Chocolate Pave
- Cocoa powder, for preparing the pan
- 1 cup (8 ounces/225 g) salted or unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 4 ounces (115 g) bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
- 4 ounces (115 g) unsweetened chocolate, chopped
- 6 large eggs, separated, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup (100 g) plus 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- Pinch of salt
- Powdered sugar, for dusting the cake
- Melted bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, for decorating the cake
- Preheat the oven to 350F (175C).
- Butter the bottom and sides of a 9-inch (23-cm) square cake pan, dust it with a bit of cocoa powder, then tap out any excess.
- Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper.
- In a large heatproof bowl, combine the butter and both chocolates.
- Set the bowl over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally until the mixture is melted and smooth.
- Remove the bowl from the heat.
- In a stand mixer fitted with the whip attachment, whisk together the egg yolks and 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar on high speed until the mixture leaves a defined ribbon on the surface when you lift the beater, about 5 minutes.
- Fold in the melted chocolate mixture until fully incorporated.
- In a clean, dry bowl and with a clean whip attachment, whisk the egg whites and salt on low speed until they form soft, wet peaks.
- Gradually beat in the remaining 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar and continue whisking at high speed until the whites hold stiff peaks.
- Fold the egg whites into the chocolate mixture just until there are no visible streaks of egg whites.
- Dont overfold.
- Scrape the batter into the prepared cake pan and gently smooth the top.
- Bake until just barely set in the center (it should still feel jiggly), about 35 minutes.
- The cake will rise as it bakes and form a slightly crackly top.
- Let cool about 15 minutes.
- Run a knife around the sides of the cake to help loosen it from the pan.
- Invert the cake onto a plate, peel off the parchment paper, and re-invert it onto a large platter or cutting board.
- Let cool completely.
- Dust the top of the cake with powdered sugar and cut the cake into squares.
- Dip a fork in melted chocolate and wave it back and forth over the cake, creating an abstract design on top.
- Serve each slab in a pool of creme anglaise (page 237).
- If you like, a handful of raspberries or a few Candied Cherries (page 250) are delicious alongside.
- This cake is best served the day its made.
- Leftover bits of Chocolate Pave are wonderful crumbled into just-churned ice cream, especially Caramel Ice Cream (page 144).
cocoa, butter, bittersweet, unsweetened chocolate, eggs, sugar, salt, powdered sugar, bittersweet
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/chocolate-pave-379514 (may not work)