Chocolate torte – Valentine‘s dessert

Our Chocolate Torte is most definitely an indulgent treat for special occasions. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, there has never been a better time to show the one you love how much you care with this delicious showstopper.

Ingredients

Chocolate sponge

3 medium eggs 75g (3oz)

caster sugar 65g (21/2oz)

plain flour 15g (1/2oz)

cocoa powder

Chocolate topping

3 gelatine leaves

30ml (1fl oz) glucose

60ml (2fl oz) water

250g (9oz) dark chocolate, melted

300ml (1/2 pint) double cream icing sugar, to decorate

Tuille biscuits, to serve

Serves 8 so there’s plenty more to indulge in the following evening.

Method:

Preheat the oven to 200ºC, fan oven 180ºC, Gas Mark 6. Grease and line with non-stick baking paper a Swiss roll tin measuring approximately 32 x 23cm (13 x 9 inches).

Use a hand-held electric mixer to whisk the eggs and sugar together until very thick and foamy – this will take about 5 minutes. The mixture should be thick enough to leave a trail on the surface when the beaters are lifted.

Sift the flour and cocoa powder together, then fold them gently into the egg mixture using a large metal spoon. Tip into the prepared tin, spreading out evenly.

Bake for 6-7 minutes.

Cool for a few minutes, then turn out onto a work surface and remove the lining paper. Use a 7.5cm (3 inch) plain cutter to stamp out 8 circles. Place 8 x 7.5cm (3 inch) ring moulds or ramekins on a tray, then place the chocolate sponge circles in their bases.

For the topping, soak the gelatine leaves in a bowl of cold water for about 5 minutes. Put the glucose into a saucepan and add the water. Slowly bring to the boil, then remove from the heat.

Squeeze the water from the gelatine, then add the gelatine to the glucose mixture and stir to dissolve. Slowly stir the gelatine mixture into the melted chocolate.

Whip the cream until thickened, but not stiff, then fold into the chocolate mixture. Spoon over the chocolate bases and refrigerate until set.

Serve, decorated with a little icing sugar and the tuille biscuits.

Top Tip: For added wow factor, top with spin-sugar decoration if you want to impress.