Chocolate Cake with Candied Kumquats
A rich chocolate cake layered with kumquat syrup and finished with a smooth chocolate glaze.
Ingredients
Kumquats (washed, halved lengthwise)
9-10 (for decoration)
Sugar (cooked with the kumquats and water)
to taste
Water
Flour
Sugar (for the cake batter)
Salt
a pinch
Eggs
Chocolate (melted with the cocoa powder and butter)
Cocoa powder (melted with the chocolate and butter)
Butter (melted with the chocolate and cocoa powder)
All ingredients for the glaze sauce (see page 34)
Chocolate leaves (for decoration)
Instructions
1
Preparing the Kumquats
Wash the kumquats and cut each one in half lengthwise, reserving 9-10 whole kumquats for decoration. Combine the kumquats with the sugar and water in a saucepan, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer gently for 30 minutes until tender. Remove and set aside.
2
Making the Cake Batter
Combine the flour, sugar, salt, and eggs in a large bowl set over a pan of hot water (the water should not be boiling). Using an electric mixer, beat for about 8 minutes, until the mixture is thick and falls in a ribbon-like trail when the beaters are lifted.
3
Mixing and Baking
Melt the chocolate, cocoa powder, and butter together (see page 34), then beat this mixture into the egg mixture for several minutes. Pour the batter into a prepared cake pan and bake in a preheated oven for 25 minutes, or until the cake springs back like a sponge when pressed. Run a knife around the inside edge of the pan, let the cake rest in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn it out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
4
Making the Glaze
Heat and melt all the ingredients for the glaze together (see page 34). Place a plate beneath the cake on the wire rack to catch any drips. Once the glaze has cooled slightly, pour it over the still-warm cake and spread it evenly with an offset spatula (see page 49). Let it set for about 10 minutes.
5
Decorating and Serving
Decorate the top of the cake with the chocolate leaves and the reserved whole kumquats. Serve the cake while still slightly warm, accompanied by the remaining candied kumquats and syrup.
