2drops vanilla extract(or ½ teaspoon vanilla powder)
pinchsalt(fleur de sel)
1tablespoonGrand Marnier® (or dark rum)optional
For the Glaze:
175g (6oz/scant cup)icing (confectioner's) sugar
1egg white
1teaspoonGrand Marnier ® (or dark rum)optional
1teaspoongingerbread or pumpkin spiceoptional
Instructions
To Make the Cake
Break the dark chocolate into bits in a bowl with the diced butter and place over a pan of simmering water (bain- marie). Ensure the water doesn't touch the bottom of the bowl so not to overcook the chocolate. Mix together until just melted and set aside.
Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/400°F/Gas 6. Grease a 20cm cake tin with a little butter.
Separate the eggs: place the 4 egg whites in a large clean bowl to whip them later. In another bowl, place the 3 egg yolks and whisk together with the sugar until light and creamy. Add the cornflour, vanilla and stir in the ground almonds. Add in the melted chocolate, alcohol if using, and mix together. Set aside at room temperature.
Whisk the egg whites with the salt in either a stand mixer or using an electric hand whisk. When the whites are whipped up and firm, gently fold into the chocolate and almond mixture.
Pour the batter into the cake tin and bake for about 20 minutes without browning the surface (a smaller, higher cake tin will need longer baking, about 30 minutes). Remove from the oven to cool then transfer to a wire rack to cool further.
Make the Glaze:
Mix together the egg white with the icing sugar and Grand Marnier (or rum) if using. Depending on the cake tin, there are 2 ways of baking the glaze:1) Directly in an easy-release cake tin: once the cake has cooled down (but still warm), spread on the glaze and return to the oven for no more than 5 minutes. Remove from the oven, leave to cool then turn out on a serving plate.2) Remove the cake from the tin and place on an ovenproof serving plate. Spread on the glaze then return to the oven for no more than 5 minutes. Remove from the oven then decorate, if desired.
Notes
To Serve: for special occasions such as Christmas, serve the cake topped with whipped cream laced with a little Grand Marnier® or rum or simply with a dollop of crème fraîche.Delicious served with Chai crème anglaise or chestnut and vanilla ice creamMeasures: Please note that all my recipes are best made using digital kitchen scales in precise metric grams. Both ounces (and cups) are given as an approximate guide.
Keyword chocolate almond cake, gluten free chocolate cake, reine de saba cake