Chocolate cream cake

Chocolate cream cake

INGREDIENTS

225g/8 oz plain chocolate

6 eggs, separated

75g/2 1/2 oz caster sugar

50 g/ 1 2/3 oz plain flour

120g/4 oz flaked blanched almonds

Chocolate cream filling 25g/ 3/4 oz cocoa powder

PREPARATION

1. Preheat oven to 180C/350F/gas 4. Grease 25cm/10 inch springform cake tin.

2. Grate half of the chocolate; set aside.

3. In large bowl, with electric mixer on full speed, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.

4. In another large bowl, using electric mixer, beat egg yolks and sugar until very thick and lemon-coloured. Add flour; beat until well mixed, occasionally scraping bowl with rubber spatula. With spatula, stir in grated chocolate. With spatula or wire whisk, gently fold beaten egg whites into egg yolk mixture, one-third at a time.

5. Spoon mixture into tin, spreading evenly. Bake for 25 minutes or until skewer inserted in centre of cake comes out clean. Cool cake in tin on wire rack for 5 minutes. With palette knife, loosen cake from edge of tin; remove tin side. Loosen cake from tin base; slide on to wire rack to cool completely.

6. In frying pan over medium heat, cook almonds until golden, stirring frequently; cool.

7. Prepare chocolate cream filling. Spoon a small quantity of filling into piping bag with small star tube; set aside for decoration. Spoon another small quantity of filling into small bowl; reserve to cover side of cake later.

8. Break remaining chocolate into pieces; place in bowl over saucepan of gently simmering water. Add 2 tablespoons water to chocolate and heat, stirring frequently, until melted and smooth. Remove from heat.

9. With serrated knife, cut cake horizontally into 2 layers. Spread top cake layer with melted chocolate; leave to stand until chocolate sets slightly, about 10 minutes.

10. Meanwhile, place bottom cake layer, cut-side up, on cake place; spread with filling remaining in large bowl.

11. Cut top cake layer into 16 wedges. Place wedges on top of filling-covered cake layer. Use filling in small bowl to cover side of cake. Pat toasted almonds on to side of cake. Sift cocoa over top of cake. With knife, mark wedges to show servings. Use filling in piping bag to pipe rosette on top of each wedge. Refrigerate cake is not serving immediately.
Chocolate cream filling

In large bowl, with electric mixer, beat 750ml/1 1/4 pints double cream, 60g/2 oz cocoa powder, sifted, and 150g/5 oz caster sugar until stiff peaks form.

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chocolate

The a tasty secret of the cacao (kah KOW) tree was discovered 2,000 years ago in the tropical rainforests of the Americas. The pods of this tree contain seeds that can be processed into chocolate. The story of how chocolate grew from a local Mesoamerican beverage into global sweet encompasses many cultures and continents.

The first people known to have made chocolate were the ancient cultures of Mexico and Central America. These people, including the Maya and Aztec, mixed ground cacao seeds with various seasonings to make a spicy, frothy drink.

Later, the Spanish conquistadors brought the seeds back home to Spain, where new recipes were created. Eventually, and the drink’s popularity spread throughout Europe. Since then, new technologies and innovations have changed the texture and taste of chocolate, but it still remains one of the world’s favorite flavors.

Select which part of chocolate’s long history you’d like to explore first:

For a quick introduction to the life and times of chocolate, check out this brief summary spanning the centuries and civilizations conquered by cacao.

Unearth the ancient history of chocolate’s origins as a bitter but beloved beverage in Mesoamerican culture. You’ll discover chocolate’s significance in Maya and Aztec religious ceremonies and learn about the important role it played in social circles.

Explore the cultural exchange of chocolate as it crossed the ocean and traveled to Europe after the Spanish conquest of Mexico. You’ll learn how France, England, and other countries also made their mark on chocolate’s history.

Investigate the effects that new technological innovations of the Industrial Revolution had on chocolate. You’ll find out how it evolved from the sweet drink of kings into its current chocolate bar form loved by so many people today.