Flourless Chocolate Cake with Meringue
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A rich, slab of flourless chocolate cake topped with a light meringue — this cake is as impressive as it is delicious.
A fudgy slab of flourless chocolate cake topped with a marshmallowy Swiss meringue—this Passover-friendly, gluten-free dessert is as impressive as it is easy to make. The cake portion is a one-bowl, five-ingredient recipe that you mix up with a whisk. While the cake bakes, you whip up a Swiss meringue, a type of meringue made by whisking sugar and egg whites in a bowl over simmering water before whipping them to stiff peaks. Once the base of the cake is baked, you swirl the meringue dramatically over top, then briefly bake the cake until the meringue peaks are lightly golden.
What you’ll need to make flourless chocolate cake with Meringue
Step-by-Step Instructions
Begin by melting the butter in the microwave.
Immediately add the chopped chocolate.
Stir until completely melted and smooth.
Add the sugar and whisk to combine.
Whisk in the eggs one at a time.
Then add the cocoa powder.
Whisk until smooth and thickened.
Transfer the batter to a buttered 9-inch springform pan.
Bake for 30 minutes, or until set.
While the cake is baking, make the meringue topping. Combine the egg whites, sugar and cream of tartar in the bowl of a stand mixer (or any other large heatproof bowl) and whisk to combine. Set the bowl over a saucepan filled with 1/2-inch of simmering water, and whisk until the egg whites are very warm to the touch and the sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes.
Remove the bowl from the pan and attach it to the stand mixer. (Alternatively, a hand mixer can be used.) Fit the mixer with a very clean whisk attachment (or beaters if using a hand mixer).
Whisk on medium speed (or high if using a hand mixer) until the meringue is cooled, glossy and holds medium-firm peaks, about 5 to 6 minutes. You’ll know it’s ready when you lift the whisk out of the bowl and the meringue holds firm peaks that curl over.
Spoon the meringue over the hot cake, leaving a 1-inch border around the perimeter. Then use a small spoon to create dramatic swirls.
Place the cake back in the oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the meringue is lightly browned.
Let cool on a rack, then remove the sides of the springform pan and transfer to a serving platter.
Make-ahead note: The chocolate cake base may be made up to 2 days ahead of time, but wait until the day of serving to add the meringue (it is not necessary to heat the cake before adding the meringue topping).
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Flourless Chocolate Cake with Meringue
A rich, slab of flourless chocolate cake topped with a light meringue — this cake is as impressive as it is delicious.
Ingredients
For The Cake
- 1½ sticks (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, plus more for greasing the pan
- 6 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
- 1¼ cups sugar
- 5 large eggs
- ½ cup Dutch-process cocoa powder, sifted (see note)
For Meringue Topping
- 4 large egg whites
- ⅛ teaspoon cream of tartar
- ¾ cup sugar
Instructions
- Set a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350°F. Generously butter a 9-inch springform pan.
- In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter in the microwave until foamy (watch carefully so that it doesn't boil and splatter). Add the chopped chocolate and stir until completely melted and smooth. (If necessary, pop the bowl back into the microwave for 20 seconds to melt any remaining bits of chocolate.) Add the sugar and whisk until well combined. Whisk in the eggs one at a time. Whisk in the cocoa powder, using a folding motion at first so it doesn't fly out of the bowl. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes, or until the cake is set.
- While the cake bakes, make the meringue topping. Bring ½-inch of water to a boil in a small sauce pan, then lower the heat so that the water just simmers. Combine the egg whites, cream of tartar, and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer (or any large heatproof bowl). Set the bowl over the pan of simmering water, making sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. Whisk gently for about 3 minutes, until the egg whites are hot to the touch and the sugar is dissolved. Remove the bowl from the pan and attach it to the stand mixer. (Alternatively, a hand mixer can be used.) Fit the mixer with the whisk attachment (or beaters if using a hand mixer) and whisk on medium speed (or high if using a hand mixer) until the meringue is cooled, glossy and stiff, 5 to 6 minutes. You'll know it's ready when you lift the whisk out of the bowl and the meringue holds a firm peak that curls over. Set aside until the cake is done.
- When the cake comes out of the oven, give the meringue a quick whisk, then pile it onto the the hot cake, leaving a 1-inch border around the perimeter (it may spread a little and you don't want it to touch the sides of the pan). Use a small spoon to swirl it into dramatic peaks.
- Place the cake back into the oven for 10 to 12 minutes, until the meringue peaks are lightly browned. Let the cake cool on a rack for about 15 minutes, then run a sharp knife around the edges, if necessary, to loosen any meringue that may have stuck to the sides. Carefully remove the sides of the springform pan. Transfer the cake to a platter and serve at room temperature. (Removing the base of the springform pan is optional: to do so, simply slide a large spatula underneath the cake and lift it off -- it is pretty sturdy.) To make neat slices through the meringue, wipe the knife clean between slices.
- Note: The chocolate cake base may be made up to 2 days ahead of time. Once cool, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator. Wait until a few hours before serving to add the meringue (it is not necessary to heat the cake before adding the meringue, but do let it come to room temperature).
- Note: The easiest way to sift the cocoa powder is to pass it through a fine mesh sieve when adding it to the cake batter.
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (12 servings)
- Serving size: 1 slice
- Calories: 343
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated fat: 11 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Sugar: 41 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Sodium: 52 mg
- Cholesterol: 108 mg
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Gluten-Free Adaptable Note
To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.
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Hi, instead of your macaroons (which we love!) I’m making this for Passover….and then traveling with it. Would you suggest that I leave it in the pan and just remove it when I get to my destination? Or am I better off removing and putting it in a cake carrier? I can make the cake the day before if that makes a difference.
Hi Sheri, I think you could transport it either way. But regardless of whether or not you still have it in the pan, I would put it in the cake carrier as the meringue is a little fragile and the cake carrier will protect it. Hope everyone enjoys!
This was a HUGE hit last night! However, after 3 hours in the car the meringue sort of “leaked” – the top of the cake under the meringue was wet and there was liquid coming out of the pan. We put it in the fridge during the seder and took it out a few minutes before serving. Still tasted awesome and no one was wiser for it! Was surprised that no one else experienced this, though.
Hi Jenn!
Can I use Dutch cocoa powder here instead of the natural one? Will it clash with the natural chocolate bar?
By the way, I made your Snickerdoodles and double chocolate chip cookies and they are awesome.
Thank you!
Hi Patricia, I made it with the natural cocoa powder here, but I think you could get away with using Dutch cocoa powder here. And glad you enjoyed the cookies :).
Quick question – can I used dutch-processed cocoa or would you recommend natural cocoa? Thanks!
Hi Sally, I recommend natural cocoa since that’s what I tested the recipe with. However, this is not one of those recipes where it would really make a big difference since there’s no flour or leavening agent. If you really prefer the flavor of Dutch-process, it will work here too.
Hello! I am making this today, but I could only get one semi sweet bar, 4oz. Is it okay to add 2 oz chocolate chips to make it to 6? Everyone is shopping for chocolate here in New York!
Yes that’s fine, Lora. Enjoy!
This was supper easy, beautiful and a great success, just like the other two recipes I have tried from this site! I had no idea I could bake! Thank you!!!
Hi Jen,
How far ahead can you make the meringue for the cake and then leave the cake out? I am having people for dinner and would like to have the cake finished before they arrive.
You can make the cake up to 2 days ahead and leave it out at room temp. I would wait to add the meringue until the day of and you can do that a few hours before your guests arrive.
Hey Jen, can I make this with your chocolate ganache as a topping instead of the meringue? Have you tried it that way?
Hi Erin, You could definitely do that, although it will be very rich — not necessarily a bad thing 😉 It’s also good with whipped cream or a simple dusting of powdered sugar.
Hello! I am making the flour less chocolate cake with meringue. If I am serving it tomorrow but making it today, do I refrigerate it until then or leave it out? Thank you!
It’s best to leave it out at room temp. And I would wait to add the meringue until the day of, or you can just leave it off and serve with whipped cream. Enjoy!
Hi, Jenn. Do you think the mascarpone topping from your Double-Chocolate Pavlova recipe would work on the Flourless Chocolate Cake? I’m thinking of subbing in the mascarpone topping for the meringue. Thanks!
Yes, I do think that would work– let me know how it turns out!
Do you think this recipe would work using Stevia instead of sugar? I would love to try this however am trying to stay away from sugar.
Thanks
I’ve made this recipe 2 times in the last month. Perfect every time. I did not make the meringue with it, but instead served it one time with a raspberry sauce. All guests enjoyed the deep rich flavor. Absolutely a favorite!