Get out your party hats; it’s time for a celebration! November 7, is National Bittersweet Chocolate and Almonds Day. I don’t know who came up with that idea, but it seems like a grand excuse to enjoy a delectable dessert. In searching for a yummy recipe to try, I came across one that serves two purposes. First, it contains the required ingredients, bittersweet chocolate and almonds; and second, it is a nearly flourless torte. What is the purpose in finding a flourless torte, you may ask. Well, my oldest son must eat a gluten-free diet and so I am always in search of delicious recipes that are easy to adapt for him. If you’ve never had to deal with a gluten intolerance, let me just tell you that almost everything prepackaged in the grocery store contains gluten or flour in some form or another. Finding gluten-free alternatives for a teenage boy is no small task. So, I was very excited to discover this easy to follow recipe. It contains only three tablespoons of flour, which can easily be substituted with three tablespoons of rice flour. This is a gooey, fudgy cake that goes great with vanilla ice cream. It doesn’t take long to prepare and your friends and family will be impressed! On that note, I am delighted to share a scrumptious recipe for Bittersweet Chocolate and Almond Cake.
Bittersweet Chocolate and Almond Cake
From: Bon Appétit, May 1999
By: Michel Depardon, St.-Rémy, France
Serves 10 to 12
Ingredients
12 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
3/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted
3 tablespoons cake flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
5 large eggs
1 1/3 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups chilled whipping cream
Preparation
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Butter 9-inch-diameter spring form pan with two, 3/4-inch-high sides. Stir chocolate and butter in heavy medium saucepan over low heat until smooth. Cool mixture to lukewarm.
Finely grind 1/2 cup almonds, flour, and salt in processor. Using electric mixer, beat eggs, sugar and vanilla in large bowl until thick, about 2 minutes. Fold in almond mixture, then chocolate mixture. Pour batter into prepared pan.
Bake cake until tester inserted into center comes out with moist crumbs attached, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Cool cake in pan on rack (center will fall). Press edges down with fork to level top. Cover; refrigerate at least two hours and up to one day.
Cut around cake; remove pan sides. Beat cream in large bowl to firm peaks. Mound cream atop cake; sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup almonds.
