Chocolate in any shape or form is always a crowd pleaser (especially amongst the chocoholics I work with!) and as predicted this cake was no exception. The bottom of the cake is fairly heavy and dense, with delicate meringue on top – a great combination. It’s best served together with some lightly whipped cream.
Chocolate meringue cake, serves 10
Adapted from Donna Hay’s recipe.
240 g dark chocolate, chopped
180 g unsalted butter, chopped
2 eggs
4 eggs extra, separated
90 g brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
50 g plain flour, sifted
½ tsp baking powder, sifted
40 g ground almonds
220 g caster sugar
1 tsp white vinegar
3 tsp cornflour, sifted
25 g cocoa, sifted, plus extra for dusting
Preheat oven to 160ºC. Lightly grease a 24 cm round springform tin, line the base with baking parchment.
Place the chocolate and butter in a medium saucepan over low heat and stir occasionally until melted and smooth. Allow to cool slightly. Place the eggs, extra egg yolks, brown sugar and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer and whisk for 3–4 minutes or until pale and thick.
Add the chocolate mixture, flour, baking powder and almond meal and fold gently to combine. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 35–40 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside.
Increase the oven temperature to 180°C. Place the extra eggwhites in the clean bowl of an electric mixer and whisk on high speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add the sugar, whisking until dissolved. Add the vinegar and whisk for a further 2–3 minutes or until the meringue is thick and glossy. Fold through the cornflour and cocoa and spoon the mixture onto the partially cooked cake. Spread evenly and return the cake to the oven for 20–25 minutes or until the meringue is golden and crisp.
Allow the cake to stand at room temperature for 15–20 minutes before gently running a small knife around the edge and removing the ring. Allow the cake to cool at room temperature and refrigerate for 2 hours before serving. Dust with the extra cocoa to serve.
Scandelights 