I like a fancy cake. You know, the pretty decorated swirls and swooshes kind, they have a soft spot in my heart. But when it comes to what a chocoholic like me really craves it is this Chocolate Meringue Cake. It is deeply chocolatey, fudgy, but not too sweet with a thin crackly layer of cocoa dusted meringue that adds so much in terms of both flavor and texture. My favourite part about this cake is that since it is neither too sweet nor too rich I can truly enjoy an entire slice without feeling like it is too much. As you can imagine that makes this Chocolate Meringue Cake a little dangerous too!
It is definitely a cake for dark chocolate lovers, I used Lindt dark chocolate bars for mine, but generally you can use any brand that you like to eat. It also keeps well at room temperature. In fact it seems to improve for the first few days which makes it a fantastic do ahead dessert for when you're hosting a big dinner or lunch. You could serve it with some berries and lightly sweetened whipped cream or creme fraiche.
You could also always just eat it from a box standing over your kitchen island, because if you're like me then there is a part of you that is convinced that if you eat a cake standing up the calories don't count.
Shh people, this is not time for logic. If it was I wouldn't have rushed to the store the moment I saw this recipe on pinterest! This was my first time trying a recipe by the legendary Donna Hays, but it definitely won't be the last.
Donna Hays Chocolate Meringue Cake
Ingredients
- 240 G Dark Chocolate chopped
- 180 G ¾ cup Unsalted Butter, chopped
- 2 Eggs
- 4 Eggs extra, yolks and whites seperated.
- ½ cup Brown Sugar
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- ⅓ CUP 50G Flour (sifted)
- ½ tsp Baking Powder
- ⅓ cup 40G Almond Meal (Ground Almonds)
- 1 cup 220G sugar
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- 3 tsp cornflour/cornstarch sifted
- ¼ cup 25G Dutch Cocoa (sifted) + additional for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- Lightly grease a 9 inch springform cake tin, line the base with parchment paper and set aside.
- Melt the chocolate and butter together in a saucepan and let it cool a little.
- Whisk the eggs, extra egg yolks, brown sugar and vanilla for 3–4 minutes or until pale and thick. Add the chocolate mixture, flour, baking powder and almond meal and fold gently to combine. Be thorough though!
- Pour the cake mix into the tin and bake for 35-40 minutes.
- Take the cake out of the oven and increase the temperature to 350.
- Beat the egg whites in a clean bowl on high speed until soft peaks form and then gradually add the sugar whisking till it dissolves.
- Now in goes the vinegar. Mix for another 2–3 minutes. The meringue will be thick and glossy. Fold through the cornflour and cocoa (don't forget to sift both!) and gently spread the meringue onto the cake.
- Bake for another 20–25 minutes or until the meringue is golden and crisp.
- Let the cake cool at room temperature for 30 minutes and then run a knife between the cake and pan to loosen the sides. Remove the springform ring.
- Refrigerate for two hours to meld the flavors together.
- Serve at room temperature lightly dusted with cocoa powder.
Shilpa Dawda says
Hi Sarah, is the meringue slightly soft to touch when out of the oven or is it crunchy
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
Hi Shilpa! It comes out a little crackly if that makes sense but it is not hard per se!
Tammy Rowland says
I am an avid Baker and followed the recipe to the letter. Dry and crumbly looked the same at the picture, flavour was good I even used the lesser time and still DRY. 😔
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
Oh no Tammy! How disappointing - Texture wise it isn't an ultra fudgy cake, but dry is definitely not the word I would use to describe it. I am so sorry it didn't wor out for you!
nada says
hi
is it 325 °F? = 180°C
do you think baking the cake for total (1 hour) this made it dry ?
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
Hi Nada! 325 is about 160 degrees more or less and yes baking it at a higher temperature would definitely make it drier. As it is this isn’t a naturally gooey cake so it is a little temperature sensitive! I’d totally cut it up and use it in an ice cream trifle though - it’s so yum like that!
Nada says
I am invited to dinner and will prepare the cake now
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
that's great to hear!
Nida Jafri says
Hi Sarah! I'm going to attempt this cake tonight, can you explain the bit about the eggs though. 2 eggs and four egg yolks? Want to make sure I'm understanding that correctly before making a scramble instead of soft white peaks!
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
Hi Nida!! In this cake batter the 2 full eggs and four yolks go in the beginning and the 4 egg whites become the meringue part at the end. Would love to hear how it turns out!
Alicia says
Hi! Can I double the recipe ? I all ready made it, and my family love it, my nice ask me to do it for her birthday, so it's for 20 people. Thank you!!! I hope it can be double with no trouble !! 🤗
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
Hi Alicia! AM SO SO HAPPY TO HEAR THAT! (no< i am not shouting, just excited!) I can't thick of a reason why it won't double easily. Happy Birthday to your niece, I am sure her celebration will be wonderful if her aunt is making her cake with so much love!
Nicole says
What size eggs did you use? Thank you
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
large eggs - happy baking! do let me know how it goes!
Kate says
Looks amazing! Want to make it for Christmas Day but would be good to make it ahead. Do you think I could make it on 23rd and it still be ok on 25th? In fridge or out? Thanks so much! X
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
Totally!! I would wrap it super well and keep it in the fridge, but then take it out Christmas morning so it softens by the time you eat. Have a happy delicious Christmas! Less than 30 days away!
Lee Rankin says
My daughter requested a gf chocolate cake for her birthday tomorrow. It's in the oven as we speak. I have 8 people for lunch tomorrow so will be busy preparing lunch in the morning, so making the night before. I hope it will be okay if left in the fridge overnight. Will let you know tomorrow
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
Happy Birhdya to your girl! As long as it is wrapped it will be just fine 🙂 Remember to pull it out of the fridge a few hours before as it is best served at room temperature. Little ones may find it a little dark, but I found sweetened whipped cream or vanilla ice cream helps with that! Excited to hear how it worked out!
Nat says
Hi, thanks for sharing this recipe. With the oven temperature, was this fan forced or no fan? My oven is fan forced and known for being quite hot, so I’d probably drop it 20C if you didn’t use the fan! Thanks!
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
Hi Nat! I have been away so I am just seeing this but I am really not sure because mine's not fan forced. So sorry I couldn't be more help
Sumbul Jafri says
Awww looks so delicious,Sarah. I wonder how you keep your hands off it.
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
unsuccessfully 🙂
honeywhatscooking says
A gluten-free cake is up my alley, I've been trying to eat more gluten-free stuff. THis looks gorgeous!!!
Shumaila says
One look at this cake and I want to make it. It looks so good. Pinning it and hopefully trying it soon!
GH says
Hello! Hope all is well. I was wondering if you have done a post on Nando's Peri Peri Chicken? Nandos is place far away from our home as compared to our kitchen, which is just a giant leap away but we still prefer to walk to it, as we all know, safety comes first! 🙂
If you havent done the post, would you like to do it please? 🙂
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
GH I actually haven't but there is a recipe I have been meaning to try. Let me know if you want me to send it your way! Also apologies for the late response, my dear notebook finally got back from the tech store!
GH says
Good to know that notebook is up and running again. Life is unimaginable without modern gadgets.
Would you please email the recipe here: Macslounge@gmail.com
Regards
KClayton says
I am completely with you... if you're standing up the calories don't count. lol! One more reason to make this cake.
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
lol now if only I can get my jeans on board with this philosophy! thanks for stopping by 🙂
katiewallart says
Yum! Thanks for sharing. This one is going in my recipe folder. 😉
xoxo
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
yay! hope you make it someday! thanks for popping by 🙂
Farah.F says
looks Oh-So-Good!
sarahjmir@gmail.com says
Thanks Farah! It's been a while since we connected - hope you are well!