or even Pernod.

Rustic Flourless Apple Chocolate Cake
Makes one 9-inch cake

For the cake
12 ounces dark chocolate (70-percent or more), chopped
1 ¼ sticks unsalted butter
4 tablespoons brandy
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon salt
6 large eggs, separated
2/3 cup sugar
Powdered sugar or cocoa for dusting

For the apples:
4 apples of any variety, cored, sliced in wedges
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons brandy
½ teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch of cardamom
1 teaspoon sugar

Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9-inch springform pan.

Set up a double boiler (a small pot filled with barely-simmering water and topped with a heat-proof bowl) and place the chocolate and butter in the bowl. Melt slowly and gently whisk to incorporate. Remove bowl from heat and stir in brandy, vanilla, and salt, then whisk until smooth. Let it cool for a few minutes, then add the yolks from the separated eggs along with 1/3 cup of sugar. Whisk until sugar dissolves.

In an electric stand mixer, beat the egg whites on low until soft peaks form. (Add a pinch of salt and a pinch of cream of tartar if they don’t come together.) While beating, gradually add the remaining 1/3 cup of sugar, then beat until stiff peaks form and look glossy.

Very gently, fold the melted chocolate mixture into the egg whites. You don’t want to deflate them. Once all has been incorporated, pour the mixture into the pan and bake for about 35 minutes, until the top of the cake starts to crack and a skewer inserted into its center comes out clean.

While the cake cools down, prepare the apples: Toss the apples and butter into an oven-safe pan (or skillet) over medium heat. Let the butter melt and coat the apples, then add the brandy, cinnamon, and cardamom and shake the pan to mix. Sprinkle apples with sugar and place the pan under the broiler in your oven for about 5 to 7 minutes, until apples cook and tops begin to brown. Remove from the pan set aside.

To serve the cake, dust it with powdered sugar or cocoa, then top with hot apples. Drizzle with liquid in the pan from the baked apples.

Still craving chocolate? Try these recipes:

Homemade Espresso Caramel Turtles Are the Best Last-Minute Gift

Chocolate Christmas Cookie Recipes To Bake All Season Long

These Super-Easy Chocolate Macaroons Are Actually Good for You