Recipe: Flourless Chocolate and Vanilla (Cream Cheese) Cake

As you can tell by the attendance at the gym, and the influx of healthy recipes in your inbox,  New Years Resolutions are in full effect. I must admit, that I am on the diet/fitness bandwagon, but I tried this recipe on NYE and just had to share. Hey, everyone needs to treat themselves sometimes! We opted for a low key night with some friends over, so this was the perfect opportunity to experiment with a new (and gluten free) dessert.

Flourless Chocolate and Vanilla (Cream Cheese) Cake

For the vanilla batter:
8 oz. cream cheese, softened to room temperature
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
 

For the chocolate batter:
10 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
5 oz. (10 Tbs.) unsalted butter, cut into 6 pieces
3 large eggs
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 Tbs. dark rum or espresso
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
Pinch table salt

Cocoa powder for dusting

1. Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven and heat the oven to 300°F. Lightly grease a 9x2-inch round cake pan and line the bottom with parchment.

2. Make the vanilla batter: In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the sugar and continue beating until well blended and no lumps remain. Add the egg and vanilla and beat just until blended. Set aside.

Although a double boiler sounds complicated, it is pretty straight forward

3. Make the chocolate batter:  In a medium bowl, melt the chocolate and butter in a double boiler (large metal bowl over a pan of simmering water) or in the microwave. Whisk until smooth and set aside to cool slightly. With a stand mixer fitted with the whip attachment (or with a hand mixer), beat the eggs, sugar, rum or espresso, vanilla, and salt on medium high until the mixture is pale and thick, 3 to 4 min. With the mixer on low, gradually pour in the chocolate mixture and continue beating until well blended.



4. Combine and bake: Spread about half of the chocolate batter in the bottom of the pan. Alternately add large scoopfuls of each of the remaining batters to the cake pan. Using a knife or the tip of a rubber spatula, gently swirl the two batters together so they're mixed but not completely blended. Rap the pan against the counter top several times to settle the batters.Bake until a pick inserted about 2 inches from the edge comes out gooey but not liquid, 40 to 42 min.; don't over bake. The top will be puffed and slightly cracked, especially around the edges. It will sink down as it cools. Let cool on a rack until just slightly warm, about 1-1/2 hours. Loosen the cake from the pan by holding the pan almost perpendicular to the counter; tap the pan on the counter while rotating it clockwise. Invert onto a large flat plate or board. Remove the pan and carefully peel off the parchment. Sift some cocoa powder over the cake (this will make it easier to remove the slices when serving). Invert again onto a similar plate so that the top side is up. Let cool completely. Cover and refrigerate until very cold, at least 4 hours or overnight, or freeze.

Thank You Cooking For Seven for the delicious desert.