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.
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.
Six happy egg yolks sitting in a bowl.
Just waiting for sugar and they’ll have a go.
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.
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.
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.
Essentially, all of the whites are mixed in, there are no large pockets of whites hanging out, and the mixture is fluffy and light.
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.
PrintChocolate Pudding Cake with Orange and Nutmeg
Ingredients
- 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
- Place a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- 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.
- 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.
- Stir in the melted chocolate and set aside. The mixture may thicken some after the chocolate is added. That’s alright.
- 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.
- 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.
- Pour into prepared baking dish and bake for 23-25 minutes until puffed and the center barely jiggles when shaken lightly.
- Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes before dusting with powdered sugar and serving warm.
- Cake will last, well wrapped at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Valerie Damen
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!
Jill
Can I substitute coconut sugar? Just discovered your site, it’s amazing!
joythebaker
I’ve never cooked with coconut sugar, so I’m not sure how to substitute it.
Original Cake Toppers
Absolutely beautiful, can’t wait to try this gluten free recipe!
Laura
Could you use this recipe with individual ramekins?
joythebaker
Sure you could do that! That sounds great!
Emalee
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?
Renee @ Awesome on 20
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.
Alison
Yup, definitely my kind of cake!
Katherine
Wow , this might have to be my next bake. Looks delicious!
http://coffeecakeandcomposition.blogspot.co.uk/
Mary | flavorrd
I served this for Christmas dessert… huge hit! (as usual! thanks again Joy!)
Jayne | Tenacious Tinkering
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?
Mandy
I like to say there are three kinds of people in the world: those who are good at math, and those who aren’t.
Michelle
Made this last night and it was delish! Do you think I could easily double the recipe for a larger version or should I make two instead?
Michelle
I made this last night and it turned out amazing (I subbed the orange zest for cinnamon, just a personal preference). I want to make this as my christmas dessert for the family – move away from my usual pies – but would need more. Do you think the recipe would be easily doubled? or should I make two separate ones?
Shahana
I love puddings! However, I can’t eat chocolate. Can I use carob powder and how much? Thanks
Marianne
Looks delicious Joy! I think I am going to be a new fan of your blog :-)
Jayne | Tenacious Tinkering
This is such an easy thing to whip up! (pun there… eh? eh?) I can imagine getting this out in under an hour. Chocolate!
Jill
This sounds fantastic. I love love your mixing bowl and baking dish! Know where I can find them?
Amelia
This looks and sounds divine!!! xax | http://www.xameliax.com
Considering The Radish
There’s a time for pretty layer cakes, but those are few and far between for me. This is the sort of perfectly imperfect cake I want to eat in my everyday life.
Stef
so, since this is mostly eggs, this counts as breakfast, right? :)
April
It doesn’t have flour!! I think I love you. One question–I don’t have a stand mixer so can a hand mixer work too? Thanks.
Libby
This looks like perfectly attainable decadence. :)
I love the baking dish, too!
Ashlyn @ The Pedantic Foodie
This looks so yummy and I love that it is gluten-free! I think I will be making this for my sister this year! She will be happy to have a flour-free cake!
joythebaker
Perfect!
Jess @ Gas Stove Girl
So much yes!
Girl Named Allyn
This is most definitely my kind of cake, though I’d have to leave out the orange zest because, for some unknown reason, the two flavors my husband hates are orange zest and rose water. We all have our things.
joythebaker
Don’t we?
itadakimat
Mmm, looks heavenly!