Boo! Scaring up a Sachertorte

We were a bit late this month because we were waiting for a special guest to come visit and enjoy our baking with us. Sara baked the cake all by her lonesome in the morning -- and did a great job. We both remarked that it was more chocolately than sugary (a good thing in both our books), and much moister than other Sachertortes we've tasted. Then I and several friends joined her in the evening for an Austrian-themed vegetarian dinner, which was delicious.

Before dinner, I made an apricot-strawberry glaze and coated the cake with it. I had less success with the chocolate glaze. It got seriously clumpy and thick after I added the chocolate to the simple syrup. I tried to thin it out with water and,while it was shiny, it did not pour as needed, so the end product didn't have the beautiful sheen of a true Sachertorte. We ran out of chocolate before we could attempt to write "Sacher" on it... probably for the best given past adventures in cake decorating.

 

Nonetheless, it was very, very tasty and enjoyed by all.

Happy Halloween!

The October Daring Bakers’ challenge was brought to us by Korena of Korena in the Kitchen. She took us to Austria and introduced us to the wonders of the Sachertorte.

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Sachertorte

Servings: 12-16

Preparation time: 

This cake is best made in stages, as it needs time for the various components to set/chill before 

continuing:

1. Cake: 30-60 minutes prep, 35-45 minutes baking, several hours cooling

2. Apricot glaze: 10 minutes prep, 5 minutes assembly, 5-10 minutes to set

3. Chocolate glaze and decoration: 10 minutes prep, 5-10 minutes assembly/decoration, 1 hour to set/chill

4. Let the cake sit at room temperature for 1 hour before serving

Equipment required:

• 9-inch (23 cm) spring-form or other high-sided pan
• parchment paper
• small heavy-bottomed saucepan
• small/medium heat-proof bowl
• spatula
• stand mixer with whisk and paddle attachments, or hand-held electric mixer
• 2 large bowls (stand mixer bowl + one other)
• fine mesh sieve
• heat-proof spoon
• candy thermometer (optional but nice)
• cooling rack
• serrated knife
• 8½-inch (22 cm) cardboard cake round
• whisk
• large metal offset spatula
• plate or baking sheet
• waxed paper

Cake 

Ingredients

• ¾ cup (180 gm) (4½ oz) (125 gm) good quality bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 9 tablespoons (135 ml) (4½ oz) (125 gm) unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
• 1 cup (240 ml) (4½ oz) (125 gm) confectioners’ sugar (aka icing sugar or powdered sugar)
• 6 large eggs, separated, at room temperature (see note above about egg whites)
• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
• ½ cup (120 ml) (7 oz) (100 gm) granulated sugar
• 1 cup (120 ml) (4½ oz) (125 gm) all-purpose (plain) flour (for volume measurement, spoon gently into 
• measuring cup and level top)
• pinch fine grain saltAssembly
• Apricot Glaze (see recipe below)
• Chocolate Glaze (see recipe below)
• Writing Chocolate (see recipe below)
• 1 cup (240 ml) heavy whipping cream, cold

Directions

1. Preheat oven to moderately hot 375˚F/350°F fan/190˚C/gas mark 5 with a rack in the centre of the oven. Butter and flower the sides of a 9-inch (23 cm) springform pan, then line the bottom with a circle of parchment paper. 

2. Place the bittersweet chocolate in a heat-proof bowl and heat over a small saucepan of barely simmering water (make sure that the bowl is not touching the simmering water) or in the microwave until just melted. Set aside to cool completely, stirring often.

3. Place the butter in a large mixing bowl and beat with the paddle attachment of a stand mixer or electric mixer on medium speed until very light and creamy. Add the confectioners’ sugar on low speed, then increase to medium speed and beat again until light and creamy.

4. Beat in the egg yolks, one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl.

5. Add the cooled chocolate and vanilla and beat until well-mixed and very light and creamy, scraping down the sides of the bowl.6. In a scrupulously clean bowl using the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites with about one tablespoon of the granulated sugar on high speed until foamy. Gradually add in the rest of the granulated sugar and continue beating the whites until they form soft, shiny peaks - they should hold their shape but flop over on themselves.

7. Vigorously stir about 1/3 of the whipped egg whites into the chocolate mixture to lighten it, then gently fold the remaining egg whites into the chocolate mixture with a spatula until just a few wisps of egg white remain. Do this carefully so as not to deflate the egg whites.

8. Stir together the flour and salt and sift half of it over the chocolate mixture. Fold in with a spatula until almost incorporated. Sift over the remaining flour and fold to combine completely. 

9. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared springform pan.

10. Bake in the preheated moderately hot 375˚F/350°F fan/190˚C/gas mark 5 oven for 35-45 minutes (mine took exactly 40 minutes) or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. The cake will crack and dome in the middle as it bakes but will flatten out as it cools.

11. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then run a knife around the edge to loosen it from the pan and remove the sides. Carefully invert the cake onto a rack and remove the bottom of the pan and parchment paper, then turn the cake right-side up onto a rack and allow to cool completely.

12. Assembly: Turn the cake upside-down so that the perfectly flat bottom of the cake is now the top. Cut the cake horizontally into 2 even layers.

13. Place 1 cake layer on the 8½-inch (22 cm) cardboard cake round and spread it generously with about half of the apricot glaze. Allow it to soak in.

14. Place the second cake layer on top and spread the top and sides with the remaining apricot glaze. Work quickly before the glaze has a chance to set and use a metal offset spatula to smooth the top. Place the cake on a rack set over a plate or baking sheet lined with waxed paper and allow the apricot glaze to set.

15. Make the chocolate glaze (it must be used immediately, while still hot) and pour it over the top of the cake, first around the edge and then in the middle. Spread the excess glaze over any bare spots using a metal offset spatula. Before the glaze has a chance to set, move the cake to a serving platter.

16. With the writing chocolate, pipe the word “Sacher” in the middle of the cake and add any decorative flourishes you wish. Chill the cake until the glaze is completely set, at least 1 hour.

17. To serve: Let the cake come to room temperature for about 1 hour before serving. Whip the cream to soft peaks (this is best done in a cold bowl with cold beaters). If desired, sweeten it with icing sugar to taste.

18. Cut the Sachertorte into wedges with a large sharp knife dipped in hot water and wipe off the blade between cuts. Serve each wedge of cake with a large dollop of whipped cream. 

Apricot Glaze

Servings: 1 quantity (about 1 cup)

Ingredients

• 1¼ cup (300 ml) (14 oz) (400 gm) apricot jam or preserves
• 2 tablespoons (30 ml) rum (or other liquor) or water

Directions

1. Boil the jam and rum/water in a small saucepan over medium heat.

2. Cook, stirring often, until the mixture thickens and drips slowly from the spoon, about 2-3 minutes.

3. Strain through a wire mesh sieve, pressing firmly on the solids. You should have about 1 cup of glaze. Use warm.

Chocolate Glaze

Servings: 1 quantity

Ingredients

• 1 cup (240 ml) (7 oz) (200 g) granulated sugar½ cup (120 ml) water
• (4 oz) (115 gm) good quality bittersweet chocolate, chopped

Directions

1. Place the sugar and water in a small, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.

2. Attach a candy thermometer and cook, stirring, until the mixture reaches 234˚F/112°C, about 5 minutes. If you don’t have a candy thermometer, use the method explained in this video.

3. Remove the saucepan from the heat and whisk in the chocolate. It might thicken up quite a bit. If it does, return it to low heat and add a few drops of water if necessary to thin it out to a runny, pourable consistency. The glaze should be smooth and shiny.

4. Off the heat, stir the glaze for 30-60 seconds to cool it slightly, then immediately use it to glaze the cake.

5. Any excess glaze can be stored in a container in the fridge and added to a mug of hot milk to make hot chocolate.

Writing Chocolate

Servings: 1 quantity

Ingredients

• ¼ cup (60 ml) (1.8 oz) (50 gm) chopped good quality chocolate
• ½ - 1 teaspoons vegetable oil

Directions

1. Heat the chocolate until just melted, then stir in enough vegetable oil to get a pipeable consistency. If necessary, let the chocolate mixture cool slightly to thicken so that it is not too runny.

2. Place the chocolate in a disposable piping bag or small Ziplock bag and snip off the tip to make a small hole. I recommend a practice run on waxed paper before writing on the cake.

Storage & Freezing Instructions/Tips

The cake can be stored up to 2 days in an airtight container at room temperature.