Torta Caprese (Flourless Chocolate and Almond Cake)
Local name: Torta caprese
In short: A dense, moist chocolate cake made with ground almonds instead of flour, from Capri. Naturally gluten-free and rich with simple ingredients. It takes about 1 h 5 min in total and makes 10 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 40 min
- Total
- 1 h 5 min
- Servings
- 10
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 430 kcal
Torta caprese comes from the island of Capri and is one of Italy's best-known chocolate cakes. It contains no flour: the structure comes from ground almonds and whipped eggs, and the crumb is moist, fudgy in the center and slightly crisp on top. It is also naturally gluten-free. The cake is rich and keeps well for several days, so it is easy to make ahead and slice thin with coffee.
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 170°C (340°F). Grease a 23 cm (9 inch) springform pan and line the base with parchment.
- Melt the chocolate gently in a heatproof bowl over a pan of barely simmering water, or in the microwave in 30-second bursts. Let it cool until just warm.
- Beat the butter with 100 g (1/2 cup) of the sugar for 3 to 4 minutes until pale and fluffy. Beat in the egg yolks one at a time, then the vanilla and the melted chocolate.
- Fold in the ground almonds until just combined.
- In a clean bowl, whisk the egg whites with the salt until foamy, then add the remaining 50 g (1/4 cup) of sugar and whisk to firm, glossy peaks.
- Fold a third of the whites into the chocolate batter to loosen it, then fold in the rest gently so as not to lose the air.
- Scrape the batter into the pan and smooth the top. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the top is set and cracked and a skewer comes out with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then remove the ring and cool completely. Dust with powdered sugar and serve in thin slices.
Tips
- Do not overbake. The center should stay slightly fudgy, and the cake continues to set as it cools.
- Swap half of the almonds for ground hazelnuts, or add a tablespoon of orange zest to the batter.
Questions and answers
Is torta caprese gluten-free?
Yes, it contains no flour. Check the labels of your chocolate and ground almonds for cross-contamination warnings if you need to avoid gluten strictly.
How should I store torta caprese?
Keep it covered at room temperature for 3 days. The flavor and texture improve on the second day. You can also refrigerate it for 5 days and serve it at room temperature.
Can I freeze torta caprese?
Yes. Wrap the cooled cake well and freeze it for up to 2 months. Thaw it overnight in the fridge and dust with powdered sugar just before serving.
How long does it take to make Torta Caprese (Flourless Chocolate and Almond Cake)?
About 1 h 5 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 40 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Torta Caprese (Flourless Chocolate and Almond Cake)?
About 430 kcal per serving, with 9 g of protein, 29 g of carbohydrates and 31 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 430 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 9 g |
| Carbohydrates | 29 g |
| Fat | 31 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 22 g |
| Sodium | 90 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
