Il Cucinologo
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Double Chocolate Cake

17/11/2023

The double chocolate cake is a classic dessert that chocolate lovers adore. Here is a version with an Italian touch, perhaps imagining it as a tribute to Modica chocolate, famous for its artisanal processing.

Ingredients

  • 200 g high-quality dark chocolate (preferably Italian like that from Modica)
  • 200 g unsalted butter
  • 150 g sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 100 g 00 flour
  • 30 g unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 100 g milk chocolate (coarsely chopped)
  • Powdered sugar (for decorating, optional)

Preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 175 °C and butter a round baking pan (about 22-24 cm in diameter), then line it with parchment paper.
  2. Melt the dark chocolate in a double boiler together with the butter, being careful not to let water get into the chocolate. The two ingredients should blend well and become a smooth cream.
  3. Remove the butter and chocolate cream from the double boiler and let it cool slightly. Meanwhile, in a bowl, beat the eggs with the sugar until they become light and frothy.
  4. Gently add the cooled butter and chocolate mixture to the egg and sugar mix, then incorporate the vanilla extract.
  5. In another bowl, sift together the flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, and the pinch of salt, then carefully fold them into the wet mixture, stirring until you obtain a smooth batter without lumps.
  6. Finally, fold in the chopped milk chocolate. This will add a double chocolate texture to the cake.
  7. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 25-30 minutes. Remember that the center of the cake should still be slightly moist to the touch. Do not overbake to maintain the internal moisture that characterizes this cake.
  8. Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before removing it.
  9. Once cooled, you can dust it with powdered sugar to taste.

Trivia

The double chocolate cake is perfect to serve at any time of day. In Italy, it is common to accompany a slice of this cake with a good espresso, a tradition that enhances the chocolate flavor through the contrast with the bitter coffee. Additionally, you can enrich it with a chocolate ganache or serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a truly indulgent dessert.