I’m taking liberties by calling this French Chocolate Cake, since the only thing French about it is that it came to me by way of a French woman who attended a party I hosted several years ago. She arrived with her cake, a bowl of softly whipped cream, and three young children. I haven’t seen her since, but I have thought about that cake at least a dozen times.
A Five-Ingredient Cake
The cake was the essence of simplicity: no frosting, or glaze, no layers, or filling, just a dense, dark, not-too-sweet chocolate cake, one so good that it haunted me until I managed to track down the recipe.
It arrived in my inbox written in grams, not cups, (how very French), with no details about the type of chocolate or butter (unsweetened? unsalted?), size or shape of pan, and only this regarding the flour measurement, “one soup spoon of flour”. I tinkered and tested through a couple trials (I know, it’s a very taxing job) and voilà (as the French would say) a cake just as I remembered it.
Tips for Making French Chocolate Cake
With so few ingredients and an unfussy technique, this is not a hard cake to bake. That said, here are a few tips to help nail it every time:
- This cake is all about the chocolate, so opt for dark chocolate and good quality. I find the big bars at Trader Joe’s to be a great, budget-friendly option. I also like my hometown brand, Guittard, but that’s a little pricier.
- Resist the urge to open the oven as it bakes until it’s nearly done.
- Try not to over bake it. In fact, you’re better of erring on the side of under baking, since the only downside to that is a cake that’s deliciously gooey in the center.
When to Serve this Cake
Make this cake for Valentine’s Day, your next dinner party, or another special occasion. It’s that kind of cake. A thin slice will do, straight up or adorned with whipped cream, and if you have some on hand, fresh strawberries or raspberries. Store leftover cake covered in the refrigerator, where it will keep for three or four days.
If you like Almost Flourless French Chocolate Cake, you might like:
Lighter Chocolate Pot de Crème
Marbled Chocolate Pumpkin Loaf Cake
Chocolate Beet and Zucchini Bundt Cake
Double Chocolate Sweet Potato Brownies
Almost Flourless French Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
- Butter and flour for the coating the baking pan
- 7 ounces bittersweet chocolate (I used 70 percent)
- 14 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 5 eggs
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (or favorite gluten-free flour)
- Confectioners' sugar to decorate the top
- Softly whipped cream and/or fresh berries (optional for serving)
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
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Grease an 8-inch round cake pan with butter and dust lightly with flour. Line the bottom with parchment paper.
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Chop the chocolate into small pieces and put in the top of a double boiler with the butter over medium-high heat. Melt the chocolate and butter, stirring occasionally. Add the sugar and stir well. Remove from heat and let cool for 10 minutes.
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In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs until frothy and blended. Add to the chocolate and butter and whisk until thick and smooth. Add the flour and whisk again.
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Pour into prepared cake pan and bake until the top is set and no longer appears wet, about 40 minutes. Resist the urge to open the oven during cooking.
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Remove from oven and cool completely.
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Run a knife around the edge of the cake, set a plate over the pan, and invert the cake onto the plate. Then, set another plate on top of the cake and flip the cake onto the plate. Its top should be upright.
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Sprinkle the lightly with confectioners' sugar.
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Serve in thin slices. If desired, top with whipped cream and/or berries.
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Store leftovers in the refrigerator.
Much gratitude to Charlotte Stadnick for sharing the recipe from which this is adapted.
