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Chocolate Pudding Cake with Orange and Nutmeg

December 15, 2015 by Joy the Baker 31 Comments

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Chocolate Pudding Cake with orange and nutmeg

There are two kinds of people in the world. 

(I really hate when people say that.  Are things really so simple that there are only two kinds of people in the world.  TWO?  Clearly not.  That’s like saying… there are two kinds of people in the world:  people who think like I do, and all the wrong people who disagree with me.)  

That being said… There are eighteen thousand forty-something kinds of people in the world, some of them have the patience and confidence of saints in making elaborate layer cakes, and the rest of us  want to slop some batter in a dish, under-bake it, scoop it out with a spoon and call it cake.  

I ain’t no saint, and you don’t look much like one either. 

Chocolate Pudding Cake with orange and nutmeg

Ingredient talk.

Let’s say thanks to the egg.  Eggs will do all the lifting (heavy and otherwise) in this cake.  

We separate the egg yolks from the whites. The egg yolks will add a richness and when beaten well with granulated sugar, become creamy and thick.  

Egg whites are a different story.  Whipped egg whites add volume, structure, and a light-as-air quality to your pudding cake.  

It’s science… and, under-baking the cake just right is instinct.  We’ve got those.  Keep it tight. 

Chocolate Pudding Cake with orange and nutmeg

Six happy egg yolks sitting in a bowl.  

Just waiting for sugar and they’ll have a go.  

Chocolate Pudding Cake with orange and nutmeg

Fresh nutmeg to add just the right spice.  

It’s December.  I think we’re legally bound to add either cinnamon and/or nutmeg to everything.  I read that somewhere.  Probably the internet.  

Chocolate Pudding Cake with orange and nutmeg

Eggs are whisked very well with orange sugar then stirred with glossy melted dark chocolate.  

I mean… really great things are happening already! 

I should mention that this cake is GLUTEN-FREE.  Bonus.  

Chocolate Pudding Cake with orange and nutmeg

Here’s where things really get going.  

A big heap of egg whites (beaten to soft peaks) are added to the chocolate and egg yolk mixture.  We fold the eggs in to add volume so the key is to incorporate the ingredients well, but still keep the lightness of the egg whites.  

Chocolate Pudding Cake with orange and nutmeg

Essentially, all of the whites are mixed in, there are no large pockets of whites hanging out, and the mixture is fluffy and light.  

Chocolate Pudding Cake with orange and nutmeg

Baked for about 20 minutes until just set and the top is slightly flakey.  I give this cake a few minutes to cool, dust it generously with powdered sugar, and serve it warm with whipped cream.  

This isn’t exactly lava cake consistency.  The baked cake has more structure than that.  It’s soft and slightly gooey, but not oozy melty. Delicious on the inside, wonderful with the cracked chocolate top, and slightly crunchy on the outside because of the granulated sugar it’s baked in.  

Orange and spice because it’s the holidays and we’re everything nice.  

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Chocolate Pudding Cake with Orange and Nutmeg

★★★★★ 5 from 1 reviews
  • Author: Joy the Baker
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Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature for brushing baking dish
  • 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, divided
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg
  • 6 large eggs, at room temperature, separated
  • 6 ounces semi sweet dark chocolate (about 63%), melted
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • powdered sugar for dusting
  • lightly sweetened whipped cream for serving

Instructions

  1. Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Lightly brush a 2-quart baking dish (I used a deep pie dish) with butter and dust the bottom and sides with granulated sugar. Set aside.
  3. In a medium bowl stir together remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar and orange zest. Stir until the zest is evenly distributed through the sugar and the sugar is lightly tinted orange and fragrant. Stir in the nutmeg. Add the egg yolks to the orange sugar and whisk vigorously, until the mixture is pale yellow and thickened slightly. I just did this with a whisk by hand for about 5 minutes.
  4. Stir in the melted chocolate and set aside. The mixture may thicken some after the chocolate is added. That’s alright.
  5. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat eggs at medium speed until frothy and beginning to thicken. Sprinkle in the salt and continue to beat to soft peaks. The egg whites should just hold a point on the whisk attachment. If you beat the egg whites too stiff, they’ll be hard to incorporate into the egg and chocolate mixture.
  6. Spoon about 1/3 of the egg white mixture into the chocolate mixture and fold until just incorporated. Continue in two more batches until the egg whites are well incorporated into the chocolate, the chocolate has lightened and puffed, but try not to over mix the chocolate and egg.
  7. Pour into prepared baking dish and bake for 23-25 minutes until puffed and the center barely jiggles when shaken lightly.
  8. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes before dusting with powdered sugar and serving warm.
  9. Cake will last, well wrapped at room temperature for up to 3 days.

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Filed Under: Cakes, Chocolate, Gluten-Free, Gluten-Free (Sidebar), Recipes

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Reader Interactions

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  1. Judy

    April 7, 2022 at 8:19 am

    Since I’m making this tonight for a birthday party, I had to add a comment. This is my all-time favorite GF, DF (you can line the cake tin with parchment paper) cake. I’ve made it several times – for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, dinner parties – it makes everyone happy.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  2. Valerie Damen

    May 27, 2016 at 8:27 am

    This was absolutely hands-down THE best dessert I’ve ever made finding it online. The texture was so fluffy and melty, I literally was taken back at first bite.

    Thank you SO much for sharing. Also the BF loved it haha. My suggestion would be make the extra effort and make yourself homemade whipped cream instead of store-bought. It made the dessert that much more decedent!

    Reply
  3. Jill

    April 6, 2016 at 2:19 pm

    Can I substitute coconut sugar? Just discovered your site, it’s amazing!

    Reply
    • joythebaker

      May 24, 2016 at 11:43 am

      I’ve never cooked with coconut sugar, so I’m not sure how to substitute it.

      Reply
  4. Original Cake Toppers

    March 3, 2016 at 11:46 pm

    Absolutely beautiful, can’t wait to try this gluten free recipe!

    Reply
  5. Laura

    January 14, 2016 at 1:28 pm

    Could you use this recipe with individual ramekins?

    Reply
    • joythebaker

      October 25, 2016 at 11:06 am

      Sure you could do that! That sounds great!

      Reply
  6. Emalee

    January 2, 2016 at 5:21 pm

    If I were to bake this in ramekins for smaller servings, what would you recommend for bake time, and do you think I could freeze the others?

    Reply
  7. Renee @ Awesome on 20

    January 2, 2016 at 7:56 am

    I’m the kind of person who wishes I had the patience to make elaborate cakes but almost never does. This one looks perfect. So gorgeous.

    Reply
  8. Alison

    January 1, 2016 at 3:45 am

    Yup, definitely my kind of cake!

    Reply
  9. Katherine

    December 27, 2015 at 8:42 am

    Wow , this might have to be my next bake. Looks delicious!
    https://coffeecakeandcomposition.blogspot.co.uk/

    Reply
  10. Mary | flavorrd

    December 26, 2015 at 12:32 pm

    I served this for Christmas dessert… huge hit! (as usual! thanks again Joy!)

    Reply
  11. Jayne | Tenacious Tinkering

    December 21, 2015 at 9:42 pm

    By the way, Joy, does this recipe double well? I am planning to make this for a church dinner to serve about 70+ people. Do you recommend doubling it or just making 2 separate portions?

    Reply
  12. Mandy

    December 16, 2015 at 9:37 pm

    I like to say there are three kinds of people in the world: those who are good at math, and those who aren’t.

    Reply
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