DANGEROUSLY RICH CHOCOLATE CARAMEL CAKE FROM ASTORIA
Description
(makes 1 x 28cm round cake)
This very large cake, a firm favourite at Astoria in Lambton Quay, Wellington, cuts easily into 16 slices and is so rich you may only be able to manage a smallish slice. For most unctuous results use 72% chocolate and dutched cocoa.
INGREDIENTS
300g (1 + 3/4 cups + 2 tbsp) dark chocolate buttons or slab, chopped
300g unsalted butter
85ml (1/3 cup) water
4 eggs
330g (1 + 1/2 cups + 3 tbsp) castor sugar
175g (1 + 1/4 cups) flour
2 tsp baking powder
50g (1/2 cup) cocoa powder
Caramel Topping Chocolate Ganache
METHOD
- Grease and line a loose-bottom 28cm round cake tin.
- Preheat oven to 160ºC.
- Place chocolate and butter in the top of a double boiler, set over a medium heat. Stir constantly till they just begin to melt. Remove from heat and continue to stir till both are melted. Stir in water and set aside to cool completely.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer place eggs and sugar and beat till mixture is a ribbon consistency. It will look thick and pale.
- Fold chocolate mixture into egg mixture.
- Sift together flour, baking powder and cocoa, and fold into chocolate mixture.
- Pour into prepared cake tin and bake 45-55 minutes or till cake bounces back when prodded with your finger. Remove from oven.
- Pour Caramel Topping over cake while it is still warm Place cake back in the oven for 5 minutes or till Caramel Topping has set.
- Remove from oven and cool.
- Pour Chocolate Ganache over cake and leave at room temperature for an hour, or till it has set.