FAST FOOD

Chocolate chestnut cakes

Serves 6



Cakes
3   eggs
85 gm   caster sugar
50 gm (1/3 cup)   cornflour
25 gm (¼ cup)   Dutch-process cocoa, plus extra for dusting
1 tsp   cream of tartar
½ tsp   bicarbonate of soda
1 tbsp   plain flour
40 gm   unsalted butter, melted
½ cup   thickened cream
¼ cup   sweetened chestnut purée (available from delicatessens)
Chocolate sauce
200 gm   dark chocolate, chopped
50 gm   unsalted butter


1 Using an electric mixer, whisk eggs and sugar until mixture holds a trail. Sift cornflour, cocoa, cream of tartar, bicarbonate of soda and flour over egg mixture and, using a spatula, gently fold in, then add melted butter and fold in until combined. Spoon mixture into two 18x26cm baking paper-lined swiss roll pans and bake at 180C for 12 minutes or until cakes spring back when lightly touched. Stand cakes for 3 minutes before turning out onto wire racks to cool.
2 Using an electric mixer, whisk cream until soft peaks form, then stir in chestnut purée until combined. Using a 7cm-round pastry cutter, cut 12 rounds from sponge, then spread 6 rounds with chestnut cream, top with remaining rounds and refrigerate for 5 minutes or until firm.
3 For chocolate sauce, melt chocolate in a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, add butter and stir until smooth.
4 Serve cakes, dusted with cocoa and drizzled with chocolate sauce. Cakes will keep, refrigerated, in an airtight container for up to 3 days.


Drink Suggestion 2001 Jacob’s Creek St Hugo Cabernet.

RECIPE Rodney Dunn PHOTOGRAPHY Ben Dearnley STYLING Rodney Dunn


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