Tried and Tested: Julia Childs Chocolate Cake with Almonds

picture borrowed from http://www.klikk.no but the cake really turned out just like the picture!

It has been a while since I posted any new cake recipes. 

I simply have not had much time lately for baking, and also I tend to use over and over again the tried and tested recipes.

On the weekend I decided to try a new cake as we celebrated again my in-laws joint birthdays (their birthdays are only one day apart!).

This is the famous Julia Child's Chocolate Cake with almonds.

I understand why this is also famous!

It is very nice and the almonds make it both dense and moist.

It will be a new favourite.

1

Melt 120 gram good quality chocolate in a water bath (bain marie) together with

2 tablespoons of rum, coffee or cognac (I used coffee)

2

Whisk 100 grams of butter and

100 grams of sugar till it is fluffy and white

Add the melted chocolate to the butter/sugar mix

3

Add 3 egg yolks (whisk them well before adding to the butter/sugar/chocolate mix)

4

Whisk 3 egg whites stiff with

1 tablespoon of sugar and

a pinch of salt

5

Mix 50 grams of ground almonds and 50 grams of flour

6

Fold in carefully the egg whites and sift in the almond/flour mix alternate times into the butter/sugar/chocolate/egg yolk mix.

Add a couple of drops of almond essence or vanilla essence, if you like

7

Bake at 175 degrees in the middle of the oven for about 20-25 minutes.

Keep an eye on it. It should be a little wobbly in the middle when you take it out.

8

Let the cake cool

9

Topping:

Melt in a water bath 100 grams good quality chocolate

(you might want to add a little sugar if you use very dark chocolate)

Add 5 tablespoons of melted butter and

2 tablespoons of coffee/dark rum or cognac (again I prefer coffee)

Whisk the melted chocolate mixture till it cools and thickens.

10

Pour the topping over the cooled cake and spread it evenly.

11

Decorate with flaked almonds, if you like.

This is my contribution to Sota Saker's monthly challenge which this month's theme is "Give Away".
Not sure you manage to give this one away...
Better bake two!