Depending on the type of chocolate you use, sometimes the top gets all crackly and shiny, like a really good brownie. It’s also relatively foolproof in my experience, and can withstand just about any variation you throw at it. Sometimes I use all dark chocolate, sometimes I use semisweet and dark. I’ve varied the brand of chocolate I use. I’ve tried European-style butter and regular old grocery store butter. I sometimes add a little flour, and sometimes I don’t. I’ve tested it with a little gluten-free flour, and that works fine, too. I’ve baked it in numerous ovens in numerous kitchens. I’ve made it in 9” pans and 8” pans and once, as mini brownie-style cakes.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line an 8” or 9” pan (a springform is ideal) with parchment and grease the parchment and sides of the pan well.
In a large heatproof bowl over a double boiler (or you can do this in the microwave), melt the chocolate with the butter until smooth.
Add the sugar, salt, and espresso powder (if using), and stir well, then set it aside to cool just slightly. Continue whisking after a few minutes; it’s okay if it’s gritty-looking, it’ll smooth out as you go.
Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well between each addition. Continue mixing until the batter is smooth and shiny.
Pour it into your prepared pan and bake for about 25 minutes—note that depending on your pan size and oven, I find that the bake time can vary pretty dramatically with this cake. I recommend starting to check at 20 minutes but knowing that it could take considerably longer than 25 minutes. You’ll know it’s done with the cake looks mostly set on the top but just slightly jiggles still in the center.
Remove from the oven, run a knife around the edges to loosen it, and let it cool for at least 20 minutes.
Serve it warm or cold. It’s excellent the next day, and even better I think if you freeze it.
• Try adding any of the following spices to take it in new spicy directions: Urfa, Apollonia, Cara
• Add variety while keeping it gluten-free by topping with toasted coconut flakes, brown-butter toasted nuts, and/or homemade freezer ice-cream.
• Make two half-height cakes in spring-form pans. Using a spring-form pan makes it easy to unmold and serve, and the disc of parchment at the bottom will protect the pan when cutting.
Baking time should be closer to 18-25 minutes depending on your oven.
When completely cooled add a layer of ice cream to the top of one of the cakes, top with the other cake (remove the parchment disc) and one more layer of ice cream, and freeze in the pan for 3 hours or overnight for a fun and easy ice cream cake.
You can even mix spiced chocolate chips into the ice cream for more spicy and fun flavors.
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