American
Flourless Chocolate Espresso Cake
A dense, fudgy chocolate cake lifted with espresso powder and no wheat flour. It slices cleanly once chilled and tastes rich in small wedges.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Total
- 50 min
- Servings
- 10
- Difficulty
- Medium
Photo: megan.chromik (CC BY-SA). Source
Why you’ll love it
- Cocoa and melted chocolate build deep flavor without flour.
- Espresso powder sharpens the chocolate taste.
- The cake is naturally gluten-free.
- It freezes well in wrapped slices.
Ingredients
Ingredient amounts scale. Oven temperature and cook time do not. Salt, spices, and leaveners are a starting point after you scale. Taste and adjust.
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Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease an 8-inch springform pan and line the bottom with parchment.
- 2
Melt chocolate and butter together in a heatproof bowl set over simmering water, then cool slightly.
- 3
Whisk in sugar, then eggs one at a time until smooth.
- 4
Stir in cocoa, espresso powder, vanilla, and salt until fully combined.
- 5
Pour into the pan and bake 25 to 30 minutes until the center is just set and a crust forms on top.
- 6
Cool completely in the pan, then chill at least 2 hours before releasing and slicing.
Pro tips
- Do not overbake; the center should still look slightly soft.
- Use good dark chocolate between 60 and 70 percent cacao.
- Wipe the knife between cuts for neat slices.
Easy substitutions
- espresso powder
- instant coffee granules
- dark chocolate
- bittersweet baking chocolate
- butter
- dairy-free margarine sticks
Storage and reheating
Storage
Refrigerate covered up to 5 days.
Reheating
Serve chilled or at room temperature; do not microwave or it can melt.
Nutrition
Estimates per serving, using standard ingredient averages and rounded to the nearest gram. This is not a lab analysis, and it shifts if you change brands or add sides.
- Calories
- 310
- Protein
- 5 g
- Carbs
- 28 g
- Fat
- 22 g
- Fiber
- 3 g
Moderate · Oven · Vegetarian
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An air fryer with a real basket
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A half-sheet pan
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An instant-read thermometer
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