Tuesday, April 14, 2009

TWD - 15 Minute Magic - Chocolate Amaretti Cake


Who of us can resist a good chocolate cake? Not me, for sure. I am a self-confessed chocoholic,and have to exercise plenty of discipline to keep myself away from it - even though I still manage to eat some every day. The chocoholic in me issued a loud triumphant "Wheeeeee!" when I saw the recipe for this week's TWD, hosted by Holly of PheMOMenon, as it was for a solid-gold, full on, chocolate cake - well, actually a European style torte, called "15 minute magic - Chocolate Amaretti Cake".

All I can say is - I am in lurrrrrv with this cake. It was dead simple to make in the food processor, and it is rich, fudgy and devine:



and to top it all off, it is covered with a rich, gooey ganache:

My photos don't do it justice - this is a wonderful cake. To save myself from annihilating it all by myself, I took it to work to share with colleagues, who also loved it.

This cake is unusual in that it contains crushed amaretti biscuits and nut meal instead of flour. In my quest to find the amaretti, I finally made the effort to go to Mediterranean Wholesalers in Sydney Road, Brunswick, just before I left Melbourne. Boy oh boy, do I wish that I could have gone sooner. It is a huge Italian grocer, with everything you could ever want at very reasonable prices. If you are ever in Melbourne, go visit them - you won't be disappointed.

To check out how everyone else went with this cake, and make yourself very hungry in the process, visit the Tuesdays with Dorie blogroll.

32 comments:

Astra Libris said...

OH YUM!! I'm definitely a fellow chocoholic, and I'm in heaven just looking at your beautiful cake! :-)

Anonymous said...

Yum! Your cake looks great.

Cakelaw said...

Hi Astrid, love hearing from a fellow chocoholic. Holly will have the recipe for this once posting time comes round in her region, if you are tempted to make it.

Kara said...

I took over 1/2 of mine to the office as well, to get it out of the house. I kept going back to the kitchen over and over last night to get another tiny sliver - as though eating it in slivers would somehow make the calories go away!

Engineer Baker said...

This definitely had to go into the office - dangerous torte. Yourse looks beautiful!

Tammy said...

I didnt get to play this week, but that cake looks like a winner, so I will definitely have to get back to it at some stage

Lorraine @NotQuiteNigella said...

I love that coating of glossy ganache although it's awakened the strongest chocolate craving in me! :P

mike said...

Looks fantastic - love the glaze - nice and smooth! I made mine for Easter and gave as a "parting gift" - just to get it out of the house! Nicely done this week!

Hindy said...

Your cake looks perfect. I'm so glad you found the cookies!

Leslie said...

Boy, does this look good! I love chocolate! I had to sit this one out but your cake makes me want to make this now!

chocolatechic said...

What kind of chocolate did you use?

natalia said...

Ciao ! Super cake ! And I loved your oat muffins too !!

Pamela said...

Ugh!! It looks SO GOOD!!

Jules Someone said...

That looks good enough to eat. Nice job!

The Blonde Duck said...

How did your move go?

This cake looks divine!

Bungalow Barbara said...

Lovely! We loved it too. Definitely a "dangerous" recipe -- dangerous to the waistline, that is!

TeaLady said...

Cake looks perfect.

Unknown said...

Your torte looks wonderful! Glad you enjoyed it :) It was a bit too rich for me.

A_and_N said...

That is one addictive looking torte ;)

It looks like you've settled in rather smoothly at your new abode. good to know that :)

Nazarina A said...

Ooooh! yes please, let me indulge in this simple prep. but delicious chocolate goodness!

Unknown said...

This is a temptation, Gaye! I can eat certain chocolates, but not the cake, sadly. Would love to have this for my birthday :)

Teanna said...

So glad you lurved this cake!!! I totally did too!

Heather said...

i've been so intrigued by this! it sounds delicious! i must try it :)

Mermaid Sews said...

Glad you liked it - I loved it and it got RAVE reviews at work. I think your pictures look yummy.

Cakelaw said...

LOL Kara - I think slivers reduces the calories.

Hi Caitlin, it was dangerous - I could eat this in one go!

Hi Tammy, this is definitely a goodie, so if you can, I recommend making it.

Hi Lorraine, photos of cakes with glossy ganache coating do that to me too :)

Hi Mike, I saw your cake - and it was gorgeous! Your decorating finesse is better than mine.

Hi Clivia, so was I - they weren't what I imagined they'd be (I thought that they'd be like savoiradi).

Hi Leslie - do it - it is a great cake!

Hi Tanya, I used Cadbury Old Gold intense dark chocolate.

Thanks Natalia.

Hi Pamela, yes, cover your eyes - it induces cravings for chcocolate!

Thanks Jules :)

Hi Duckie, still unpacking the endless stream of boxes - I still have 48 to go, although having unpacked the kitchen, I am hoping that the worst is over.

Hi Barbara, agreed - which is why I took it to work. I start my new job on Monday - hope they like cake.

Thanks Tealady :)

Hi Tracey, I am unfortunately a rich kinda girl - and my waist knows it!

Thanks A&N. I cheated amd made this in advance of the move so I am yet to do a TWD in my new/old kitchen.

Hi Nazarina, this one gives definite bang for your buck - so easy but looks impressive and tastes wonderful.

Oh no Arfi - although a whiff of the cake would be almost as good (very chocolatey).

Hey Teanna, glad to hear it.

Hi Heather, it turns out unexpectedly good.

Hi Lorelei, glad to hear they liked it. And thanks!

Y said...

Looks fantastic! I love amaretti as a biscuit and a flavour!

Elyse said...

Mmm, your cake turned out fabulously. I love that it uses crushed up amaretti cookies. How clever and perfect!

3 Bay B Chicks said...

I am so glad that all of this Lent business is behind me. Giving up chocolate and then reading this post may very well have done me in.

So glad that I am able to enjoy this without guilt. :)

-Francesca

The Caked Crusader said...

What a lovely idea using biscuits instead of flour!
Is the plain cake the same one as covered in the chocolate icing? It looks so much paler although I know that camera flashes, lighting etc can make a big difference!

Anonymous said...

Looks very yummy and makes it even better when you get to share!

Cakelaw said...

Hi Y, I had never had them before, but really enjoyed them - loved the lightness and crunchiness.

Hi Elyse, yes, this was a good Dorie recipe.

Cakelaw said...

Hi Francesca, absolutely - giving up chocolate would be almost impossible for me!

Hi Crusader, same cake, different lighting :) The top picture was taken at work during the day and the other two at home at night.

Hi Newlyweds, absolutely!