Chocolaty Almond and Pine Nut Cake
- 4 tablespoons currants or coarsely chopped raisins, seedless
- 1 tablespoon rum or brandy
- 1/4 cup almonds whole
- 3 tablespoons flour, all-purpose
- 3 ounces bittersweet chocolate about 70% chocolate, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder unsweetened, natural
- 1 cup sugar divided
- 18 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup water boiling
- 2 large egg yolks
- 4 large egg whites at room temperature
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1/4 cup pine nuts or slivered almonds
- Position a rack in bottom third of oven, preheat to 375AF.
- Line the bottom of an 8- or 9-inch springform pan (about 2 1/2 - inch deep) with parchment paper and very lightly spray the sides with cooking spray or brused with oil, or greased with butter.
- Put currants and rum or brandy in a small bowl.
- Press the fruit into the rum to cover, soak for at least 25 minutes.
- Add almonds and flour in a food processor or blender, process until very finely ground.
- Mix together chocolate, cocoa, 3/4 cup sugar and salt in a large bowl.
- Pour in boiling water.
- Whisk until the chocolate is completely melted.
- Whisk in egg yolks, the soaked currants and any remaining rum.
- Beat egg whites and cream of tartar in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form.
- Slowly sprinkle in the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and beat on high speed until the egg whites are stiff but not dry.
- Whisk the almond mixture into the chocolate mixture.
- Gently fold about one-fourth of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture to lighten it.
- Gently fold in the remaining egg whites until no white streaks remain.
- Transfer the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with a spatula.
- Sprinkle pine nuts or slivered almonds evenly on top.
- Bake until the cake rises and forms a very thin crust on top (check early and cover with foil papper if the top looks like itaTMs browning too quickly; it may crack a little), 22 to 26 minutes.
- A wooden stick inserted into the center will emerge still gooey and the center of the cake will jiggle a little when nudged.
- Allow to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack, about 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
- As it cools, the cake may sink a little and the top will look uneven and rustic.
- When completely cool, cover loosely with plastic wrap and keep at room temperature to serve the next day, if possible.
- To serve, remove the sides of the pan and transfer the cake to a serving plate.
currants, rum, almonds, flour, bittersweet chocolate, cocoa powder, sugar, salt, water boiling, egg yolks, egg whites, cream of tartar, pine nuts
Taken from recipeland.com/recipe/v/chocolaty-almond-pine-nut-cake-51797 (may not work)