Flourless Chocolate Cake

This story has a few parts to it. First off, a bittersweet beginning of a going-away party for a friend moving away for a new job. What more appropriate pairing than extra dark chocolate?

I decided to make Paula Deen's Flourless Deep Dark Chocolate Truffle Cake, found via Bakerella.

This is a very, very rich cake that puffs up as it bakes and then settles back down to become a deliciously rich, heavy cake. I typically don't make cakes that are this decadent, but why hold back when you're saying goodbye? (Goodbye for now - that is!)

Everything was going splendidly, until the cake was finished baking. Looking at this souffle-like concoction, fresh from the oven, I had the brilliant last-minute idea to turn the cake upside down to cool so that it would maintain its light structure. Unfortunately, the cake had a different idea.

This is what happens when you take a freshly-baked cake (in a well-buttered pan) and unceremoniously dump it all over your stove:

It wasn't just a minor crack, or a split down the middle. It was complete disintegration. The cake came out of the pan far more eagerly than I could ever imagine, and instead of having a cake to cool and ice, I was staring at what looked like a pile of compost on my stove.

After taking a few minutes to compose myself, I scraped up the steaming heap of cake into the pan and started from the beginning with a second cake. This time, I left it securely in the pan to cool overnight to start again in the morning.

That's better.

So what goes well with chocolate? More chocolate!

(And raspberries).

The cake was far too delicate to torte and layer, so instead, it was used as a base for dark chocolate ganache and raspberries piled up on top.

The evening was to be a classy affair, so flourishes and arabesque designs were deemed appropriate for the occasion. Plus, they're quick and easy to pipe and are very forgiving. Paired with a three-headed frosted glass cake stand (found at Value Village, of all places), and it was dressed to impress.

Close up of the piping:

In the end, it turned out quite well and I am glad that I stuck through with it. In the end, it's always worth the extra effort (Especially when it's for friends!).