Flourless Chocolate Almond Cake Torta Caprese Food

TORTA CAPRESE

Steps:

• Place the chocolate and butter in the top of a double boiler and melt until smooth. Cool slightly, until just warm to the touch.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the inside of a 9-inch springform pan.
• Place the egg whites in a medium bowl with the salt. Place the yolks in a slightly larger bowl with the granulated sugar. Using a handheld mixer, beat the whites on medium speed until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes. Then beat the egg yolks on medium speed until light, pale and fluffy, about 1 1/2 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, stir the chocolate mixture, almond flour and vanilla into the yolks. In 2 batches, fold the whipped whites into the chocolate base. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and bake until puffed and beginning to crack on top, about 40 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.
• When cool, run a thin knife around the edge of the pan to release the cake. Remove the outside ring and dust the top with confectioners' sugar.

INSTANT POT® TORTA CAPRESE (ITALIAN FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE-ALMOND CAKE)

Steps:

• Pour 2 cups water inside a 7-quart multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot®) and insert a trivet. Generously butter an 8-inch round cake pan.
• Combine chocolate and butter in a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on 800 watts for 2 minutes. Whisk and microwave for another 2 minutes. Continue whisking and cooking until chocolate and butter are completely melted. Add sugar and vigorously whisk until combined. Mix in almond flour until combined. Add egg yolks and stir until incorporated.
• Beat egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer until soft peaks form. Fold into the chocolate mixture. Pour batter into the prepared cake pan and cover with aluminum foil. Set the pan on top of the trivet in the cooker.
• Close and lock the lid. Select high pressure according to manufacturer's instructions; set timer for 30 minutes. Allow 10 to 15 minutes for pressure to build.
• Release pressure using the natural-release method according to manufacturer's instructions, about 15 minutes. Open the lid and allow the cake to cool. Remove the cake pan with tongs and let cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Remove cake from the pan by placing a plate on top and flipping it over. Flip it again using another plate to set it right-side up.
• Dust with powdered sugar and cocoa powder and serve.

TORTA CAPRESE (CHOCOLATE ALMOND CAKE)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9-inch springform cake pan with foil.
• In a bowl with an electric mixer cream the butter with all but 1/4 cup of the sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Add the egg yolks, one at a time, and beat the mixture until combined well. Stir in the chocolate, almonds, cognac, potato starch, cinnamon and salt.
• In a bowl with an electric mixer beat the egg whites until they are foamy. Add the remaining sugar, a little at a time, and beat the whites until they form soft peaks. Stir 1/4 of the whites into the batter and fold in the remaining whites gently but thoroughly.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 40 minutes, or until puffed and still slightly loose in the center Transfer to a rack to cool completely.
• To unmold: release the sides from the pan and peel back foil. Invert cake onto a plate and carefully peel off foil from bottom of cake. Invert cake onto a serving plate and dust top with confectioner's sugar.
• Suggested Wine: Limoncello

FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE & ALMOND CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/ gas 4 and line the base of a 20cm springform tin with baking parchment. Melt the chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of just-simmering water, or in the microwave in 20-second bursts. Stir, then leave to cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, tip the eggs and sugar into a second bowl and beat with an electric whisk for 4-5 mins, or until thick and creamy. Add the mascarpone or soft cheese and vanilla, and continue to beat until everything is combined. Lightly fold in the cooled melted chocolate mixture until everything is one even colour, then fold in the almonds. Sift over the cocoa powder and a small pinch of salt, and fold in to combine.
• Scrape the cake batter into the prepared tin. Put the tin on a baking tray and bake for 35-40 mins until the cake is puffed up and has cracked on top. Remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tin for 30-40 mins - it will deflate as it cools. Serve warm as a chocolate pudding, or leave to cool completely and enjoy as a fudgy brownie cake. Dust with extra cocoa powder before serving.