Chocolate Chestnut Truffle cake.
This is my favorite chocolate cake of all time, possibly because I'm not a huge fan of cake, but this is far more moist than a traditional cake. You don't taste the chestnuts at all, but they give it an extraordinary richness, and it truly is like eating a giant slice of light truffle.
I also love that it's flourless, and only has a tiny amount of sugar. If you force yourself to forget about the butter, this could almost be diet food...
Almost. Although the other reason for my recommendation is that, as with almost all of my favorite recipes, it is ridiculously easy.
I made this today, and left the house with an entire cake. By the time I got back, the Smalls had attacked, and there was less than a quarter left.
With thanks to Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall for the recipe.
Serves 8-10
Ingredients
1 cup dark chocolate, in chunks
1 cup unsalted butter, cubed
1 cup peeled, cooked chestnuts (I find them in jars, this time of year)
1 cup whole milk
4 eggs, separated
1/2 cup caster sugar
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°c and grease and line a 23cm-diameter springform cake tin.
2. Melt the chocolate and butter together in a pan over a very gentle heat. In another pan, heat the chestnuts with the milk until just boiling, then mash thoroughly with a potato masher (or process to a rough purée in a machine).
3. Put the egg yolks in a bowl and mix with the caster sugar. Stir in the chocolate mixture and the chestnut purée until you have a smooth, blended batter. Whisk the egg whites until stiff and fold them carefully into the batter.
4. Transfer the mixture to the greased, lined tin and bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the cake is just set but still has a slight wobble.
5. If you want to serve the cake warm, leave to cool a little, then release the tin and slice carefully – it will be very soft and moussey. Or leave to go cold, when it will have set firm. Its good to serve it with a trickle of double cream, especially when warm, but it is also delicious unadulterated.
Oh my God, Jane, I am making this today!! I have to admit that the chestnuts threw me off a bit, but if you say its wonderful - I believe it!!
Oh my God, Jane, I am making this today!! I have to admit that the chestnuts threw me off a bit, but if you say its wonderful - I believe it!!
Ooooh! Thanks Jane, I knew I could count on you! I've never used chestnuts in anything, but I'll never shy away from any recipe that includes chocolate. I can't wait to try this one!
Ooooh! Thanks Jane, I knew I could count on you! I've never used chestnuts in anything, but I'll never shy away from any recipe that includes chocolate. I can't wait to try this one!
Jane, I tried this yesterday, with a few changes and it was perfect!!!
I din't have whole chestnuts, so I used ready made unsweetened chestnut puree, reducing the milk. My husband loved it straight form the oven, whereas I thought it was better once cool and firm.
do keep us posted about what's happening in your kitchen!!
love
ellina
Jane, I tried this yesterday, with a few changes and it was perfect!!!
I din't have whole chestnuts, so I used ready made unsweetened chestnut puree, reducing the milk. My husband loved it straight form the oven, whereas I thought it was better once cool and firm.
do keep us posted about what's happening in your kitchen!!
love
ellina
Hi Jane
I am from Murcia, in Spain and although my english is not the best at all, you can be sure I will improve it just reading your blog. I love it ¡¡¡¡. The recipes, the photos and all the things you write about the family (already part of mine) and of course about decoration. Go on.
Thanks a lot for being there.
Hi Jane
I am from Murcia, in Spain and although my english is not the best at all, you can be sure I will improve it just reading your blog. I love it ¡¡¡¡. The recipes, the photos and all the things you write about the family (already part of mine) and of course about decoration. Go on.
Thanks a lot for being there.
This sounds like a chocoholics dream come true!!
I need to start printing out all the recipts you post; they're making me feel very ambitious!
This sounds like a chocoholics dream come true!!
I need to start printing out all the recipts you post; they're making me feel very ambitious!