how to say i love you in chocolate

          

   

as promised, today's post is the recipe for the very best chocolate cake i have ever had. anywhere. period.  the end. my mom has baked this cake for more family birthdays than i can count, and i have made it for parties, valentine's day, and anniversaries with the boyfriend (as seen above.)

the recipe originally comes from the splendid table, and there is a secret ingredient that really makes this cake the egg mcmuffin of cakes (sorry... it just came out): peanut butter. i can tell you're even more excited now!

without any further ado, here is the recipe! you now have the weekend to gather your ingredients, and i expect a full report (and pictures!) of your efforts if you make it :)

torta barozzi (from the splendid table)

ingredients:
½ cup almonds, toasted
2 ½ tablespoons confectioners' sugar
¼ cup cocoa

1 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter

3 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour

8 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

4 ounces sugar, plus an additional 2 tablespoons sugar

4 ½ tablespoons smooth peanut butter

4 large eggs, separated

6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled

½ ounce unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled

2 tablespoons instant espresso granules (or instant coffee), dissolved in 1 tablespoon boiling water

2 teaspoons dark rum

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

for garnish:

1 tablespoon cocoa

½ tablespoon confectioners' sugar

preliminaries: 

butter the bottom and sides of an 8-inch springform pan with the 1 tablespoon of butter. cut a circle of parchment paper to cover the bottom of the pan. butter the paper with 1/2 tablespoon butter and line the pan with it, butter side up. use the 3 to 4 tablespoons flour to coat the entire interior of the springform, shaking out any excess. preheat the oven to 375 F, and set a rack in the center of the oven. 

making almond powder: 

combine the almonds, the 2-1/2 tablespoons confectioner's sugar and the 1/4 cup cocoa in a food processor fitted with the steel blade. process until the almonds are a fine powder.

making the batter: 

using an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or a hand-held electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar at medium speed 8 to 10 minutes, or until almost white and very fluffy. scrape down the sides of the bowl several times during beating. beating the butter and sugar to absolute airiness ensures the torta's fine grain and melting lightness. still at medium speed, beat in the peanut butter. then beat in the egg yolks, two at a time, until smooth. reduce the speed to medium-low, and beat in the melted chocolates, the dissolved coffee, and the rum and vanilla. then use a big spatula to fold in the almond powder by hand, keeping the batter light.

whip the egg white to stiff peaks. lighten the chocolate batter by folding a quarter of the whites into it. then fold in the rest, keeping the mixture light but without leaving any streaks of white.

baking: 

turn the batter into the baking pan, gently smoothing the top. bake 15 minutes. then reduce the oven heat to 325 F and bake another 15 to 20 minutes, or until a tester inserted in the center of the cake comes out with a few streaks of thick batter. the cake will have puffed about two thirds of the way up the sides of the pan. cool the cake 10 minutes in the pan set on a rack. the cake will settle slightly but will remain level. spread a kitchen towel on a large plate, and turn the cake out onto it. peel off the parchment paper and cool the cake completely. then place a round cake plate on top of the cake and hold the two plates together as you flip them over so the torta is right side up on the cake plate.

serving: 

torta barozzi is moist and fudgy. just before serving, sift the tablespoon of cocoa over the cake. then top it with a sifting of the confectioner's sugar. (for a whimsical decoration, cut a large stencil of a letter or a heart out of paper or cardboard. set it in the center of the cake before dusting the entire top with the confectioner's sugar. carefully lift off the stencil once the sugar has settled.) serve the cake at room temperature, slicing it in small wedges.