Chocolate Gateau

By MarieR

Ingredients

• 12 oz. premium dark chocolate, chopped
• ⅓ cup hot or warm espresso or strong coffee
• 4 large eggs, at room temperature
• 2 large egg yolks, at room temperature
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• Pinch of salt
• ½ cup heavy (whipping) cream
• Lightly sweetened and whipped heavy cream for serving

Details

Servings 10
Preparation time 30mins
Cooking time 120mins

Preparation

Step 1

1.Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2.Lightly butter the bottom and sides of an 8-inch round cake pan. Line the bottom with a round of parchment or waxed paper. (If using a springform pan, wrap the outside with aluminum foil to avoid leaking.)

3.Prepare a water bath by placing a terry-cloth washcloth in the bottom of a roasting or similar-style pan. (This prevents the pan from sliding, insulates the bottom, and helps prevent overcooking.)

4.Place the chocolate and espresso in a large heatproof bowl and set in a wide pan or skillet of hot water. Set aside for 5 minutes, stirring 4 or 5 times, and let the chocolate melt completely. Stir until smooth and keep warm.

5.Using a hand mixer with clean beaters, whip the cream until soft peaks form. Set aside.

6.Remove the bowl of a stand mixer and place it in a hot (150 to 155 degrees) water bath. Add the eggs, yolks, sugar, and salt. With a hand-held mixer, beat the mixture until it is warm and the sugar is dissolved. Reattach the bowl to the stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and whisk the mixture on high speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes.

7.Alternately fold one-third of the egg mixture and one-third of the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture until all is combined. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan. Place the pan on the washcloth in the roasting pan and fill the roasting pan with enough hot water to reach halfway up the sides of the cake pan.

8.Bake until the top of the cake is set, 80 to 90 minutes. Remove the cake from the water bath and let cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Gently loosen the edges with a thin knife before inverting onto the rack.

9.To serve, carefully remove the parchment and refrigerate until cool, at least 2 hours. Slice into thin wedges and serve with the whipped cream.