Flourless Chocolate Cake

Author Notes

This is an improvisation on a cake from my Gourmet cookbook—I use a bit less sugar, for a richer flavor, and beat the egg whites for much better structure. This is wonderful for dinner parties or a quickie hostess gift, and children adore it. For the latter group, I like to cut out a shape (recently I used a trumpet for a Music Man cast party), lay it in the center of the cake held down with dimes, then sift powdered sugar over it. Carefully remove the paper pattern and, voilà, a themed cake. You can halve this recipe and make in an 8-inch cake pan for smaller groups. —Jestei

Test Kitchen Notes

A delicious flourless chocolate cake is perfect for Passover and beyond. This recipe doesn't get much easier and features ingredients that you probably already have and need to use up. All you need is some chocolate, butter, sugar, eggs, cocoa powder, and sea salt. For the best results, though, you should seek out the highest-quality bittersweet chocolate you can find; it'll make all the difference in the final taste and texture. To make the cake, you don't even have to use the stovetop, as you can melt the butter and chocolate pieces in the microwave. Doesn't get much more convenient than that. Once the butter and chocolate are melted, just whisk in the sugar, then add the egg yolks, cocoa, and salt. You don't have to use a stand mixer to beat the egg whites, but that makes this step go the fastest—you can definitely use an electric hand mixer or the power of your own arm if you'd like (it's a good workout!). It'll make the cake super light and fluffy, and well worth the extra step.

If you want to go a little fancier with the toppings (even though a light dusting of powdered sugar is always a classic choice), you could also make some homemade whipped cream and decorate the cake with fresh fruit. You could also serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Or garnish with fruit peels shaved into ribbons for a creative presentation. The possibilities are endless—let us know how your cake works out in the comments below. —The Editors