Bitter Chocolate Cake Recipes

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven and prepare the pan: Preheat oven to 325°F. Prepare a rack in the center of the oven. Place a baking sheet in a rack below it (to catch any drippings or spill-overs). Generously butter the sides and bottom of a 9-inch or 10-inch springform pan. Add a few tablespoons of the sugar and gently shake so that all the sides and bottom of the pan are coated with sugar. Tap out the excess sugar.
• Serve: When ready to serve, sprinkle with powdered sugar.

GHIRARDELLI® MINI BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 15x10x1-inch baking pan. Line with parchment paper. Grease and flour the paper; set pan aside.
• In a small saucepan, place 3/4 cup of the dark chocolate baking chips with the shortening. Heat over low heat until melted and smooth; set aside to cool.
• In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon salt; set aside.
• In a large bowl, beat 3/4 cup butter with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add granulated sugar and beat 2 minutes more or until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating on low after each. Beat in chocolate mixture and vanilla. Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk into butter mixture, beating on low after each addition. Spread batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake about 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack.
• Meanwhile for the frosting: Melt the remaining 1 cup dark chocolate baking chips and cool. In a very large mixing bowl, beat 3/4 cup butter with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Beat in melted chocolate, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1 cup of the powdered sugar until combined. Beat in milk and vanilla. Gradually beat in the remaining powdered sugar. If necessary, beat in enough additional milk until smooth and spreadable.
• Cut rounds of the cake using a 3-inch round cutter or heart cutter.* Halve the cakes crosswise to form 2 thin layers. Spread frosting over each round (both layers). Stack one frosted round over the other. Sprinkle with mini baking chips.

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter and flour an 8-inch springform pan.
• Place a large heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water, making sure the water doesn't touch the bowl. Put the butter and chocolate in the bowl, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate melts. Take the bowl off the heat; set aside.
• Whisk the sugar into chocolate mixture, then whisk in eggs, coffee, and salt until combined and smooth. Sprinkle on the 1/4 cup flour and fold it in with a rubber spatula until flour is incorporated.
• Pour batter into the prepared pan; place it on a sheet pan. Bake 30 to 40 minutes, until the top puffs and cracks and cake doesn't wobble when you jiggle the pan. Cool completely on a wire rack. (The cake will deflate as it cools.) Run a small knife around edge of cake and remove sides of springform pan. Cut cake into wedges and serve warm or at room temperature with Sweetened Whipped Cream. If desired, garnish with additional chocolate. Serves 8. Sweetened Whipped Cream
• Pour 1 cup cold heavy cream into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Add 1 tablespoon sugar and 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract and beat on high until the cream forms soft peaks. Makes 2 cups.

BITTER CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 320F.
• Butter a 9 inch springform pan.
• Sprinkle bottom and sides with sugar.
• Tap out excess.
• Wrap foil around bottom and 2 inches up around outside of pan.
• Combine butter and chocolate and melt, stirring until smooth.
• Whisk eggs and sugar in a large bowl to blend.
• Mix in flour.
• Stir in warm chocolate and pour into pan.
• Set springform pan into a larger baking pan and pour enough boiling water in baking pan to come ½ inch up sides of cake.
• Bake until top is firm and toothpick inserted in center come out with a few moist crumbs attached, about 1 hour.
• Remove from water and cool completely.
• Transfer to platter; release pan sides.
• Serve with whipped cream.
• (a few choice raspberries wouldn’t be totally out of place here either.).

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Line bottom of 9-inch-diameter cake pan with 2-inch-high sides with waxed paper. Butter sides of pan and paper. Dust pan with flour. Melt chocolate and butter in top of double boiler over simmering water, stirring until smooth. Cool slightly.
• Whisk yolks and sugar in large bowl until pale yellow. Mix in flour, then chocolate mixture. Using electric mixer, beat whites in another bowl until stiff but not dry. Fold into chocolate mixture. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake until toothpick inserted into center comes out with only a few moist crumbs attached, about 25 minutes. Cool completely in pan on rack. Run small sharp knife around sides of pan to loosen cake. Turn cake out onto platter and cool. (Can be prepared 8 hours ahead. Cover with cake dome and let stand at room temperature.) Sift powered sugar over cake and serve.

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour an 8-inch springform pan.
• Place a large heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water, making sure the water doesn't touch the bowl. Put the butter and chocolate in the bowl, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate melts. Take the bowl off the heat and set aside.
• First, whisk the sugar into the chocolate mixture, then whisk in the eggs, coffee, and salt, whisking until the mixture is combined and smooth. Sprinkle on the flour and fold it in with a rubber spatula until it's incorporated.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and place it on a sheet pan. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes (see Cook's Note), until the top puffs up and cracks and the cake doesn't wobble when you jiggle the pan. (A toothpick will not come out clean.) Remove from the oven and cool completely on a baking rack. The cake will deflate as it cools. Run a small knife around the cake and remove the sides of the pan. Cut the cake in wedges and serve warm or at room temperature with sweetened whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, or crème fraîche.

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE CLOUD CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and position rack in the center.
• Pour 1/2 -inch water into a large roasting pan and place in oven. Butter the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Line the bottom of the pan with a round of parchment paper, cut to fit. Butter the paper. Wrap the outside of the pan tightly with a large piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil.
• Put 1 cup of sugar and the coffee in a medium saucepan over a high heat. Bring to boil, stirring occasionally to dissolve sugar. Remove from the heat add the chocolate and return to low heat. Keep stirring over heat until the chocolate is completely melted and the mixture is smooth. Remove from the heat and whisk in the cocoa powder and salt until smooth. Add brandy. Whisk in the egg yolks until no trace of yolk is left. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and set aside to cool for 10 minutes. Whisk the flour into the chocolate mixture.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the 6 egg whites with the cream of tartar on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add the remaining 1/3 cup sugar and beat on high until peaks are almost stiff.
• Stir about 1/4 of the egg whites into chocolate mixture (no need to fold at this point). Then gently fold in the remaining whites, 1/3 at a time, until no streaks of white remain. Pour into pan and smooth top. Bake in water bath for 35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out with a few moist crumbs clinging to it. Place cake on wire rack and let cool to room temperature. Remove sides of pan and carefully invert cake onto cardboard cake round or flat plate. Chill for at least 2 hours before glazing.
• Remove the cake from the refrigerator and place it on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Pour the chocolate glaze over the cake, covering it completely; spread evenly with a metal spatula. Serve the cake immediately or refrigerate. Bring the cake to room temperature before serving.
• Put chocolate in a medium bowl. In a small saucepan, bring the heavy cream to a gentle boil. Whisk in the honey. Pour the hot cream mixture over the chocolate and let the mixture stand for 30 seconds to melt the chocolate. Whisk the mixture until smooth. Cover the surface of the glaze with plastic wrap and set aside at room temperature for 30 minutes, or until slightly thickened.

DENSE BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Butter the sides and bottom of a 10-inch springform pan and set aside.
• In the top of a double boiler, combine the butter, chocolate and coffee and melt slowly, stirring occasionally, until smooth. Remove from the heat and let cool for 5 minutes.
• In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar and vanilla until frothy. Whisk the eggs into the melted chocolate until combined. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour and cool on a wire rack until it reaches room temperature.
• Remove the sides of the pan, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight, before serving.

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Melt chocolate and butter either in microwave or in hot water,cool slightly Whisk yolks and sugar then add flour and the chocolate mixture.
• Whisk egg whites till stiff but not dry (you can add a bit of sugar).
• Mix the whites to the flour mixture first two three spoons then the rest trying to keep the air in the whites Mix in the cocoa.
• Butter a 9 inch square baking pan or put in a wax paper, bake 32-33 minutes Serve with some powdered sugar on top.

BITTERSWEET FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Butter the sides and bottom of a 10-inch springform pan and set aside.
• In the top of a double boiler, combine the butter, chocolate and coffee and melt slowly, stirring occasionally, until smooth. Remove from the heat and let cool for 5 minutes.
• In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar and vanilla until frothy. Whisk the eggs into the melted chocolate until combined. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour and cool on a wire rack until it reaches room temperature.
• Remove the sides of the pan, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight, before serving.

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of an oven and preheat to 350°F
• Butter and flour an 8-inch springform pan with 2-inch sides.
• TO MAKE CAKE:
• In a bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa and espresso powder.
• Set aside.
• Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl and set over but not touching barely simmering water in a saucepan.
• Melt the chocolate, stirring occasionally.
• Remove the bowl from the heat and stir in the butter, a little at a time, until blended.
• Let cool slightly.
• In a large bowl, combine the egg yolks and superfine sugar.
• Using an electric mixer set on medium speed, beat until creamy, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Beat in the chocolate mixture until blended.
• Fold in the flour mixture and then the vanilla or Amaretto or rum flavoring or rum.
• In another large bowl, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form.
• Stir one-fourth of the whites into the batter, then fold in the remaining whites just until incorporated.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and level the top.
• Bake until the top is risen and crusty and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out almost clean, 30 to 35 minutes.
• The center should be soft and moist.
• Transfer the pan to a wire rack and cool for 10 to 15 minutes.
• The top will fall a bit.
• Remove the pan sides, loosen the cake's edges with a knife, and slide the warm cake onto a serving plate.
• WHIPPED CREAM TOPPING:.
• In a bowl, whisk together the cream and sour cream until slightly thickened.
• Whisk in the confectioners' sugar, orange zest and vanilla or Amaretto or rum flavoring or rum, until soft peaks form.
• Dust the warm cake with confectioners' sugar.
• Cut into slices and top with whipped cream topping and serve with fresh raspberries (raspberries are optional).
• ENJOY!

BITTER CHOCOLATE SOUFFLé CAKE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Bring a pan of water barely to a simmer. Place the chocolate and butter in a double boiler or metal mixing bowl and place over the pan of hot but not simmering water. Heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture has melted but is not too hot. Stir until smooth.
• 2. In a mixing bowl, whisk the egg yolks and 1/4 cup of sugar together until thickened slightly and lighter in color. Whisk in the flour and then the chocolate mixture.
• 3. Place the egg whites in a metal bowl and place over hot water until warmed slightly. Add 1 tablespoon of sugar and whip with an electric mixer on medium-low speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add 1 1/2 tablespoons more sugar. Turn the speed to high and add the last 1/2 tablespoon of sugar, whipping the whites to firm peaks.
• 4. Stir a third of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture. Fold in the remaining whites. Divide the batter among the tins. (The recipe can be made to this point up to 1 1/2 hours before serving; refrigerate).
• 5. Place the tins on a baking sheet and bake until the tops are puffed and feel firm to the touch but are very liquidy in the center, about 8 minutes (or a few minutes longer if they were cold).
• 6. Meanwhile, sift a little cocoa lightly over 8 dessert plates. Three minutes after the cakes are done, run the tip of a knife around the sides to loosen, and unmold the cakes onto the plates, rinsing the knife with hot water between each one. Serve immediately with vanilla ice cream or chocolate sorbet.