Chocolate Ancho Chile Flourless Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F and butter the inside of a spring-form pan. Melt the chocolate and butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat; stirring frequently until smooth. Stir in the sugar, cocoa powder and salt until all of the lumps are gone. Remove from the heat and let cool for a few minutes.
• Meanwhile, beat the egg whites in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until they form stiff peaks, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Stir the egg yolks into the cooled chocolate mixture, then stir in about a quarter of the whipped egg whites. Scrape this lightened chocolate mixture into the remaining whipped egg whites and gently fold until mostly combined (it's ok if there are some streaks of egg white). Pour into the prepared pan and bake until the center of the cake no longer wiggles, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan, on a wire rack (the cake will deflate slightly). Unlock the pan and dust the top of the cake with some cocoa powder. Cut into slices and serve with whipped cream.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Prepare a 9-inch spring form pan: Cut a circle of parchment the size of the removable bottom of the pan. Fit the parchment circle into the bottom of the pan. Tear off an 18-inch length of aluminum foil. Center the pan over the sheet of foil and crumple and crimp the foil all around the sides of the pan. (The foil will prevent water from seeping into the pan during baking.) Set the pan aside.
• In a medium saucepan, bring the espresso, brown sugar and the cinnamon sticks to a simmer over very low heat. Simmer until the syrup is very fragrant, about 20 minutes. Stir in the butter until melted, and then stir in the cayenne pepper. Set aside.
• Pulse the chocolate in the food processor until coarsely chopped. Transfer to a deep bowl. Pour in the warm coffee syrup and whisk until the chocolate is completely melted. Whisk in the beaten eggs until completely blended.
• Scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Set the pan in a large, deep, oven-proof skillet or a roasting pan and set on the oven rack. Pour in enough water to come halfway up the sides of the pan. Bake until center is set and barely wiggles when you shake the pan gently, 50 to 60 minutes.
• Cool the cake to room temperature. Remove the foil and chill the cake in the pan at least 8 hours. Run a wet knife around the sides of the pan then pop the spring to release. Place a platter on top of the cake and flip over. Remove the bottom of the pan, and peel off the parchment. Serve with cinnamon ice cream and raspberries.

Steps:

• Heat Oven to 350°F.
• Lightly spray bottom and sides of 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray; dust sides of pan with 2 tsp. sugar. Set aside.
• Place chocolate and butter in large microwaveable bowl. Microwave on HIGH 1-1/2 min., stirring every 30 sec., or until completely melted. Stir in 1/2 cup sugar. Add egg yolks, one at a time, stirring well after each addition. Stir in sour cream and ground ancho pepper; set aside. Beat egg whites in medium bowl with electric mixer on high speed 1 to 2 min. or until soft peaks form. Gently stir egg whites into chocolate mixture, in 3 batches, with rubber spatula. Spoon batter into prepared pan.
• Bake 35 min. or until wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs attached. Cool in pan on wire rack 10 min. Remove from pan to rack. Cool completely. Serve cake slices topped with 1 Tbsp. whipped topping.

Steps:

• For the cake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and place a rack in the center of the oven.
• Butter two 9-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with circles of parchment or waxed paper.
• Lightly dust the sides of the pans with flour, tapping out the excess.
• For best results, use a mixer with a wire whip attachment.
• Combine the flours, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa and beat on low speed until well mixed.
• In a medium saucepan, cook 1 cup of the water with the chili powder over medium heat until simmering.
• Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
• Add the softened butter to the dry mixture and beat thoroughly on medium-low speed.
• The mixture should be grainy.
• Raise the speed to medium and gradually add the remaining cup of water and the buttermilk.
• Add the eggs on at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Slowly add the hot water/chile mixture and continue to beat just until well combined--be sure not to overbeat.
• Pour the mixture into the pans and bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the centers of the cake comes out clean.
• To cool, set the pans on a wire rack for 15 minutes.
• Then turn the cakes out onto the rack, remove the paper from the bottom, and immediately reinvert so that the risen tops don't flatten.
• Let sit until completely cool before frosting.
• For the frosting, combine the butter and cocoa in a large saucepan and melt over medium heat.
• Stir in the buttermilk.
• Add the confectioners' sugar a little at a time, stirring with a wired whisk between additions.
• Stir in the bourbon and vanilla.
• The frosting should stiffen as it cools.
• When it has reached a spreadable consistency, assemble the cake.
• If necessary, trim the tops of the cakes so they are level.
• Place one of the cake layers onto a 9-inch round cardboard cake circle.
• Spread 1 cup of the chilled frosting over the cake layer.
• Sprinkle 1 cup of the chopped walnuts over the frosting.
• Place the second layer of the cake onto the frosted base.
• Use the remaining frosting to cover the top and sides of the cake.
• Finish the top of the cake by holding the spatula at a slight angle and making several strokes to smooth the top.
• To decorate the cake, press the remaining walnuts against the lower half of the side of the cake and on top of the cake.