chocolate cloud cake...

(from "Nigella Bites" by Nigella Lawson )


250g/9oz. dark chocolate (minimum 70% cocoa solids)
25g/4.5oz unsalted butter, softened
6 eggs, 2 whole, 4 separated
175g/6oz caster sugar*; 75g in the cake, 100g in the whites
2 tbsp. Cointreau (optional)
grated zest of an orange (optional)
23cm springform cake tin

Cream Topping
500ml double cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbspn Cointreau (optional)
half tsp unsweetened cocoa powder for sprinkling

*In the US use superfine sugar

Preheat the oven to 180°c/350°f/gas mark 4.
Line the bottom of a 23cm Springform cake tin with baking parchment. Melt the chocolate either in a double boiler or a microwave, and then let the butter melt in the warm chocolate.

Beat the 2 whole eggs and 4 egg yolks with 75g caster sugar, then gently add the chocolate mixture, the Cointreau and orange zest.

In another bowl, whish the 4 egg whites until foamy, then gradually add the 100g of sugar and whisk until the whites are holding their shape but not too stiff. Lighten the chocolate mixture with a dollop of egg whites, and then fold in the rest of the whites. Pour into the prepared tin and bake for about 35 to 40 minutes or until the cake is risen and cracked and the centre is no longer wobbly. Cool the cake in it’s tin on a wire rack; the middle will sink as it cools.

When you are ready to eat, place the still tin-bound cake on a cake stand or plate for serving and carefully remove the cake from its tin. Don’t worry about cracks or rough edges; it’s the crater look we’re going for here. Whip the cream until soft and then add the vanilla and Cointreau and continue whisking until the cream is firm but not stiff. Fill the crater of the cake with the whipped cream, easing it out gently towards the edges of the cake, and dust the top lightly with cocoa powder pushed through a tea-strainer.

or instead of cream, you can fill the crater with chocolate mousse, and put the cream on top.

Yum.

Rob: Do you remember the chocolate brownie cake I made once? Where I accidentally put *all* the chocolate (all 600g of it) in the cake, instead of keeping 200g for the topping? Damn, that was a fine pudding.

Oh yes.

Were you at Ben's when he did a chocolate fudge pudding ? Very sweet and sticky. We had to water it down with double cream to make it edible...
Life's tough.

Ben's chocolate fudge pudding is fantastic. IIRC we had to do the same with the chocolate brownie cake.

Do you remember the dessert wine we had? Sickly sweet on its own, but once you started eating the cake, it suddenly tasted *really* dry...

will you two shut up ...it's *hours* til lunchtime [tummy rumbles]



- - -
I am very interested in the Universe. I am specialising in the Universe and everything surrounding it. - E. L. Wisty

And I'm still trying to diet...

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"Warning! Product may contain Newts!"

Simon! You used that four-letter word again! ;-)

Recipe for chocolate cloud cake duly printed off... thanks, Dave! Not being a fan of cream on its own myself, I think I may use a chocolate ganache instead.

(Edit: could you check the quantity of butter, please? I've just noticed that the amounts don't convert. I assume the metric quantity should be 125 g.)



Post Edited (05-22-03 21:54)

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That which does not kill us makes us stranger.
(Llewelyn the dragon, Ozy and Millie)

Sarah

Sarah, my bestest friend ever. When are you next doing some baking ?

I can still remember the cake for my sister's first birthday - it was a hedgehog, with the spines formed by chocolate buttons, glued to the cake by chocolate frosting. I still get hungry at the thought of it...



PSD

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This is the work of an Italian narco-anarchic collective. Don't bother insulting them, they can't read English anyway.

oops. it's 125g butter. my apologies. I copied and pasted it from another site, then must have deleted the 1 whilst tidying it up for posting.

Hehehe... I'll let you know when I do the baking, Skiffle! After all, you know I don't eat much myself, no matter how much I enjoy my chocolate, and it would be a terrible waste if David just wolfed all the rest... and we wouldn't want to hinder him in his plan to lose weight, would we? ;-)



..........................................................................................

That which does not kill us makes us stranger.
(Llewelyn the dragon, Ozy and Millie)

Sarah

I'm trying to lose a little weight myself. Fat chance when Galaxy bars, Galaxy caramel bars and Minstrels are on offer at 4 for £1. Wagon Wheels are on offer again too....

Doing roast lamb stuffed with anchovies tonight followed by Creme Brulee - any takers? Sitting down around 8pm if you're passing.....................

Roast lamb, I love, but not sure about the anchovies. No arguments with creme brulee, though.

I've just filled up on porridge sprinkled with brown sugar again, oweing to complete and utter failure to get myself organized today. Might cook a stew with the remains of the roast chicken tomorrow, if I can find a casserole dish.