A gluten-free chocolate cake I come back to time and time again, made even more irresistible with a topping of delicate, jewel-like raspberries.
8oz dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids), finely chopped
4.5oz butter, diced
6oz caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
3.5oz ground almonds
6 large eggs, separated
8oz raspberries
Chocolate curls, to decorate
For the glaze
3.5oz dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids), finely chopped
1oz butter
1.5oz icing sugar, sifted
2.5 fl oz cream
225g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids), finely chopped
125g butter, diced
175g caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
100g ground almonds
6 large eggs, separated
250g raspberries
Chocolate curls, to decorate
For the glaze
100g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids), finely chopped
30g butter
50g icing sugar, sifted
75ml cream
Two 20cm spring-form cake tins with parchment paper
Large heatproof bowl
Small pot
Free-standing mixer or use a hand-held electric mixer
Wire racks
Heatproof bowl
Black Forest Cake is a traditional German dessert that has been well and truly adopted by happy dessert eaters worldwide. Typically, black forest cake consists of several layers of chocolate cake, with whipped cream and cherries between each layer. Then the cake is decorated with additional whipped cream, more cherries, and chocolate shavings. This version is particularly delicious as I spike each layer of the cake with rum or kirsch, a fragrant cherry liqueur making it moist, boozy and oh so good. Recipe from The Pleasures of the Table: Rediscovering Theodora Fitzgibbon.