Coming at you straight from the Island of Capri today! Can I ask you to take another look at the picture above, and let’s just have a moment of silence for the most beautiful, tender chocolate cake that’s entirely floureless! This decadent and luxurious flourless chocolate cake (or Torta Caprese) was one of my main attractions for making the hike from Positano to Capri this past summer. Nevermind the Blue Grotto, what can compare with a flourless chocolate cake? Not much, my husband will tell you.
The beautiful thing about a flourless chocolate cake is that you don’t have to follow a gluten-free diet to enjoy it! Unlike cakes that use gluten-free flour and sometimes leave a funny taste or texture in your mouth, this one is made using almond flour and tastes just like a light, yet fudge cake should. This is something brand new for me as I’ve never shared a flourless cake here on the blog before. Come to think of it; I haven’t shared a cake recipe with you in a while! There were a few rounds of muffins in the January that wouldn’t end. Like the lemon zucchini ones and the banana ones that are naturally sweetened. So today I thought I’d share a chocolate cake that was meant to be made flourless and what do you know it, it’s right in time for Valentine’s Day!
What is Caprese cake?
A Caprese cake (or Torta Caprese) is an old Neapolitan dessert that comes to us from the Island of Capri. It’s better known as a flourless chocolate cake here because it’s made with almond meal (or almond flour) rather than traditional all-purpose flour. Caprese cake also traditionally doesn’t contain a leavening agent (such as baking powder or baking soda.) It instead includes whipped egg whites that give the cake a just a bit of height.
Ingredients needed to make Caprese Cake:
almond meal (or almond flour) chopped chocolate salted butter granulated sugar eggs vanilla
What kind of butter do I use?
I prefer to use salted butter for this recipe as it gives it a more balanced flavor and doesn’t make this flourless cake too sweet. However, if you’ve got unsalted butter, you can still use it in the recipe, stir in 1/4 teaspoon of salt when you add the almond flour to the recipe.
What type of chocolate does this recipe use?
I prefer and suggest using good, high-quality chocolate here. I usually buy chocolate bars sold in the baking aisle and then chop it up for this recipe. I prefer to use bittersweet chocolate here because I like a darker, less sweet chocolate cake. However, semi-sweet will also work, it’ll just be a little sweeter. If you prefer your desserts on the sweeter side, use semi-sweet! For those of us that like our desserts less sweet, bittersweet is the way to go, IMO. Chocolate chips will also work for this recipe, but I find that chopped chocolate yields better results.
Is Caprese cake gluten-free?
Yes, it is! My flourless chocolate cake contains almond meal instead of all-purpose flour, so it’s naturally gluten-free and suitable for those that suffer from Celiacs or have other issues that prevent them from consuming gluten.
How far in advance can I make this?
The beautiful thing about my Caprese cake is that you can make it up to one day in advance and it will taste just as good if not better on day two.
How to make the best Caprese Cake:
How do you serve a flourless chocolate cake?
I prefer to serve this Torta Caprese nice and simple, the way they do on the Island of Capri — with just a dusting of powdered sugar. Sometimes I’ll add a handful of fresh berries on the side for a little contrast. However, if you’re a chocolate fanatic, you can drizzle on homemade chocolate ganache or serve this chocolate almond cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!
How should I store leftovers?
No need to refrigerate this chocolate cake. All you want to do is place it in an airtight container, and it should be fine on the counter for 3-4 days.
Can I freeze leftovers?
If you’d like to store your cake in the freeze, wrap it in freezer paper and then place it in a zip top bag. You can store this well wrapped in the freezer for up to 3 months! Warm chocolate cake topped with a generous sprinkle of powdered sugar is all you need to make Valentine’s Day or any other day perfect! P.S. If you have a difficult time finding almond meal (or almond flour) in your grocery store, you can buy it online.
Although this recipe can be made with both bittersweet and semi-sweet chocolate, we prefer it with bittersweet chocolate. Check the post for a full explanation on why! 🙂
