Chocolate Ancho Chile Flourless Cake Recipes

FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE ANCHO CAKE

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.

CHOCOLATE-ANCHO CHILE FLOURLESS CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Lightly butter the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper and butter the paper. Set aside.
• In the top of a double boiler, melt the chocolate and butter over medium-low heat. Remove from the heat and whisk in the cocoa, chili powder, and salt.
• In a bowl, whisk together the egg yolks with 1/2 cup of the sugar until thick and pale yellow in color. Fold the chocolate mixture into the yolks and mix well.
• In another bowl, whisk the egg whites until thick. Whisking, add the remaining 1/2 cup sugar gradually and continue to beat to form a light meringue. In several additions, fold into the chocolate mixture, being careful not to deflate the meringue. Gently pour into the prepared pan and bake until the edges are set but the center is still moist and a few crumbs stick to a tester, about 45 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
• Run a thin, sharp knife around the edge of the cake. Remove the pan sides and gently lift away the cake. Invert onto a cake plate, remove the bottom and peel away the parchment.
• In a bowl, beat the cream with an electric mixer until frothy. Add the confectioners' sugar and cinnamon and continue to beat until the cream holds soft peaks.
• To serve, slice the cake with a portion of the sweetened whipped cream. Garnish with cocoa powder and serve.

CHOCOLATE CHILE CAKE

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.