Description
A Flourless Chocolate Almond Torte is a rich, dense, and slightly fudgy cake made without flour. Instead, it gets its structure from egg whites, dark chocolate, and almond meal (or finely ground almonds). This results in a dessert that is not only gluten-free but also packed with flavor. The combination of almonds and dark chocolate creates a luxurious texture and taste, making it a standout choice for any dessert lover.
Ingredients
For the Torte:
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8 oz dark chocolate (70% cocoa), chopped
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½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
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¾ cup granulated sugar, divided
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6 large eggs, separated
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1 cup finely ground almonds (almond flour)
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¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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½ teaspoon almond extract
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¼ teaspoon salt
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¼ cup sliced almonds for topping
For the Chocolate Ganache (Optional):
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4 oz dark chocolate, chopped
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½ cup heavy cream
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1 tablespoon butter
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1 tablespoon honey or corn syrup
For Serving:
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Powdered sugar for dusting
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Fresh berries (optional)
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Whipped cream (optional)
Instructions
Prepare the Torte:
- Preheat and Prep
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C)
- Grease a 9-inch springform pan
- Line bottom with parchment paper
- Dust sides with cocoa powder
- Melt Chocolate and Butter
- In a double boiler or microwave, melt chocolate and butter together
- Stir until smooth and let cool slightly
- Prepare Egg Yolks
- In a large bowl, whisk egg yolks with ½ cup sugar until pale and thick (3-4 minutes)
- Stir in melted chocolate mixture, vanilla, and almond extract
- Mix in ground almonds, cocoa powder, and salt
- Whip Egg Whites
- In a clean bowl, whip egg whites until soft peaks form
- Gradually add remaining ¼ cup sugar
- Continue whipping until stiff, glossy peaks form
- Fold and Combine
- Gently fold ⅓ of egg whites into chocolate mixture to lighten
- Carefully fold in remaining egg whites in two additions
- Don’t overmix – some white streaks are okay
- Bake
- Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth top
- Sprinkle with sliced almonds
- Bake for 35-40 minutes, until center is just set and slightly jiggly
- A toothpick should come out with moist crumbs
- Cool
- Cool completely in pan (cake will sink slightly – this is normal!)
- Run a knife around edges before removing from pan
Make the Ganache (optional):
- Prepare Ganache
- Heat cream in a small saucepan until just simmering
- Pour over chopped chocolate in a bowl
- Let sit 2 minutes, then stir until smooth
- Stir in butter and honey until glossy
- Let cool to spreadable consistency (15-20 minutes)
- Finish and Serve
- Remove torte from springform pan
- Spread ganache over top if using
- Dust with powdered sugar
- Garnish with berries if desired
Notes
For an elegant touch, dust the cooled torte with cocoa powder or powdered sugar before serving. It also pairs beautifully with fresh berries or a dollop of whipped cream for added indulgence.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 24g
- Sodium: 65mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: Moderate
Keywords: Flourless Chocolate Almond Torte Recipe