I’m celebrating the commencement of the holidays today, with romance authors and bloggers during the Romance Troupe’s Home for the Holidays blog hop. And what makes the holidays homey and memorable for all of us? The FOOD!
I love cooking for the holidays, seeing my family and friends enjoy things that I’ve made. I give away goodies for gifts (men especially like this) and look forward to holiday parties that give me a reason to cook. Now the clean-up… that’s something I never look forward to!
So I thought I’d share this super easy, low mess, divine chocolate flourless cake recipe. A co-worker, who has to eat gluten free, made it for a department party. It tastes like chocolate melting on your tongue. Best of all? It can be made ahead of time and stored or frozen. I hope it makes your holiday season easy and enjoyable!
Flourless Chocolate Cake
4 oz. fine quality bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened)
1 stick unsalted butter (1/2 cup)
3/4 cup sugar
3 large eggs
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
Powdered sugar for sprinkling
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Flour and butter an 8 inch round baking pan. Line the bottom of pan with a round of wax paper; butter paper. Chop chocolate into small pieces. In a double boiler or metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water, melt chocolate with butter. Stir until smooth. Remove from heat. Add sugar and whisk. Add eggs and whisk again. Sift cocoa powder over chocolate mixture and whisk until just combined.
Pour batter into pan and bake in middle of oven for 25 minutes. The top should form a thin crust and cake will puff. Be careful not to overcook. Cool the cake on a rack for 5 minutes before removing. Cake will deflate as it cools.
Serving options: Sprinkle with powdered sugar for a simple dressing. Serve with whipped cream and your favorite berries to dress it up. Serve with ice cream or sorbet for a cool treat.
Note: Once cake cools, it will keep for a week in an airtight container. It will also freeze well for up to 2 months. Defrost overnight in refrigerator and serve at room temperature.
In honor of the cooler weather, here’s a wintery sneak peek:
Snow Bound by Dani Wade
Feeling the situation had gotten way too serious, he paused beside the bed before launching her into the air. Her squeal echoed around the room as she landed and bounced, the fluffy blankets jumping under the impact. Now that made for some interesting shimmies. He couldn’t help but grin as she burst into laughter. Then his eyes narrowed on the now empty expanse around her.
Empty except for one thing.
“What’s this?”
Her look was confused until she saw the direction of his gaze. With a cry she reached across for the nearest blanket and jerked it toward her, probably to cover it up, but— Too late. He’d already seen it.
“Since when does a pretty princess like you need a vibrator?”
Hand fishing under the blanket, he pulled out a soft gel vibrator. Pink, of course.
“Give me that,” she said, grabbing for the toy, only to come up with empty air.
Damon held it higher, the transparent soft gel allowing him to see the candle on the dresser through its pink surface. A silver, cylindrical motor provided a hard core. “Very nice, Princess.”
“Please, please give it back.”
He turned his gaze from the little toy to the woman who was giving him more surprises than a night out with his army buddies. “Why? I think you’ll have more fun if I’m at the wheel.”
For once Miss Priss had nothing to say. No pithy comeback, no sarcastic put-down, no prim comments. Simply a gaping mouth and wide eyes, as if she couldn’t believe what she’d just heard come out of his mouth. So he set out to prove himself right.
No comment to “Home for the Holidays Blog Hop”
Jennifer wedmore - November 13, 2013
HMMM Better than sex cake or Chocolate cream pie. Carpediem5366@yahoo.com
Dani Wade - November 13, 2013
Ah yes, Jennifer! There’s a better than sex cake at most southern get-togethers, and yu-um! 🙂
Jean Patton - November 13, 2013
Favorite holiday dessert at any time of the year in our house is Nanaimo Bars.
Your chocolate cake recipe is going to be tried in our house this season. Thanks.
skpetal at hotmail dot com
Melanie Pollnow McClure - November 13, 2013
Thank you so much for sharing your recipe and for joining the giveaway!
melaniemcclure@knology.net
Leslie Rodriguez - November 13, 2013
My favorite desert is pumpkin cookies. Thank you for the amazing giveaway. esseboo@yahoo.com
Dani Wade - November 13, 2013
Leslie, I love everything pumpkin! Except pumpkin pie, oddly enough. But we make plenty of pumpkin cookies and bread around here! 🙂
Dani Wade - November 13, 2013
So, I totally had to google Nanaimo bars. Take a peek! Those look very yummy!
bbyg612 - November 13, 2013
thanks for the recipe bbyg612@yahoo.com
Nikki McCarver - November 14, 2013
pecan pie!! A total favorite….and russian teacakes 🙂 Love powdered sugar!!
viajeradelmar@aol.com
Missie Jones - November 14, 2013
Thanks for the cake recipe. My favorite is Pumpkin Rolls. I make around 20-25 every Thanksgiving, I start preparing them 2 days before…lol This way everyone gets to take one home 😀 Big Hugs
Missie Jones
missie25524 (at) netzero (dot) com
Elise Chase - November 14, 2013
Pecan pie is my favorite!
Thanks for participating in the blog hop!
eliseandtegan@gmail.com
JanD - November 14, 2013
My favorite dessert is pumpkin pie.
bituin76 at hotmail dot com
Jeanette (Jeannie) Platt - November 15, 2013
Oh i love this recipe… Sometimes I hate not being able to eat chocolate anymore 🙁 One of my favorite cakes.
j.m.platt83@gmail.com
Joye - November 15, 2013
Thanks for sharing the recipe. Not too many out there that are flourless adn tasty!
Marie MattinglyWoods (@KittyWoods88) - November 15, 2013
I love fudge. Marie.mattingly88@gmail.com
kimmyl - November 16, 2013
Looks yummy. I love peanut butter bon bons. Thanks for a great post and awesome giveaway!!!!!
kac_030 @ yahoo.com
Cara Nicole - November 16, 2013
My favorite dessert is homemade fudge, so decadent! Thanks for the giveaway. Caraolson24@yahoo.com
Trix - November 16, 2013
I love pecan pie or pumpkin cheesecake (though the flourless chocolate cake would be fabulous)!
vitajex(at)aol(dot)com
amy bowens - November 16, 2013
I love anything chocolate! And I am with you on the clean up that is my least favorite! I even tried to fake being sick to get out of doing the dishes, but my family knowing me so well had caught on so the jig was up! Read your excerpt and I loved it great choice in the excerpt left me wanting more way more. thanks have a happy thanksgiving and here’s hoping for not to much cleanup amybowens34@yahoo.com
Michelle Bledsoe - November 17, 2013
My favorite dessert is my aunt’s Angel Food Strawberry Shortcake. I wish I had the recipe..LOL
Signed up for newsletter.
koonie2888 at yahoo dot com
BookAttict - November 17, 2013
My fave is paczki (Polish donuts) that we only make twice a year (on Christmas and Fat Thursday).
Thanks for the amazing giveaway!
elizabeth @ bookattict . com (subscribed)
WordPress: BookAttict
Robin Vandiver - November 17, 2013
Recipe looks delicious!
Robin
lovbooks641@gmail.com
Eva Millien - November 17, 2013
Sounds great! Thanks for sharing! I love coconut cake! Use a butter recipe yellow cake mix and follow directions. Get some coconut flakes and put in a pot with a little water and sugar and cook on low for about 15 to 20 minutes. Put the 1st layer of the cake on a plate and using a fork, poke holes all over the cake, then spoon the coconut mixture over the layer. Put the second layer on top and repeat, (you can also put them side by side and decorate with your favorite holiday candy to make a snowman or use food coloring to make it festive colors. Thanks for sharing the hop and your giveaway. Wishing you a wonderful and magical holiday season. evamillien at gmail dot com
Angela Fitzgerald - November 17, 2013
I really like thst recipe and most definitely will be trying it out. Also the excerpt was an extra bonus and I enjoyed.
I think during the holidays the desserts is what I love. I normally make everything but I really enjoy cheer cheesecake and peanutbutter balls. I love to eat those but being a diabetic is a pain during the holidays. I can’t change it, I just have to be careful.
Thank you for sharing the recipe and the excerpt with us. I really want to thank you for your contribution to this giveaway. I know my family sure could use it and I know plenty others could to. I’m trying to get my 15 yr old a laptop from Amazon. They have a 10’Dell laptop, Windows 7,and it’s priced at $130. I have $30 that’s been on my account at Amazon for awhile but I’m saving it to go towards the laptop.
I’ve entered giveaway after giveaway for Amazon gift cards and I can’t even win the $1 giveaways. I know I’ve been trying sincr the end October. I was entering up to 50 giveaways, in hopes of winning just one. I’m doing this because my husband’s job closed down and the unemployment is barely paying the bills. We don’t really have that much food. I mean we’re getting by with food but we can’t afford to cook Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners. I just want to win some Amazon gift cards. Thank you with giving a helping hand on this giveaway. I’m not sure if we’re suppose to tell you but I signed up for the newsletter.
Angela
angie1977t@gmail.com
Joy F (@harvester5905) - November 17, 2013
Pecan pie is my favorite. Thanks for the awesome hop.
magic5905 at embarqmail dot com
Merry Reads - November 17, 2013
Pumpkin pie is my favorite holiday dessert! Thanks for the recipe-I’ve got some gluten free family visiting for the holidays and I’m collecting recipes that we all can enjoy. Who can say no to chocolate?
dancingcelt at gmail dot com
Shadow Kohler (@LuvToRead09) - November 18, 2013
Hi! What a cool sounding cake! No flour? Nice! It sounds really yummy! I do love chocolate! I cant wait to make it! My favorite desert, cheesecake and pumpkin pie. I have two. lol Both yummy and irresistible! Thanks for sharing the recipe and for the awesome giveaway!! Thank you! Happy Thanksgiving!
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com
Natasha - November 18, 2013
I love pumpkin pie!
Thanks for the chance to win!
natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com
Kathy O - November 18, 2013
Love the recipe and added to my collection. One of my favorite is chocolate bundt cake with chocolate chips inside – talk about to die for. Thanks for the hop and giveaway. Hope you have a wonderful holiday season. koala571 (at) msn (dot) com
Sebella Blue - November 18, 2013
My father has a gluten allergy and is also a chocoholic. He will love this. Thanks so much!
blueshedevil32 AT gmail DOT com
BookLady - November 18, 2013
What an interesting recipe! Thanks for sharing and thanks for the great giveaway.
bhometchko(at)hotmail(dot)com
Daniel M - November 18, 2013
my fav is sugar cookies decorated with frosting – regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com
msakma - November 18, 2013
Your cake recipe sounds good – I’m all for going flourless!
Thank you for being part of this hop,
Karen(dot)arrowood(at)sbcglobal(dot)net
Iris - November 19, 2013
yummm! Chocolate cake
purple975@msn.com