Queen of nuts cake

Name: Queen of nuts cake
Cook time: 1 h 30 min
Yield: 8-10
Ingredients: Butter for greasing; 1/4 cup of finely processed breadcrumbs; 200g dark couverture chocolate, chopped; 150g caster sugar; 150g blanched almonds, finely chopped; 70g candied fruit (try quince or citron), finely chopped; 5 eggs, separated

Stephanie Alexander

October 19, 2011

Time:1-2 hoursServes:8-10

Best associated with Stephanie's Restaurant, this is a bit tricky to cook but when it works it is unbeatable. The quality of the chocolate is paramount. I buy whole almonds and blanch them myself for the best flavour.

Ingredients

Butter for greasing
1/4 cup of finely processed breadcrumbs
200g dark couverture chocolate, chopped
150g caster sugar
150g blanched almonds, finely chopped
70g candied fruit (try quince or citron), finely chopped
5 eggs, separated

Method

Butter a 22cm springform tin and coat with breadcrumbs. Preheat oven to 160C.
Mix chocolate, sugar, almonds and fruit. Ensure the fruit is evenly mixed through. Stir in the yolks. Beat whites until soft peaks form and fold a little into the dry mix, then fold in the rest of the whites, lightly but thoroughly.
Bake for about 35 minutes, until firm. A skewer inserted in the middle will show streaks of chocolate but the cake is cooked once it feels firm in the centre.
Cool for 5-10 minutes before releasing the spring.
Lift off the base carefully and cut with a hot knife.

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