Chocolate Cake

Step 1/7

• 125 g sugar
• 50 g brown sugar
• 25 g salted caramel
• 25 ml coffee
• 25 g unsweetened cocoa powder
• 75 g oil
• 25 g butter
• 2 egg yolks
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp pink peppercorns

• springform pan (9 in.)
• bowl
• stand mixer with whisk

Heat the oven to 190 C and prepare a 20-23cm springform pan. Add both sugars, caramel, coffee, cocoa powder, oil and butter to a bowl, mix well. Add in the yolks, vanilla extract and peppercorn. Whisk until creamy.

Step 2/7

• 250 g flour
• 1¼ tsp baking powder
• ¾ tsp baking soda
• 50 ml red wine

• sieve

Sift half of the flour over the mixture and whisk to incorporate. Add the wine, whisk slowly for a few times, then sift the rest of flour and both baking agents. Mix until just combined.

Step 3/7

• 2 egg whites
• ½ tsp salt

• bowl
• rubber spatula
• wire rack

Whisk the egg whites and salt in a bowl until stiff peaks form. In batches, fold the egg whites with the cake mixture. Scrape the batter to the pan and bake for 20-25 min. Reduce the oven temperature to 160 C and bake for another 5-10 min. until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from the oven and cool on a rack.

Step 4/7

• 75 g yogurt
• 125 g sour cherry jam

• immersion blender

With an immersion blender, finely mix the yogurt and jam to a semi-thick puree; set aside. The yogurt must be very thick itself. If not, use the same amount of sour cream or cream cheese instead.

Step 5/7

• 25 g butter
• 50 g salted caramel
• 50 g bittersweet chocolate
• 2 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder

• heatproof bowl (small)
• pot (small)

Add the butter and caramel to a small bowl set over a pot of simmering water. Remove from the heat as they start melting. Chop the chocolate, reserve a tbsp for decoration, add the rest along with the cocoa powder to the bowl. Stir until smooth.

Step 6/7

Halve the cooled cake horizontally. Keep a tbsp of each chocolate glaze and jam spread for decoration. Spread remaining of chocolate glaze over the bottom, followed by a layer of remaining jam mixture. Top with the upper layer of cake.

Step 7/7

• cake platter

Transfer the cake to a cake platter. Garnish with reserved chocolate glaze, jam spread and chopped chocolate. Enjoy!

Enjoy your meal!