Almost-Fudge Gateau

I remember seeing this cake all over food blogs back when it was a Tuesdays With Dorie pick a long time ago.  It looked incredible and got rave reviews, and I knew I would love it.  I just had to find an occasion to serve it!  A few weeks ago my best friend and her husband came over for dinner and I decided I just couldn’t put this off any more.  It certainly met all my expectations for a super chocolatey, deliciously rich cake.  I love almost any dessert topped with ganache because it provides such a smooth, gorgeous finish, not to mention that it tastes incredible.  I also liked how the slices came out with beautiful sharp edges.  Of course there was quite a bit left over for us, and I actually thought it tasted better the next day.  Who knows why, but next time I make this I will probably make it a day in advance to help heighten the flavor.

Even my sweet kitty Zoe loved it 🙂

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Almost-Fudge Gateau
Ingredients:
For the cake:
5 large eggs
9 oz. bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 cup sugar
5 tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into chunks
2 tbsp. coffee or water
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
pinch of salt

For the glaze:
4 oz. bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tsp. light corn syrup

Directions:
Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Butter a 9-inch springform pan, line the bottom with parchment paper, butter the paper, dust the inside of the pan with flour and tap out the excess.  Place the pan on a baking sheet.

Separate the eggs, putting the whites in a mixer bowl or other large bowl and the yolks in a small bowl.

Set a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and add the chocolate, sugar, butter and coffee.  Stir occasionally until the chocolate and butter are melted; the sugar may still be grainy – that is fine.  Transfer the bowl to the counter and let the mixture sit for 3 minutes.  Using a rubber spatula, stir in the yolks one by one, then fold in the flour.  Working with the whisk attachment of the mixer, beat the egg whites with the pinch of salt until they hold firm but glossy peaks.  Using the spatula, stir about one quarter of the beaten whites in to the batter, then gently fold in the rest.  Scrape the batter into the pan and jiggle the pan from side to side a couple of times to even the batter.

Bake for 35-45 minutes, or until the cake has risen evenly (it might rise around the edges and you’ll think it’s done, but give it a few minutes more, and the center will puff too) and the top has firmed (it will probably be cracked) and doesn’t shimmy when tapped; a thin knife inserted into the center should come out just slightly streaked with chocolate.  Transfer the pan to a cooling rack and let the cake rest for 5 to 10 minutes.

Run a blunt knife gently around the edges of the cake and remove the sides of the pan.  Carefully turn the cake over onto a rack and remove the pan bottom and the parchment paper.  Invert the cake onto another rack and cool to room temperature right side up.  As the cake cools, it may sink.

To make the glaze, turn the cooled cake onto another rack so you’ll be glazing the flat bottom, and place the rack over a baking sheet lined with parchment or wax paper to catch any drips.

Put the chocolate in a small heatproof bowl.  Melt the chocolate over a pan of simmering water or in a microwave oven – the chocolate should be just melted and only warm, not hot.  Meanwhile, bring the cream to a boil in a small saucepan.  Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and stir very gently with a rubber spatula until the mixture is smooth and shiny.  Stir in the corn syrup.

Pour the glaze over the cake and smooth the top with a long metal icing spatula.  Don’t worry if the glaze drips unevenly down the sides of the cake, it will add to its charm.  Allow the glaze to set at room temperature, or slip the cake into the refrigerator for about 20 minutes.

Source: adapted from Baking: From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan