Chocolate Cracked Earth (Flourless Chocolate Cake)

Cook Time: 25 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 4-6 servings

Ingredients

* 1 pound bittersweet chocolate, chopped into small pieces
* 1 stick unsalted butter*
* 9 large eggs, separated
* 3/4 cup granulated sugar, plus 1 tablespoon
* 2 cups heavy cream, cold
* Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-inch springform pan.

Put the chocolate and butter into the top of a double boiler (or in a
heatproof bowl) and heat over (but not touching) about 1 inch of
simmering water until melted. Meanwhile, whisk the egg yolks with the
sugar in a mixing bowl until light yellow in color. Whisk a little of
the chocolate mixture into the egg yolk mixture to temper the eggs -
this will keep the eggs from scrambling from the heat of the chocolate
- then whisk in the rest of the chocolate mixture.

Beat the egg whites in a mixing bowl until stiff peaks form and fold
into the chocolate mixture. Pour into the prepared pan and bake until
the cake is set, the top starts to crack and a toothpick inserted into
the cake comes out with moist crumbs clinging to it, 20 to 25 minutes.
Let stand 10 minutes, then remove sides of pan.

While the cake is cooking, whip the cream until it becomes light and fluffy.

Serve at room temperature dusted with confectioners' sugar and topped
with whipped cream.

*Cook's Note: Food Network Kitchens tested this recipe after this show
was taped and determined that 1 stick butter is the correct amount.