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Torta tenerina
Soft chocolate cake
Torta tenerina: Ferrara's low, melting chocolate cake with a crackled crust
Ferrara, in Emilia-Romagna, calls this cake "tenerina" (the tender one) because the middle stays soft and almost creamy under a thin, crackly crust. It was created in the early 1900s and named in honour of Queen Elena of Montenegro, wife of King Vittorio Emanuele III. Families bake it for birthdays and Sunday lunches, and it is served plain or with whipped cream. It uses very little flour. Chef's tip: bake it for no longer than the recipe says; it should be just set at the edge and wobbly in the middle when it comes out.
- Total time
- 40 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 8
Ingredients
- 7 oz dark chocolate (60–70%)chopped
- 3 ½ oz butter
- 4 eggsseparated
- 5 ½ oz caster sugar
- 1 ¾ oz plain flour
- 1 pinch salt
- 2 tbsp icing sugar
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 350°F (325°F fan). Line a 24 cm springform tin.
Step 2: Melt 7 oz dark chocolate (60–70%) and 3 ½ oz butter over a pan of simmering water. Cool slightly, then beat in the egg yolks from 4 eggs one at a time and half of 2 ⅝ oz caster sugar. Stir in 1 ¾ oz plain flour.
Step 3: Whisk the whites with 1 pinch salt and the rest of the sugar to soft, glossy peaks. Fold into the chocolate gently in three goes.
Step 4: Pour into the tin and bake for 20–25 minutes, until a thin crust forms and the edges are set but the middle still wobbles. Common mistake: baking until firm; you lose the soft heart.
25 minStep 5: Cool completely in the tin, dust with 2 tbsp icing sugar and slice.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 380 kcal
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 32 g
- Fat
- 26 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does torta tenerina take?
- About 40 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 8 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of eggs?
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
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