ITALIAN CHOCOLATE CAPRESE CAKE
A rich , delicious chocolate cake originating from Capri , Italy .
• 1 1 / 4 cups of dark chocolate , chopped ( 60 % cacao )
• 2 cups almond flour
• 1 1 / 2 sticks butter ( 12 tablespoons )
• 1 cup of sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 / 4 teaspoon salt
Heat a double boiler over simmering water . Add chocolate and butter and stir until melted . Turn off heat . ( You can also do this with a large bowl over a pan of simmering water or in the microwave in 15 second intervals .)
Separate the egg whites from the yolks . Place whites in one mixing bowl and the yolks in another . Add the sugar to the egg yolks . Beat on high with an electric mixer until mixture is pale and frothy , around 3 minutes . Beat in the melted chocolate mixture , then salt and almond flour .
Beat the egg whites on high speed for about five minutes or until stiff peaks form . Add about 1 / 3 of the egg whites into the yolk-chocolate mixture and use a spatula to fold it into the batter . Add the remaining egg whites and , this time , use your hands to fold into the batter until fully incorporated . Line the bottom of an 8 or 10 inch cake pan with parchment paper and grease with butter or cooking spray . Pour the batter into the prepared pan . Bake at 350 ° F for 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean .
Run an offset spatula around the edge of the cake . Let cool for 10 minutes . Turn the cake out on a plate and remove the paper . Sprinkle the top with powdered sugar and / or decorate with some halved strawberries .
Recipes by Sabor a Pasion Estate & Vineyards , Palestine , TX , www . saborapasion . com , 903-729-9500
Chef Simon Webster cooks a handmade pizza in one of Sabor a Pasion ’ s two wood-fired pizza ovens . COURTESY PHOTO | PALESTINE HERALD-PRESS
PALESTINE MAGAZINE | SPRING 2022 | 19