Flourless Chocolate Cake compliments of Viking River & Ocean Cruises & Cruises-N-More

This dense moist cake is like a giant chocolate truffle—crunchy on top with a deliciously fudgy center. Extremely rich yet so simple to make, it is popular all year round. It is gluten-free and you can even make it in advance—just take it out of the refrigerator an hour before serving–it tastes even better the second day.

Ingredients

• 8 oz (227 g) dark chocolate, chopped
• 3 T (21 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
• ¼ tsp (1 g) baking powder
• ¼ tsp (1 g) salt
• 6 T (86 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 C (192 g) sugar
• 4 lg eggs
• 1¼ tsp (6 ml) vanilla extract
• ½ C (43 g) walnuts, ground
• ¾ C (87 g) walnuts, chopped

Garnish

• ¾ C (165 g) heavy cream, whipped
• ¼ C (25 g) chocolate shavings
• 1 C (125 g) raspberries or raspberry sauce

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease an 8-inch springform pan with a small amount of butter. Melt chocolate in a microwave on high in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until chocolate is fully melted and smooth; set aside. Combine cocoa, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. In a separate bowl, beat together butter and sugar; add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, and continue beating until mixture is pale and creamy, about 5 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Add chocolate; beat until just blended. Fold in ground walnuts, chopped walnuts and cocoa mixture. Pour into prepared pan and bake until cooked through, about 35 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack. Run a small knife around edges of springform pan before releasing cake. Serve at room temperature, topping with one or more of garnishes to taste.

Prep time: 15 minutes. Cook time: 35 minutes. Makes 8 servings.