Chocolate Intensity

Flourless chocolate "cake" from Tish Boyle's the cake book. A chocolate lover's dream.

• Ready In: 1 hr 15 mins
• Serves: 10

Ingredients

• 8  ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped (preferably 62% cocoa)
• 12  ounces unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 1  cup granulated sugar
• 1⁄2 cup brewed coffee
• 6  large eggs
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1⁄8 teaspoon salt

• Ganache

• 6  ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 2⁄3 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350º F. Butter the bottom and sides of a 9-inch round cake pan. Line the bottom with a parchment round and butter the parchment. (If you're using a pan with a removable bottom like a springform, make sure to wrap the pan with 2 or 3 layers of foil.).
2. Place chopped chocolate in a large bowl.
3. In a saucepan over medium-high heat, stir butter, sugar and coffee until the butter is melted and mixture is boiling. Pour the hot mixture over your chopped chocolate. Let stand for 1 minute then gently stir until chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth.
4. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs vigorously until blended. Whisk in the vanilla and salt. Slowly add about 3/4 cup hot chocolate mixture to the eggs, whisking constantly. (Tempering the eggs with a little bit of the hot chocolate mixture will prevent "scrambled eggs" when combining the two mixtures.) Add the egg mixture to the hot chocolate mixture and whisk to combine well.
5. Strain the batter through a sieve (to catch any cooked egg bits) and then pour batter into prepared pan. Set cake pan in a large roasting pan and fill the pan with enough hot water to come halfway up the sides of the cake pan. Bake for 35-45 minutes, until the center is shiny and set but still a bit jiggly. Transfer cake pan to a cooling rack and cool for 20 minutes.
6. Run a thin knife around the edge of the pan to loosen the cake. Place a cardboard round on top of the pan and invert the cake onto it. Remove pan and carefully remove the parchment paper. Refrigerate the cake for at least 2 hours before glazing with chocolate glaze.
7. Place chopped chocolate in a medium bowl.
8. In a small saucepan, bring the cream to a boil. Remove pan from heat and add the chopped chocolate. Let stand for 1 minute then gently stir until chocolate is melted and the glaze is smooth. Gently stir in the vanilla. Transfer glaze to a small bowl and cover the surface of the glaze with plastic wrap and let cool for 5 minutes at room temperature before using.