Chocolate Pecan Cake aka Flourless Chocolate Cake
Chocolate Pecan Cake – (Gluten Free) Perfect for Passover
This Chocolate Pecan Cake is a luxurious flourless chocolate cake with all the goodness of pecans and chocolate. This also makes a perfect dessert for Passover or just when you need a gluten free dessert.
Perfect for Passover
I came to Israel in 2005. Every year for Passover the whole family gets together for dinner and everyone brings their contribution to the table. I usually was always the one in charge or dessert and a side dish. BUT Passover means no flour. So I had to think of a dessert that was without flour.
Well, I bought this Chocolate Pecan Cake and everyone loved it. Since then I have been making this dessert every year for Passover. Yup! Every year! It’s now become a family tradition. Everyone expect me to bring this for Passover now.
Chocolate Pecan Cake / Gluten Free chocolate cake for Passover
The recipe is adapted from one of my favorite cookbooks ‘Best ever Baking’ by Carole Clements. I made changes to the original recipes. But, I absolutely adore this book. I’ve had this book with me forever and It never fails me.|
Note: If your making this for Passover/Pesach, make sure all the other ingredients in the list including chocolate and sugar are kosher for Passover. (Kaser le Pesach)
Chocolate Pecan Cake / Gluten Free Chocolate Cake for Passover
Let’s talk ingredients and substitutes
- Pecans – This recipe uses pecan meal instead of flour. It’s soft, moist and very indulgent. But if you prefer you can switch it for a any other nut meal like almonds, walnuts.
- Chocolate – This cake is all about the chocolate so it is really really important that you use good quality chocolate. I like to use 70% cocoa.
- Eggs – This recipe does have lots of eggs but that’s what keep this recipe so light and airy.
Chocolate Pecan Cake / Gluten Free Chocolate Cake for Passover
RECIPE – Chocolate Pecan Cake / Flourless Chocolate Cake/ Chocolate Cake for Passover
Tools
- Mixer – K-Mix/ Kitchen-Aidor Hand Mix
- Large Bowl
- Whisk Spatula
- Baking Trays
- Grinder / Food Processor
- 9″ Spring form pan
Ingredients:
For the Cake
- Sugar – 150 grams (3/4 cup) – divided into 3
- Large Eggs – 3 nos – separated
- Unsalted Butter – 75 grams
- Chocolate – 150 grams /5 oz
- Salt – 1/4 tsp
- Cream of Tartar – 1/8 tsp
- Coffee – 1 tsp dissolved in 2 tbsp hot water
- Pecan meal – 125 grams – 1 cups
Chocolate Honey Glaze
- Chocolate – 150 grams (5 oz)
- Butter – 50 grams
- Honey – 1 tbsp
Method:
- Prepare an 8″ baking pan for baking
Dissolve coffee in boiling water and set aside.
Toast & Grind Pecans
- Preheat oven to 120 C /240 F and toast the nuts for about 10 mins. Remove the nuts.
- Then turn the oven up to 350 F / 170 C
- Place the Nuts and 1/3 of the sugar in a food processor.
- Grind to a fine powder. Do not over grind as the nuts will get oily and become a paste.
- You can use a sieve to make sure it is ground fine.
Melt Chocolate
- Melt the chocolate and butter in a microwave safe bowl at 30 sec intervals until melted.
Whisk Eggs
- Place the eggs yolks and 1/3 of the sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer and whisk until light and fluffy. Set aside.
- In a clean grease proof bowl – whisk the Egg Whites, salt, cream of tartar and remaining 1/3 of the sugar.
- Whisk until stiff peaks form but still shinny.
Combine
- Add the Chocolate Mixture to the Egg Yolks mixture followed by the Vanilla.
- Next add in the ground nuts and cooled coffee.
- Fold the egg whites into the chocolate mixture… first with the whisk then switch to a spatula using a folding motion.
- You batter is now ready for baking
Chocolate Pecan Cake / Gluten Free Chocolate Cake for Passover
Bake in a water Bath
- Pour batter in the prepare baking pan.
- Place the pan on the center rack, add 1 cup of boiling water on the rack outside the pan. This will help keep the cake moist.
- Bakes for about 30 to 35 minutes, The top will be crisp.
- There may be a crack on the top and you will see that the cake is almost done.
- If you insert a skewer it will have some cake crumbs but not wet gooey batter.
- Let cool in the pan completely, the center will sink so don’t worry, it’s normal.
Chocolate Pecan Cake – Gluten Free Chocolate Cake for Passover
Prepare the Glaze
- Melt the Chocolate, Butter and Honey in a microwave safe bowl.
- Half dip a few pecans in the chocolate glaze as shown in the video for decorations. Place on a parchment paper and in the fridge to set for a few minutes.
- Pour the rest of the chocolate glaze on the cake.
- Place the nuts on the cake as shown in the video
- Let the chocolate set it the fridge. Once completely cooled.
- Use a hot knife to loosen the sides of the cake.
- Transfer to a serving platter
- You can use a few crushed pecan for the sides if you wish too!
Save this recipe for later, you can find a collection of our recipes and tutorials here on Pinterest
Chocolate Pecan Cake Flourless Chocolate Cake Gluten Free
Recipe Card to Print – Chocolate Pecan Cake
Chocolate Pecan Cake aka Flourless Chocolate Cake GF
Prep
Cook
Total
Yield 13 servings
This Chocolate Pecan Cake is a luxurious flourless chocolate cake with all the goodness of pecans and chocolate. This also makes a perfect dessert for Passover or just when you need a gluten free dessert.
Ingredients
For the Cake
- Sugar - 150 grams (3/4 cup) - divided into 3
- Large Eggs - 3 nos - separated
- Unsalted Butter - 75 grams
- Chocolate - 150 grams /5 oz
- Salt - 1/4 tsp
- Cream of Tartar - 1/8 tsp
- Coffee - 1 tsp dissolved in 2 tbsp hot water
- Pecan meal - 125 grams - 1 cups
Chocolate Honey Glaze
- Chocolate - 150 grams (5 oz)
- Butter - 50 grams
- Honey - 1 tbsp
Instructions
- Prepare an 9" baking pan for baking
- Dissolve coffee in boiling water and set aside.
Toast & Grind Pecans
- Preheat oven to 120 C /240 F and toast the nuts for about 10 mins. Remove the nuts.
- Then turn the oven up to 350 F / 170 C
- Place the Nuts and 1/3 of the sugar in a food processor.
- Grind to a fine powder. Do not over grind as the nuts will get oily and become a paste.
- You can use a sieve to make sure it is ground fine.
Melt Chocolate
- Melt the chocolate and butter in a microwave safe bowl at 30 sec intervals until melted.
Whisk Eggs
- Place the eggs yolks and 1/3 of the sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer and whisk until light and fluffy. Set aside.
- In a clean grease proof bowl - whisk the Egg Whites, salt, cream of tartar and remaining 1/3 of the sugar.
- Whisk until stiff peaks form but still shinny.
Combine
- Add the Chocolate Mixture to the Egg Yolks mixture followed by the Vanilla.
- Next add in the ground nuts and cooled coffee.
- Fold the egg whites into the chocolate mixture... first with the whisk then switch to a spatula using a folding motion.
- You batter is now ready for baking
Bake in a water Bath
- Pour batter in the prepare baking pan.
- Place the pan on the center rack, add 1 cup of boiling water on the rack outside the pan. This will help keep the cake moist.
- Bakes for about 30 to 35 minutes, The top will be crisp.
- There may be a crack on the top and you will see that the cake is almost done.
- If you insert a skewer it will have some cake crumbs but not wet gooey batter.
- Let cool in the pan completely, the center will sink so don't worry, it's normal.
Prepare the Glaze
- Melt the Chocolate, Butter and Honey in a microwave safe bowl.
- Half dip a few pecans in the chocolate glaze as shown in the video for decorations. Place on a parchment paper and in the fridge to set for a few minutes.
- Pour the rest of the chocolate glaze on the cake.
- Place the nuts on the cake as shown in the video
- Let the chocolate set it the fridge. Once completely cooled.
- Use a hot knife to loosen the sides of the cake.
- Transfer to a serving platter
- You can use a few crushed pecan for the sides if you wish too!
Courses Dessert
Cuisine Italian
Video – on You Tube – Chocolate Pecan Cake
Well, weather you call it –
Chocolate Pecan Cake, Flourless Chocolate Cake, Gluten Free Cake or Chocolate Cake for Passover. I promise you, you will enjoy this cake. From my family to yours – wish you all a Happy Passover / Pesach Sameach.
Chocolate Pecan Cake – Gluten Free Chocolate Cake for Passover
Tools used in this recipe
Price Disclaimer
That looks so delicious Veena !!! I’m such a big Chocolate cake fan and this glutenfree version is definitely going on my ‘to try’ list. I also love the fact that you chocolate-covered the pecans for that extra yum 🙂
Thank you so much Molly. Hope you try it.
Oh, that looks perfect. Rich, dense and chocolatey – exactly what I want in a cake!
Thank you Kylee. It sure is rich, dense and chocolatey
I like that you tell why certain ingredients and step are necessary, thank you! Sometimes I try to cut corners or make substitutions and don’t always know if I’m making a mistake until it’s too late.
Thank you Kelly. I like cutting corners too mostly because I’m so busy.. hence the must do steps..
Half of my family is Jewish and when I brought my redneck hubby home for our first Passover he put Tabasco in his matzo ball soup LOL!! I am always looking for things to make for them! This cake is gorgeous!
Oh I know what you mean Jennifer. My husband had a new experience when he went to Bombay for the fist time.. He loved it but everything was so unlike what he is use to.
My husband loves pecans AND chocolate, so I know that he would absolutely love this cake! Saving to try one day very soon! 🙂
Thank you Christine. If he love chocolate and pecans.. he’ll love this!!
Oh Veena!
Thanks for this fabulous recipe! I’m ready to dive into that pecans and all!
I’ll be looking up that cookbook, too … can always use a recommended cookbook added to the shelf.
Thank you Noel. Oh it’s an amazing book.. worth every penny.
Cake looks super yum.. I should try this for my son
Thank you !
This cake looks sooo good. Love the chocolate and pecan combination and the fact that it’s gluten free is even more appealing!
Yes it sure is gluten free. Chocolate and Pecan is always a fav combination
Chocolate always create magic in any dish.. I can imagine the taste
Thank you
Chocolate always create magic in any dish. I can imagine the taste
Thank you Traditionally modern food
I’m so used to pecan pie as a dessert that I never think of pecans in a cake or anything like this.and then with chocolate? Yes please! It looks so incredible and moist!
Thank you Sara. I love pecans myself so this is one of my favorites
How lovely is this cake!!! And just perfect to Passover! Looks so rich and moist!
Thank you Dene
Veena, that’s a beautiful cake! I love the idea of making it with pecan flour and I love the dense, moist look of it. A must try for sure!
Thank you Byron. Yeah the Pecan and Chocolate make an excellent combination.
Veena – I love love love this cake!!! I made flour less chocolate cakes before but they used almond meal and I never even thought of using other kinds of nuts. Pecans are one of my favourite nuts though so this cake just sounds absolutely amazing!!!
Thank you Julia. I too love Pecans and Chocolate so this is one of my favorite cakes
Oh my goodness, this looks so decadent and rich! I love that this cake is gluten-free and that you used pecan meal for the “flour” base” I bet it tastes delicious! It’s so pretty too!
It was very delicious Emily. Thanks. I love the combination of Pecan and Chocolate so yeah this tasted incredible