Ina Garten’s Bittersweet Chocolate Cake Recipe for Rich Moments

Bittersweet chocolate cake stands as a luxurious symphony of rich, intense flavors that dance across your palate with sophisticated elegance.

This decadent dessert transforms simple ingredients into a culinary masterpiece that promises pure indulgence.

Chocolate lovers will instantly recognize the deep, complex notes that elevate this cake beyond ordinary sweet treats.

Professional bakers understand the delicate balance required to create such a remarkable confection.

Subtle hints of coffee enhance the chocolate’s depth, creating a multilayered sensory experience that captivates from the first bite.

Each slice represents a moment of pure gastronomic pleasure, inviting you to savor every nuanced flavor.

Your taste buds will thank you for this extraordinary culinary adventure: prepare to be amazed.

Ways to Dress Up Bittersweet Chocolate Cake

• Mocha Chocolate Dream: Enhance the coffee flavor by adding an extra tablespoon of instant espresso powder and incorporating dark chocolate chunks into the batter for intense coffee-chocolate depth.
• Nutty Chocolate Sensation: Fold in chopped toasted almonds or hazelnuts into the batter, creating a crunchy texture and adding a rich, nutty undertone to the classic chocolate cake.
• Raspberry Chocolate Fusion: Swirl fresh raspberry puree through the batter before baking, and top the cooled cake with a light raspberry chocolate ganache for a fruity, decadent variation.
• Salted Caramel Chocolate Indulgence: Drizzle homemade salted caramel sauce over the cake just before serving, complementing the deep chocolate flavor with a sweet and salty contrast.

Bittersweet Cake Ending Notes

Chocolate lovers rejoice with Ina Garten’s bittersweet masterpiece – pure indulgence wrapped in a single slice.

Rich chocolate notes dance across palates, creating sensational memories with each delectable bite.

Professional bakers and home cooks alike will embrace this simple yet sophisticated dessert.

Complex flavors meld seamlessly, offering an extraordinary chocolate experience that transcends ordinary cake recipes.

Remarkable textures reveal deep chocolate intensity without overwhelming sweetness.

Such culinary magic deserves celebration – snap that perfect photo, share your delicious dish, and connect with fellow chocolate enthusiasts who appreciate gourmet craft.

Why Bittersweet Chocolate Cake Feels So Decadent

• Indulge in Chocolate Decadence: This cake delivers an intense, rich chocolate experience that melts in your mouth with deep, bittersweet flavors that chocolate lovers will absolutely adore.
• Simplify Baking Brilliance: The recipe requires minimal ingredients and straightforward techniques, making it perfect for home bakers of all skill levels who want a sophisticated dessert without complicated steps.
• Create a Showstopping Texture: The unique baking method creates a dramatic cracked top and soft, almost pudding-like interior that transforms a simple cake into an elegant dessert with minimal effort.
• Versatile Serving Sensations: Enjoy the cake warm or at room temperature, paired with whipped cream, ice cream, or crème fraîche, making it adaptable for casual family dinners or impressive dinner parties.

Ingredients for a Rich, Elegant Dessert

• Bittersweet Chocolate: Rich and deep flavor foundation for the cake, high-quality chocolate makes a significant difference.
• Unsalted Butter: Provides moisture and richness, helps create a smooth and tender cake texture.

• Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the cake and contributes to its structure and moisture.
• All-Purpose Flour: Gives the cake its basic structure and helps bind ingredients together.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances the sweetness of the chocolate.

• Eggs: Provide structure, help bind ingredients, and contribute to the cake's richness.
• Instant Coffee: Deepens the chocolate flavor without adding a strong coffee taste.
• Sweetened Whipped Cream, Vanilla Ice Cream, Crème Fraîche: Optional serving accompaniments that complement the cake's intense chocolate flavor.

Bake a Dense and Velvety Chocolate Cake

Step 1: Prepare the Oven

Warm the oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease an 8-inch springform pan with butter and dust with flour, ensuring complete coverage.

Step 2: Melt Chocolate and Butter

• Butter
• Bittersweet chocolate

Stir occasionally until smooth and completely melted. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.

Step 3: Blend Wet Ingredients

• Granulated sugar
• Eggs
• Instant coffee powder
• Salt

Continue whisking until the mixture becomes silky and well combined.

Step 4: Incorporate Flour

Gently sprinkle flour over the chocolate mixture. Fold with a rubber spatula, being careful not to overmix. Ensure the flour is fully integrated but avoid aggressive stirring.

Step 5: Bake the Cake

• Top puffs up and develops slight cracks
• Cake doesn't wobble when gently shaken
• Toothpick test won't work – cake should remain slightly moist inside

Step 6: Cool and Serve

Remove cake from oven and let cool completely on a wire rack. The cake will naturally deflate as it cools. Carefully run a knife around the edges and remove springform sides. Slice into wedges.

Tips for Perfect Texture & Deep Flavor

• Chocolate Quality Matters: Select premium bittersweet chocolate like Lindt to elevate the cake's rich, deep flavor and ensure a silky-smooth texture.
• Gentle Melting Technique: Use a double boiler method, keeping the chocolate bowl above simmering water to prevent burning and maintain a perfect, glossy melt.
• Whisk with Purpose: Blend eggs and sugar thoroughly into the chocolate mixture, creating a smooth, homogeneous batter that ensures even distribution of ingredients.
• Bake with Precision: Watch for classic cracked top signals while keeping the center soft – this indicates the perfect baking point to prevent a dry, tough cake.
• Cooling is Crucial: Allow the cake to cool completely in the pan, letting the delicate structure settle and develop its ultimate texture and flavor profile.

Preserve Your Cake’s Freshness Like a Pro

• Refrigeration Method: Seal cake completely in airtight container with tight-fitting lid to maintain moisture and prevent absorbing other refrigerator odors. Double-wrap cake using plastic wrap and then aluminum foil for maximum protection against potential flavor contamination.
• Freezing Method: Slice cake into individual portions before freezing to enable easier thawing and serving. Wrap each slice separately in plastic wrap, then place inside freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag to prevent freezer burn and preserve cake's rich chocolate texture.
• Counter Storage Method: Keep cake covered at room temperature for short-term storage, ideal for consuming within 2-3 days. Place cake under glass cake dome or cover with clean kitchen towel to prevent dust and maintain freshness, ensuring chocolate flavors remain intense and cake stays soft.

Ina Garten Bittersweet Chocolate Cake Recipe

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4.5 from 11 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s bittersweet chocolate cake delivers pure indulgence with rich, deep cocoa notes that melt on the palate. Dark chocolate layers embrace subtle hints of espresso, creating an elegant dessert that promises to elevate any special occasion for chocolate enthusiasts.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 7 ounces (198 grams) bittersweet chocolate, such as Lindt, broken
• 15 tablespoons (225 grams) unsalted butter, plus extra to grease the pan
• 4 extra-large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 cup (200 grams) sugar

Dry Ingredients:

• ¼ cup (30 grams) all-purpose flour, plus extra for the pan
• 1 teaspoon (5 grams) instant coffee granules, such as Nescafé
• ½ teaspoon (3 grams) kosher salt

Serving Options:

• Sweetened whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, or crème fraîche, for serving

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Instructions

1. Prepare the baking equipment by preheating the oven to 180°C (350°F). Thoroughly grease an 8-inch (20 centimeters) springform pan with butter and dust lightly with flour to prevent sticking.
2. Create a double boiler by placing a large heatproof bowl over a pot of gently simmering water. Ensure the water does not touch the bottom of the bowl. Add chocolate and butter to the bowl, stirring periodically until completely melted and smooth.
3. Remove the chocolate mixture from heat and whisk in granulated sugar until fully integrated. Incorporate eggs, instant coffee granules, and salt, mixing until the batter becomes uniform and glossy.
4. Gently sprinkle all-purpose flour over the liquid mixture. Fold carefully with a rubber spatula, ensuring no dry flour pockets remain and the batter is evenly combined.
5. Transfer the batter into the prepared springform pan, smoothing the top with the spatula. Place the pan on a larger baking sheet for easier handling and more even heat distribution.
6. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes. The cake is done when the surface puffs and develops slight cracks, and the center remains slightly jiggly when the pan is gently shaken.
7. Remove from the oven and allow the cake to cool completely on a wire rack. As it cools, the cake will naturally deflate and settle. Once cooled, carefully run a small knife around the edges to loosen.
8. Release the springform pan’s sides and transfer the cake to a serving plate. Slice into wedges and serve at room temperature or slightly warm. Accompany with sweetened whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, or crème fraîche for added indulgence.

Notes

• Select premium chocolate that enhances the rich, decadent flavor of your dessert, ensuring a melt-in-your-mouth experience.
• Gentle melting prevents burning, maintaining the chocolate’s silky smooth consistency and preventing grainy texture.
• Thorough whisking creates a luxurious, well-integrated mixture that guarantees a velvety chocolate base.
• Watching for those signature surface cracks signals the perfect moment to remove the cake from the oven, capturing its ideal moisture and texture.
• Cooling allows the cake to set completely, developing deeper flavors and a more stable structure for serving.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 slice (1 of 8 servings)
• Calories: 469
• Sugar: 39g
• Sodium: 164mg
• Fat: 32g
• Saturated Fat: 19g
• Carbohydrates: 44g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 5g
• Cholesterol: 164mg