Chocolate Ganache Cake
Light & Tasty
Although this cake looks very elegant and like something you'd only serve at special occasions, it's really, really easy. As one of our Test Kitchen Professionals put it, “It's the easiest cake you could ever make.”
SERVINGS: 12
CATEGORY: Lower Fat
METHOD: Baked
TIME: Prep: 20 min. Bake: 20 min. + cooling
Ingredients:
- 2 ounces 53% cacao dark baking chocolate, coarsely chopped
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3/4 cup boiling water
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup buttermilk
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon orange extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- GANACHE:
- 1/4 cup half-and-half cream
- 3 ounces 53% cacao dark baking chocolate, coarsely chopped
Directions:
Place chocolate and butter in a large mixing bowl; add boiling water and stir until smooth. Stir in the sugar, buttermilk, egg and extracts. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; beat into chocolate mixture just until blended.
Transfer to a 9-in. round baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.
In a small heavy saucepan, combine the ganache ingredients. Cook and stir over low heat until smooth. Transfer to a small bowl; cool for 10 minutes or until slightly thickened.
Place cake on a serving plate. Slowly pour ganache over cake, allowing some ganache to drape over the sides. Refrigerate until serving. Yield: 12 servings.