The Vaux le Vicomte Birthday Cake

Our Birthday Cake

6 Servings

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 45 minutes

1 lb 2 oz (500 g) dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids)

1 stick (100 g) butter

4 eggs

3 teaspoons vanilla sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ cup (100 g) sugar

Preheat the over to 350˚F (180˚). Melt the chocolate and remove from the heat. Add the butter, then the egg yolks, vanilla sugar, baking powder and sugar. Beat the egg whites until they form stiff peaks. Fold the whites into the yolk and chocolate mixture. Bake for 45 minutes. Serve with custard or Chantilly [or whipped cream]. If the cake sinks because it is not evenly cooked, it is possible to serve it anyway—as a dessert with spoons. It maybe looks less presentable, but it is still just as delicious.

Option: for an extra-special presentation, you can layer several cakes and decorate with fruits.

From Decadent Desserts: Recipes from Château Vaux-le-Vicomte by Countess Cristina de Vogüé, Flammarion, 2008.

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• Pure Decadence at Vaux le Vicomte