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La Bête Noire (Flourless Chocolate Cake), A Guestpost by That Skinny Chick Can Bake

September 13, 2012 by Nancy Lopez-McHugh 35 Comments

La Bête Noire (Flourless Chocolate Cake), A Guestpost by That Skinny Chick Can Bake

While I am hard at work finishing up my photography eBook my friend Liz, of That Skinny Chick Can Bake, has offered to lend a hand. She has baked a beautiful, decadent, chocoholic’s dream come true. Just look at it! Lizzy’s photos are so beautiful, they not only make my mouth water but also have me wishing for a slice to accompany my work. This Bête Noire or “beautiful beast” is the perfect way of getting the weekend started. Take it away Liz!

La Bête Noire (Flourless Chocolate Cake), A Guestpost by That Skinny Chick Can Bake

When Nancy invited me to guest post, I jumped at the chance. And she was sweet enough to allow me to share one of my older posts…but I knew I had to update the photos. Those of you who are already fans of Nancy’s blog know what an amazing photographer she is…and I was hoping to get a few new shots worthy of her gorgeous blog. If this is your first time visiting, make sure to check Nancy’s informative series on food photography…she is an artist with a superb eye for beauty. You will come back again and again.

La Bête Noire (Flourless Chocolate Cake), A Guestpost by That Skinny Chick Can Bake

My youngest son, Nick, was coming home from college after nearly a of month living and eating in the dorms. I knew I’d need to greet him with the most decadent chocolate dessert I could create. I went back to my early days of blogging to this insanely rich and scrumptious flourless chocolate cake. La Bête Noire literally translates to the black beast. There is nothing beastly about this dessert…heavenly is more like it. Silky and smooth, the texture is sublime…

La Bête Noire (Flourless Chocolate Cake), A Guestpost by That Skinny Chick Can Bake

I always use semi-sweet chocolate for this recipe, but feel free to substitute bitter-sweet for a dark chocolate experience. And with 26 ounces of chocolate in this recipe, you can be certain it’s chocolate Nirvana! And it’s really a very simple dessert…5 ingredients and a 10 inch springform pan are all you need. A dollop of sweetened whip cream and a few of your favorite ripe berries create a lovely garnish. You’ll definitely want to treat your favorite chocoholics to this exquisite dessert. Thanks so much, Nancy, for having me on your lovely blog today!

La Bête Noire (Flourless Chocolate Cake), A Guestpost by That Skinny Chick Can Bake

La Bête Noire…adapted from Bon Appetit

1 cup water
3/4 cup sugar
9 tablespoons (1 stick plus 1 tablespoon) butter, cut into pieces
18 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
6 large eggs

Ganache:

1 cup heavy whipping cream
8 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

Lightly sweetened whipped cream (I always add a dash of vanilla along with a 1/4-1/2 cup
powdered sugar per cup of cream), optional
Raspberries to garnish, optional

Preheat oven to 350. Butter 10 inch springform pan. Line bottom of pan with parchment round, then butter parchment. Wrap 3 layers of heavy duty foil around the outside of the pan, bringing it up to the top of the rim.

Combine 1 cup of water and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to boil. Stir till sugar dissolves, then simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

Gently melt the 9 tablespoons of butter and the 18 ounces of chopped chocolate in microwave. Whisk till smooth. Whisk sugar syrup into chocolate, and cool slightly. Add eggs to chocolate mixture and whisk till well blended. Pour batter into prepared pan. Place cake pan in a large roasting pan. Add enough hot water to roasting pan to come halfway up sides of cake pan.

Bake cake until center no longer jiggles when pan is gently tapped, about 50 minutes. Remove from water bath and place on cooling rack. Cool completely in pan.

For ganache:

Place whipping cream in microwave safe bowl, and microwave till hot. Remove and add the 8 ounces of chopped chocolate. Whisk until smooth. Pour over top of cake still in pan. Gently tilt pan to distribute ganache evenly over top of cake. Refrigerate cake in pan until ganache is set at least 2 hours.

Cake can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated.

To serve, run knife around pan sides then release sides. Cut cake into wedges and serve with sweetened whipped cream and luscious red raspberries or the fruit garnish of your choice.

Serves 16.

La Bête Noire (Flourless Chocolate Cake), A Guestpost by That Skinny Chick Can Bake

Stay connected to Liz and That Skinny Chick Can Bake!!! on Twitter – Facebook – Pinterest – RSS

La Bête Noire (Flourless Chocolate Cake), A Guestpost by That Skinny Chick Can Bake

 

La Bête Noire (Flourless Chocolate Cake), A Guestpost by That Skinny Chick Can Bake

 

Thank you so much Liz for sharing this dreamy cake with us, and for lending a hand. Have a great weekend everyone!

All images and recipe are the sole property of Liz Berg and That Skinny Chick Can Bake!!!. Please do not use images nor publish without prior written consent. ~Thank you

 

 

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Filed Under: Baked, Desserts-Sweets, Guest Posts

« Photography Tutorials: How To Avoid Photography Burnout and Some News
Peach Margarita, A Guestpost by Vianney of Sweet Life »

Comments

  1. Drena Paulson says

    September 13, 2012 at 06:58

    I have made this cake, seriously with this recipe at my restaurant. After more than 100 times I can truly say it is the best Flourless chocolate cake around. I also agree with the use of semisweet chocolate. I do put about an ounce is liqueur in the ganache. My favorites are hazelnut, orange using Grand Mariner, and Chambord. Kailua is a nice touch too. Enjoy!

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      September 13, 2012 at 13:37

      Hi Drena,
      Thanks for the tips, they all sound delicious. I’ve only ever eaten the cake from cafes but Lizzy is really inspiring me to bake my own.

      Reply
  2. Rosa says

    September 13, 2012 at 07:05

    What a wonderful cake! Light, yet extremely luscious. A great guest post.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      September 13, 2012 at 13:37

      I agree Rosa:) Thanks!

      Reply
  3. Laura (Tutti Dolci) says

    September 13, 2012 at 08:05

    Hi Nancy and Liz, fantastic guest post! This cake looks absolutely heavenly, I think I’ll be dreaming about it tonight :).

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      September 13, 2012 at 13:38

      Hi Laura,

      Funny you said that because I had a dream about it last night after setting it up on the blog,hehe:) Thanks!

      Reply
  4. Phong Hong says

    September 13, 2012 at 08:18

    Hi Nancy, I’m here for the first time! Aww….Lizzy, I’m swooning and lightheaded just looking at your cake. My eyes became very big as I got closer to my screen and my eyeballs went “boing, boing, boing” ….Gorgeous cake, I MUST make this. Nancy, I will come back and explore later. Ta…..

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      September 13, 2012 at 13:38

      Hi Phong Hong,

      Glad you stopped by:) Hehe, I love your reaction.

      Reply
  5. ping says

    September 13, 2012 at 11:09

    I’m with Phong Hong …. “boing, boing, boing” …
    This is beastly all right. 8 pictures to boot! I can’t stop staring! and drooling! I’ve never admitted to being a chocoholic but now I am …. there, I said it. Step 1 complete.

    Reply
    • Spicie Foodie says

      September 13, 2012 at 13:39

      I think that reaction might be the one everyone will have:) Haha, good for you as admit the problem is the first step. Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  6. Liz says

    September 13, 2012 at 13:47

    Oh, thank you, Nancy for your kind introduction! I hope you know that it’s truly a thrill to guest post for you. And I’m glad I could give you a break while you work on your e-book…I will be first in line to purchase one :) xo

    Reply
  7. Balvinder says

    September 13, 2012 at 17:12

    My mouth water because it is chocolate and flour less. Perfect for me with whipped cream ganache.

    Reply
  8. RavieNomNoms says

    September 13, 2012 at 18:41

    I love you both! What an amazing cake!

    Reply
  9. pachecopatty says

    September 13, 2012 at 19:57

    Gorgeous tempting cake and photos! Lizzy, your son Nick is a very lucky young man:-)
    Nancy- good luck putting together your photography ebook:-)
    Congratulations on a beautiful guest post!

    Reply
  10. Victoria of Flavors of the Sun says

    September 13, 2012 at 21:20

    I’ve made this Bon Appetit recipe before, and mine certainly didn’t look like this! Gorgeous! I may have to try again.

    Reply
  11. Swathi says

    September 13, 2012 at 22:14

    Delicious chocolate cake , Lizzy makes great desserts nobody can beat it. Thanks Nancy for this guest post.

    Reply
  12. Nami | Just One Cookbook says

    September 13, 2012 at 22:58

    So so soooo pretty, Liz! The side view of the cake shows how rich this chocolate cake is! Thank you for sharing Nancy, and good luck with your eBook. We’re waiting for it. ;)

    Reply
  13. Suzanne Perazzini says

    September 13, 2012 at 23:35

    Nancy’s photography is superb but you can match her step for step, Liz. These are a wonderful set of images and enough to make you swoon. If I wasn’t on a diet for my upcoming trip, I would race out of work to a cafe and find something similar. Instead I will eat my small homemade granola bar.

    Reply
  14. Ramona says

    September 14, 2012 at 02:03

    I have one word to describe Lizzy… AWESOME! She really is such a total package… a great cook, phenomenal baker, fantastic wife, mother, friend and blogger buddy!! This cake looks decadent… gorgeous and perfectly Lizzy. :) Wonderful Guest Post Ladies. :)

    Reply
  15. Beth says

    September 14, 2012 at 02:11

    Looking at that ingredient list, I can tell the cake would be nothing short of fabulous!

    Reply
  16. mjskit says

    September 14, 2012 at 05:27

    I think I just gained 10 pounds licking the screen, I mean – looking at the screen and these luscious pictures of a your scrumptious cake. Regular cake, I’m not a fan of, but flourless chocolate I think it would be the one dessert I could limit myself to for the rest of my life (if I had to limit myself to one dessert :) ). What a gorgeous cake! Great post ladies!

    Reply
  17. anna says

    September 14, 2012 at 06:39

    beautiful pictures! i LOVE the richness of flourless chocolate cake, and i can always sort of tell myself i’m eating something healthy. gluten free, right? right??

    Reply
  18. Gina says

    September 14, 2012 at 18:01

    Lizzy sure does know how to make a chocoholics dreams come true. I don’t know if I could be trusted with this beauty in the house. Can’t wait to hear all about the book.
    -Gina-

    Reply
  19. Angie@Angie's Recipes says

    September 14, 2012 at 20:15

    A rich and luscious chocolate treat! Thanks, Lizzy!

    Reply
  20. Sook says

    September 14, 2012 at 22:20

    Oh my… Your photos are making me hungry for chocolatey desserts!! Mmmm

    Reply
  21. Marina@Picnic at Marina says

    September 14, 2012 at 22:52

    This cake is absolutely fantastic! Great job, Liz! And thank you, Spice foodie, for inviting Liz. She does know how to bake! :)

    Reply
  22. Jen Laceda | Tartine and Apron Strings says

    September 15, 2012 at 04:55

    I know what I’ll be dreaming about tonight…yum!

    Reply
  23. mj@cardamomhills says

    September 15, 2012 at 17:12

    ohhh!!! this is bad, like really really bad…What a day to hop by….i baked 22 banana n choco muffin today morning and only 4 r left….now you are going to send me off on another sweet treat when i was avoiding eye contact with anything chocolate…never thought “spicie foodie” wud do it to me ;-) btw- I love those pics and this is one of my all time fav recipes…lizzy, as always tempts me into sinful indulgence!!! Thanks girls for this lovely post!
    Mj

    Reply
  24. elisabeth@foodandthrift says

    September 15, 2012 at 18:46

    Such an amazing and beautiful guest post by two lovely ladies! …Nancy, and Lizzy, I love how you two collaborated this awesome guest post project…Lizzy with your superb flourless chocolate cake. (so nice of you to mention the source) My favorite flourless chocolate cake recipe, as well from Bon Appetit which I also use!

    Nancy, you have certainly put your ‘heart and soul’ into producing these gorgeous photos of Lizzy’s to come alive on a grand large ‘scale’…and Lizzy, you are always such an inspiration to all of us, thanks for both lovely and talented ladies! (I pinned from here, too)
    xoxo

    Reply
  25. Liz says

    September 16, 2012 at 02:25

    Just popped back in to say THANK YOU for all your kind words! It was my pleasure to share with you all.

    Reply
  26. kitchenriffs says

    September 16, 2012 at 18:11

    What a great cake! Very good recipe, nicely detailed. Excellent guest post – thanks so much.

    Reply
  27. vianney says

    September 17, 2012 at 07:02

    Rich and delish Liz!! Thank you for sharing~

    Reply
  28. Baker Street says

    September 17, 2012 at 08:59

    Simply divine! I adore flourless cakes. Liz has done a fabulous job here with this one. It looks absolutely stunning!

    Reply
  29. Priya says

    September 17, 2012 at 15:01

    Excellent and irresistible,makes me drool.

    Reply
  30. Jean (Lemons and Anchovies) says

    September 20, 2012 at 16:49

    So nice to see Liz here and what a special cake to bring over for her visit here. I love flourless chocolate cakes and this looks like a winner.

    Looking forward to the release of your ebook, Nancy. :)

    Reply

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