A fancy torte like this one can be a wonderful punctuation to a meal in a special restaurant, or an indulgent focus for a visit to a special pastry shop.
But you can also get this luxurious chocolate effect at home with a much simpler recipe. You must bake this flourless gateau in a water bath. That means you set the cake pan into a larger pan with about an inch of hot water in it. This allows the confection to bake very gently, creating a lusciously smooth texture.
Chocolate Decadence
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
12 oz 70% bittersweet chocolate
5 large eggs
1 c sugar
7 T water
Grease a 9" round cake pan and line with parchment paper.
Melt chocolate in double boiler over hot water and remove from heat.
Beat eggs with 1/3 c sugar until mixture forms a ribbon. Heat remaining sugar with water over moderately low heat, stirring till syrup is clear.
Pour syrup into chocolate, stirring to combine, and let cool 10 minutes. Add butter and eggs slowly, beating till combined. Pour into cake pan.
Set pan into water bath and bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour, till set. Cool completely before removing pan from water bath. Turn out and serve.
