Chocolate Cake with Red Wine Icing

Ingredients

250 g unsalted butter, cut into cubes + extra for greasing pan

40 g all-purpose flour

230 g dark chocolate couverture, chopped

200 g granulated sugar

4 large eggs

¾ teaspoons coarse salt

cocoa powder, for dusting pan

For icing:

230 g dark chocolate couverture, finely chopped

60 g unsalted butter, cut into small cubes

½ teaspoon coarse salt

50 g icing sugar

½ cup mavrodaphni wine (or sweet wine or port)

Method

Preheat oven to 170* C (338* F) Fan.

Grease a round 23 cm baking pan and dust with cocoa powder.

Place a glass or metallic bowl over a pot of simmering water. Add the chocolate, sugar and butter to the bowl. Stir with a spatula and heat for about 3 minutes, just until the chocolate melts a little.

Remove from heat and continue to stir until the chocolate melts completely.

Set aside to cool completely.

When cool, add the eggs. Add one egg at a time and beat with a hand mixer on medium speed, making sure each egg is completely incorporated before adding the next.

Beat until the mixture takes on a mousse-like texture.

Turn the speed to low and add the salt and flour. Beat for 1 minute and then gently fold with a spatula until the mixture is combined and smooth.

Spread the mixture in baking pan and smooth the surface with a knife or spatula.

Bake for 55-65 minutes, until the surface and edges become firm and darken slightly. To make sure, insert a knife into the cake and if it comes out clean and dry it is ready.

Transfer to a wire rack and allow cake to cool in pan before turning it out on a wire rack lined with parchment paper.

For the icing:

Heat the chocolate, butter and salt in a bain marie. Stir constantly with a spatula until they melt. This should take about 5 minutes.

Add the sugar and stir until it dissolves.

Heat the mavrodaphni in a small saucepan until it comes to a boil.

Remove chocolate mixture from heat and add the mavrodaphni. Stir with a spatula until it thickens. This should take about 8-10 minutes.

Your cake should now be on a wire rack lined with parchment paper.

Pour glaze over cake and spread over side with a spatula.

Allow to cool for 1-2 minutes, until the glaze solidifies.

Source: akispetretzikis.com