Chocolate Sunken Soufflé Cake Food

CHOCOLATE FALLEN SOUFFLé CAKE

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 9-inch springform pan and line bottom with a round of parchment or wax paper, then butter paper.
• Melt chocolate and butter in a large metal bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water (or in a microwave-safe large glass or ceramic bowl in a microwave at 50 percent power for 4 to 5 minutes), stirring frequently, then cool completely. Whisk in vanilla, salt, and 6 tablespoons sugar. Add yolks 1 at a time, whisking well after each addition. Whisk in flour.
• Beat whites with a pinch of salt in a bowl using an electric mixer at medium-high speed until they hold soft peaks, then add remaining 6 tablespoons sugar a little at a time, beating, and continue to beat until whites hold stiff glossy peaks.
• Whisk about one fourth of whites into chocolate mixture to lighten, then fold in remaining whites gently but thoroughly. Pour batter into springform pan, spreading evenly.
• Bake until a wooden pick or skewer inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs adhering, 35 to 40 minutes.
• Cool cake in pan on a rack 10 minutes. Remove side of pan and cool cake completely. Invert cake onto rack and remove bottom of pan, discarding paper, then invert cake onto a plate.

SUNKEN CHOCOLATE SOUFFLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Grease and line an 8-inch spring form pan with non-stick baking paper.
• Melt the chocolate with the butter over a pan of hot, not boiling, water, then mix in the liqueur and set aside.
• Beat the egg yolks and the sugar until pale and creamy, approx 5/6 minutes, mix this with the melted chocolate mixture.
• In a very clean bowl, with very clean beaters, beat the egg whites until the they form soft peaks, not stiff dry peaks, start your mixer beating slow and gradually speed it up.
• Add a few tablespoons egg white to the chocolate mix, folding it in carefully to lighten the mixture first before you fold in the rest.
• Put this in the prepared tin and bake for approx 30 minutes, use your own judgment and give it a few minutes more if you think it needs it because every oven is different, there is a good chance you will see some cracks in the top appearing, do not worry.
• Take it out of the oven, it should be well risen by now, the center should feel springy to the touch.
• Let it cool completely in the tin, and yes, you will see your creation sink, and sink!
• Take out of the tin, if you prefer leave the bottom and only remove the outer ring of the springform tin, peel off the paper, cover and chill until needed.
• Mix the crème fraiche with the liqueur, chill until needed (Remove from the fridge 30 minutes before serving).
• To serve: cut in wedges, serve dusted with cacao or icing/powdered sugar, some of the berry mix (if using) and the crème fraiche.

SUNKEN CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Set oven rack to lowest possible position in oven.
• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
• Have ready a greased 8-9" springform pan lined with parchment paper.
• Put chocolate pieces into a large microwaveable bowl and cook on HIGH for 1 minute,stir, and continue cooking for 30 seconds, then stir again,repeat as needed until smooth& melted.
• Set melted chocolate- still in cooking bowl- over another bowl filled with HOT water on counter.
• Meanwhile, beat egg whites,adding just 1/4 cup of the sugar gradually, until stiff peaks form- they will appear shiny.
• In another bowl,cream the butter and remaining 1/4 cup sugar until fluffy.
• Add egg yolks and beat for 1 minute.
• Add finely ground nuts (they should be almost like a gritty powder) and the brandy and beat for 2 more minutes.
• Now, your chocolate should still be slightly warm, but no longer burning hot- add just a bit at a time to the butter mixture, stirring with a rubber spatula to combine well until all is added.
• Fold just 1/4 of the chocolate butter mixture into the egg whites.
• Next, gently pour the now chocolatey egg white mixture into the remaining chocolate butter mixture and fold very gently- you don't want to crush down the egg whites.
• (This whole back and forth procedure is essential to keeping the egg whites from getting crushed and to avoid cooking the eggs into scrambled eggs.) Pour carefully into the springform pan.
• Bake 40-45 minutes if using an 8" pan, slightly less for the 9" pan (about 35-40 minutes).
• Cake is ready when a toothpick comes out with thick, moist but NOT wet crumbs stuck to it- it should NOT come out clean.
• Let cake cool in pan 30 minutes- the cake will sink considerably.
• Remove outer ring of pan and invert cake onto a platter.
• -peel off the parchment.
• Sprinkle with some additional granulated sugar (or powdered sugar).
• This should be served warm, with a dollop of sweetened whipped cream on top, and a garnish of fresh berries in season.
• It is moist in texture- more like a fudgey brownie than a fluffy cake texture.
• Leftovers should be kept in the fridge.
• If you need to make this in advance, set the cake out on the counter about 30 minutes before serving to bring it to room temperature.
• Garnish just before serving or the whipped cream will weep and make a mess all over the cake.