How to Make a Flourless Chocolate Torte (Recipe)

This Flourless Chocolate Torte recipe is my "Go To" dessert.  For no other reason than it is incredibly rich, moist, deeply chocolatey, and easy to make. 

You can top it with the Easy Ganache in the recipe, or simply dust it with powdered sugar.  Serve it as it is, with berries, whip cream, or a scoop of ice cream.  I will tell you, it is best served warm.  

What is the difference between a cake and a torte?

A while ago, I was teaching a cooking class and someone asked: What is a torte?

The main ingredients in a cake are sugar, eggs, butter, and flour.  A torte uses little to no flour and uses ground nuts instead of flour. 

A cake rises higher and is lighter than a torte.  A torte uses whipped egg whites gently folded into the batter to help it rise.  Because of the gluten in the flour, a cake's texture is smooth and soft, whereas a torte's texture is heavier and more coarse. 

Typically a torte (like in this chocolate torte recipe) has a deeper flavor and is richer than a cake.

How to make this Flourless Chocolate Torte Recipe

For best results use good-quality chocolate like Valrhona or Ghirardelli. I've made this recipe in both a cake pan and a springform pan. Either one works well.

Ingredients

• 12 oz dark chocolate, chopped
• 8 oz butter
• 4 ounces of strong coffee
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup almond or hazelnut meal
• 7 large eggs, separated
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Heat the 12 oz chocolate, 2 sticks of butter, and 4 oz coffee until the chocolate has completely melted.
2. Stir to combine
3. Add 1 cup almond meal, 1 cup sugar (or sugar substitute like Truvia), 1 teaspoon vanilla, and ½ teaspoon kosher salt and mix well.
4. After the chocolate mixture has cooled, stir in 1 egg yolk (total of 7) at a time until each one is completely combined
5. In a stand mixer or with an electric mixer, whip the 7 egg whites on high speed until they form firm peaks and fold them into the batter
6. Line a 9-inch pan with parchment paper and spray well with non-stick spray
7. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan
8. Bake at 350F for 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.
9. Cool in the pan for 30 minutes. Then take it out of the pan and cool completely on a wire rack.

PRO TIP: When having to fill a small pan or muffin pan with batter, use a disher (ice cream scoop with lever) for an easy "pour."

Extra chocolate flavor: add 1 tablespoon cocoa powder in step 1.

VARIATION: Instead of using coffee, add 4 oz of your favorite liquor.  Spiced rum, Kahlua, Frangelico, and Grand Marnier are excellent choices.

Here's my step-by-step video:

But with Valentine's Day coming up, I thought, What the heck. Let's jazz it up with an easy chocolate ganache and raspberries!   I know, I know... chocolate and raspberries are a Valentine's Day cliche, but so what, it's delicious.  Think classic, not cliche.

By adding a few raspberries, you can create an elegant dessert...

Many times tortes are served with berries because they're light and have a fruity tartness to them that balances out the dense richness of this flourless chocolate cake.

Can a Flourless Chocolate Torte be Frozen?

This recipe freezes great.  To make serving it easy after freezing, cut it into individual slices before you freeze it.  Wrap each piece in wax paper and then plastic wrap. 

When you are ready to thaw it out, unwrap the piece and microwave it for 30 seconds, then at 10-second intervals until your desired temperature is reached.

Health Benefits of Chocolate

A great motto, even if it's a bit of a cliche, is everything in moderation. That's why it's a good thing to make this torte and freeze it in single portions so you're not tempted to eat it in one fell swoop. It's also great to have it on hand like this it makes dessert a snap for impromptu dinner parties!

Not that you need a reason to have a bit of chocolate now and then, but chocolate (especially dark chocolate) has some nice health benefits too.

• Dark chocolate cocoa has a large variety of antioxidants. In fact, it has more than most foods.
• The flavanoids in dark cocoa can increase blood flow and might lower blood pressure.
• Dark chocolate has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity.
• May reduce heart disease risk.
• The flavanol and caffeine in cocoa have been shown to increase blood flow in the brain which promotes clear thinking and short-term memory.

More Divine Desserts!

If you think this chocolate torte recipe looks good, check out this little collection of low carb and/or gluten free desserts that are to die for!

Happy Valentine's Day!

❤️