a Cake for Two
I never cared a lot about Valentines Day. I have to admit though, that making a little present to see two eyes become bigger and a smile become wider can be a real treat. As a pastry chef, I do like to bake cakes. In fact, I love everything about it: kneeding doughs, whipping cream, piping ganache, assemmbling layers… but most of all: the moment, when it is time to put it in a little paper box and carefully carry it to a special someone. I hope there is such a someone for you today, who gives you this warm feeling in your stomach (not caused by red wine), whom you like so much that you would even share the most delicious cake with.
Red Wine + Chocolate Cake
dough
60g butter
50g dark chocolate
50g sugar
60g all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 egg
50ml of a really nice red wine plus
some more red wine for soaking
(…and for drinking, too)
glaze
50g dark chocolate
30g butter
40g icing sugar
40ml red win
a pinch of salt
For the dough, put the butter, dark chocolate and sugar in a small saucepan over very low heat (or over a water bath), just until melted. Set aside and let cool a bit. Add the egg and mix well, then add the flour and mix. At last, stir in the red wine.
Bake in a buttered mold (12 cm Ø ) at 175° for about 30 – 40 minutes.
For the glaze, melt the butter and chocolate over a waterbath. Remove from heat, whisk in the icing sugar and salt, then the warmed wine. Let cool in the fridge. The colder it gets, the thicker it will be.
If your cake is not even, cut of the little mound, then cut it in two layers. With a brush, soak both of them generously with red wine. The cake will be moist und juicy and the flavors of wine and chocolate have a perfect balance. Spread some glaze on the first layer, place the second layer on top and glaze it.
