Flourless Chocolate Cake with Rich Fudge Sauce

Flourless chocolate cake

Prep Time	Cook Time	Serves
20 mins for cake + 5 minutes for sauce	50 mins for cake + 5 minutes for sauce	6

Ingredients

• 250g dark chocolate, chopped
• 100g unsalted butter, chopped
• 1/2 cup strong black coffee
• 2 tsp vanilla essence
• 6 eggs, separated
• 1/2 cup caster sugar
• 200g ground almonds
• Extra 1 tbsp caster sugar
• Sifted cocoa, for dusting

This chocolate almond cake with rich fudge sauce is flourless. Great served warm with a scoop of ice-cream or a spoonful of softly whipped cream. The fudge sauce can be poured over hot, or wait till it cools then spoon over a generous dollop.

Here's how

1.  Preheat oven to moderate 180C. Brush a deep 20cm-round cake tin with melted butter and line the base and sides with baking paper. Place chocolate, butter, coffee and vanilla into a heavy-based pan and stir over a low heat until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Remove from the heat and cool until lukewarm.

2. Place egg yolks and sugar into the small bowl of an electric mixer and beat until the mixture is light and creamy. Gradually add the chocolate mixture and beat on low until just combined. Transfer to a large bowl. Add almond meal and mix well. Wash and dry the beaters.

3. Place eggwhites in the large bowl of an electric mixer and beat on high until soft peaks form. Add the extra sugar and beat for 1 minute longer. Add eggwhites to the chocolate and fold through using a large metal spoon.

4.  Pour mixture into prepared tin. Gently shake tin to settle the mixture. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until cooked through when tested with a skewer inserted in the centre. Leave in the tin for 5 minutes before turning onto a wire rack to cool. Dust with sifted cocoa powder, if desired. Serve with rich fudge sauce.

Rich fudge sauce

• 300ml thickened cream
• 200g dark chocolate, chopped
• 100g marshmallows, chopped
• 1/4 cup Kahlua or Tia Maria

Put cream, chocolate and marshmallows in a heavy-based pan. Stir over a low heat until smooth and melted. Remove from the heat and stir in the Kahlua or Tia Maria. The sauce will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.