Flourless Chocolate Cake

Flourless Chocolate Cake

Rich and deeply chocolatey, this flourless cake uses just a handful of ingredients and bakes until the center reaches 200°F.

Prep
20 Minutes
Cook
25 Minutes
Yield
1 8-inch cake
Level
Easy

Equipment

  • 8-inch springform pan
  • Parchment paper
  • Metal mixing bowl
  • Pot for double boiler
  • Whisk or spatula
  • Cooling rack
  • Instant-read thermometer

Step-by-Step Instructions

01

Melt the Chocolate & Butter

Melt the Chocolate & Butter
Melting the bittersweet chocolate and butter together.
Gently melt the chocolate and butter over a double boiler.

Place the butter and chocolate in a metal bowl over a pot of simmering water. Once the chocolate begins to melt, remove the bowl from the heat and continue stirring until smooth. Return it to the heat briefly as needed, but do not let the mixture get too hot. Save the butter wrapper — you will use it to grease the pan.

02

Prepare the Pan

Prepare the Pan
Trim the parchment to fit the bottom of the springform pan.
Prepare the Pan
Save the butter wrapper and use it to grease the pan.

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Cut a round of parchment paper to fit the bottom of an 8-inch springform pan. Use the saved butter wrapper to grease the pan, then line the bottom with the parchment.

03

Add the Sugar & Eggs

Add the Sugar & Eggs
Mix the eggs into the chocolate mixture until fully combined.
Mix the eggs into the chocolate and butter mixture.

Stir the sugar into the melted chocolate mixture. If the mixture is still very hot, let it cool slightly before adding the eggs so they do not scramble. Add the eggs and mix until completely combined.

04

Finish the Batter

Finish the Batter
Sift the cocoa powder directly into the chocolate mixture.
Finish the Batter
The finished flourless chocolate cake batter.

Sift the cocoa powder into the chocolate mixture. Fold or stir until the cocoa is completely incorporated and the batter is smooth and uniform.

05

Fill & Bake

Fill & Bake
Pour the finished batter into the prepared springform pan.
Fill & Bake
Bake until the center of the cake reaches 200°F.

Pour the batter into the prepared springform pan and smooth the top. Bake for roughly 25 minutes. Check the center with an instant-read thermometer; the cake is done when the internal temperature reaches 200°F.

06

Cool & Unmold

Cool & Unmold
Let the cake cool briefly after removing it from the oven.
Cool & Unmold
Unmold the cake and let it finish cooling on a rack.

Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10 to 20 minutes. Release the springform pan, then carefully invert the cake onto a cooling rack and allow it to finish cooling.

07

Finish & Serve

Finish & Serve
Transfer the cooled cake to a serving plate.
Finish & Serve
Dust with powdered sugar and cocoa powder just before serving.

Once the cake is completely cool, transfer it to a serving plate. Just before serving, dust the top with powdered sugar and cocoa powder.

Flourless Chocolate Cake

Recipe Notes

Don't Overheat the Chocolate

Use gentle heat and remove the bowl once the chocolate begins to melt. Too much heat can make the mixture harder to work with.

Watch the Egg Step

Let the chocolate mixture cool slightly before adding the eggs so they mix in smoothly without scrambling.

Use Temperature as Your Guide

Bake until the center reaches 200°F rather than relying only on appearance or baking time.