This Chocolate flourless cake is a pecan chocolate cake. Unlike the chocolate torte, this has a light and airy texture from the ground pecans and whipped egg whites. The recipe does not use any flour so it makes a perfect dessert during Passover too.
Table of Content
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 of dessert and side dishes. BUT Passover means no flour. So I had to think of a dessert that was without flour.
Well, I bought this Chocolate flourless 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 expects me to bring this for Passover now. They now call it a Veena's Passover Chocolate Cake.
The recipe is adapted from one of my favorite cookbooks 'Best ever Baking by Carole Clements
Note: If you are making this for Passover/Pesach, make sure all the other ingredients in the list including chocolate and sugar are kosher for Passover. (Kasher le Pesach)
Why make this cake?
- The whipped egg whites make a light and airy cake.
- The cake is made with ground nuts instead of flour so it is rich and flavorful
- The base is of course chocolate, butter, and egg which makes this rich and decadent loaded with chocolate
- The base cake is delicious on its own but when topped with melted chocolate and pecans it is a perfect dessert to serve for a celebration such as Passover.
- The timeline and process for the cake do not get any easier.
- Prepare pecan meal - 10 mins
- Melt chocolate butter - 2 mins
- Whip eggs - 5 mins
- Combine and bake - 10 + 30
- Glaze - 10
Ingredients and substitutes
- Pecans - This recipe uses pecan meals instead of flour. Now pecan meal is just pecans pulsed in the food processor until ground fine.
- Nuts - if pecans are not your choice of nuts go ahead and use other nuts as well. I have tried this with cashews and almonds as well as walnuts and almonds. A word of advice when using walnuts - while they are a perfect combination with chocolate they are high in fat so they tend to release too much oil and they do have a strong flavor. It would be recommended to use half walnuts and half almonds instead.
- 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, but a minimum of 60% would be highly recommended.
- Eggs - Sounds like a lot of eggs compared to the other ingredients but that's what keeps this recipe so light and airy.
- Cream of tartar - this helps stabilize the egg whites when beating to stiff peaks but if you can't find it, omit it and beat the egg whites with just a pinch of salt.
- Unsalted butter - I always prefer to use unsalted butter but salted works just as well. Omit the salt in the recipe if you choose to use unsalted butter.
Pecan chocolate flourless cake
Cake
- Preheat oven to 325°F / 165°C/ Gas Mark 3.
- Line a 9-inch round springform cake pan with parchment paper on the inside and wrap with aluminum foil on the outside - set aside.`
Pro tip - The parchment on the inside is for easy removal. And the aluminum foil will prevent water from getting into the pan when baked in a water bath (similar to a cheesecake).
- Chocolate - Meanwhile, in a large microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate and butter until smooth. Next, add in the ground nuts, cooled coffee, and vanilla extract. Combine well but do not overmix.
- Eggs - In the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment whip the whole eggs. Gradually add the remaining sugar and continue to whip until light and fluffy.
- Combine - fold the whipped eggs into the chocolate mixture until you have no white streaks.
Pro tip - I like to start first with the whisk then switch to a spatula using a folding motion. - Water bath - Pour batter into the prepared baking pan. Tap a few times to break any large air pockets. Place the cake pan on a baking sheet on the center rack. Add 2 cups of boiling water to the baking tray outside the cake pan.
Pro tip - the water outside the pan will create moisture in the oven preventing the cake from drying out. So the cake essentially bakes in a wet steam oven rather than dry air.
Glaze
- Chocolate - In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate, butter, and honey until smooth. Honey gives it a nice shine.
- Glaze the pecans - Half dip each pecan in the chocolate glaze as shown in the video for decorations. Place on parchment paper and in the fridge to set for a few minutes.10 - 12 Pecan halves
- Cake - Pour the rest of the chocolate glaze on the cake. Place the nuts on the cake as shown in the video or pictures above.
- Set - Let the chocolate set in the fridge for an hour or two. Once completely cooled. Use a hot knife to loosen the sides of the cake.
Pro tip - dip the blade of a knife or off-set spatula in hot water and run it around the edges of the cake and pan for a clean release. - Finish - Transfer to a serving platter. You can use a few crushed pecans for the sides if you wish. I did not.
Pro tip - to cut clean slices, again dip the blade of a knife in hot water and whip the knife after each cut. This will give slices clean cuts with neat edges just like the bakery.
How to make homemade ground pecans
- Place pecan on a baking tray and toast them in the oven for about 10 mins. Remove and let cool completely. Set aside 8 to 10 pecans for the final decoration.
Pro tip - Choose similar size pecans for the tops as these will be coated with chocolate. I like to use small size pecans. I think they look pretty. - Place the rest of the pecans in a food processor along with a few tablespoons of sugar (approximately 4 tbsp).
Pro tip - The pecans must be cooled when processing. Otherwise, you will make pecan butter, not pecan meal. - Grind to a fine powder. Use a pulsing motion to prevent the pecans from releasing oil.
Pro tip - The reason we add some sugar from the recipe is to prevent the pecans from releasing oil. Oily pecan meal will make a greasy cake.
Tips for Success
- The chocolate you use will determine how delicious this cake turns out. Get a chocolate bar from the supermarket but pick one you would enjoy eating. NO cooking chocolate, and not compound chocolate.
- Melt the chocolate and butter in a microwave or double boiler. Chocolate can burn easily and holds its shape even when melted unless agitated so don't overheat it. Make sure to stir then heat some more as necessary.
- Tips when making nut meal (pecan meal)
- If you toast and cool the nuts before you pulse they taste better and they even pulse better.
- Start by adding the nuts to the food processor - pulse a few times until coarse ground.
- Then add a tablespoon or two of sugar or powdered sugar from the recipe and add it to the food processor.
- The sugar will prevent the nuts from releasing any oil and grind them further finely.
- Continue with the recipe using the remaining sugar. The sweetness will be adjusted when you add this pecan meal.
- When baking in a water bath make sure to keep the water at least an inch above the pan.
- Also, don't forget to wrap the outside of the pan with aluminum flour to prevent water from getting into the pan.
More gluten-free/flourless treats
Can I freeze this chocolate flourless cake?
Yes, you can. This cake can be kept in the fridge for up to a week and can be frozen for up to a month. Make sure to wrap it well to prevent freezer burns and thaw it in the fridge a day before you need it.
Can I use other nuts instead of pecans?
Absolutely. Try almonds, cashew nuts, and hazelnuts. I would avoid walnuts and macadamia as these are very high in fat and do not work the same in this recipe.
Why did my chocolate flourless pecan cake sink/fall?
It is always recommended to whip eggs at a low speed, then move up to high speed as well as add sugar slowly, one tablespoon at a time. Often when air is beaten into the egg too quickly the batter, when baked, tends to deflate or skin. This is an issue not just with gluten-free but often with regular wheat flour cakes too.
Can I use gluten-free flour instead of a pecan meal for this gluten-free cake?
I have not tested this cake with gluten-free flour so I cannot recommend it. However, I do have a tried and tested gluten-free chocolate cake that is absolutely delicious.
Can I omit the nuts in this flourless chocolate cake?
No, the result would not be this light and fluffy. However, I do have a flourless chocolate cake that does not have any nuts.
Did you enjoy this recipe? Please ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ it.
Save it for later.
You can also find a collection of my recipes and tutorials here on Pinterest. Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
And, don't forget to subscribe to my blog to receive new recipes by email.
Printable Recipe
Chocolate Flourless Cake (Pecans)
Print Pin Rate Share by Email Share on FB Save Grow Coooking Temperature: 325°F / 165°C/ Gas Mark 3
Difficulty: Advanced
Diet : Gluten-Free
Calories: 327kcal
Adjust Servings Here: 9 servings
Description
This Chocolate flourless cake is a pecan chocolate cake. Unlike the chocolate torte, this has a light and airy texture from the ground pecans and whipped egg whites. The recipe does not use any flour so it makes a perfect dessert during Passover too.
Video
Conversions Used
1 lb = 453 grams, 1 cup = 240 ml, 1 stick = 113g, 1 tbsp= 15 ml, 1 tsp= 5 ml,
Ingredients
Cake
- 3 large Eggs
- ¾ cup (150 g) Sugar (divided)
- ⅛ teaspoon Cream of tartar
- 4 tablespoon (60 g) Unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 5 oz (140 g) Chocolate (dark or semi-sweet )
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ¼ cup Coffee (brewed)
- 1½ cup (200 g) Ground pecans
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
Instructions
Cake
- Preheat oven to 275°F / 140°C/ Gas Mark 1
- Line a 9-inch round springform cake pan with parchment paper on the inside and wrap with aluminum foil on the outside - set aside Pro tip - the parchment on the inside is for easy removal and the aluminum foil will prevent water from getting into the pan when baked in a water bath (similar to a cheesecake)
- Turn the oven temperature on to 325°F / 165°C/ Gas Mark 3
- Chocolate - Meanwhile, in a large microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate and butter until smooth. Next, add in the ground nuts, cooled coffee, and vanilla extract. Combine well but do not overmix.4 tablespoon Unsalted butter, 5 oz Chocolate, ¼ cup Coffee, 1½ cup Ground pecans, 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- Eggs - In the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment whip the whole eggs. Gradually add the remaining sugar and continue to whip until light and fluffy.¾ cup Sugar, 3 large Eggs, ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt, ⅛ teaspoon Cream of tartar
- Combine - fold the whipped eggs into the chocolate mixture until you have no white streaks.Pro tip - I like to start first with the whisk then switch to a spatula using a folding motion.
- Water bath - Pour batter into the prepared baking pan. Tap a few times to break any large air pockets. Place the cake pan on a baking sheet on the center rack. Add 2 cups of boiling water to the baking tray outside the cake pan. Pro tip - the water outside the pan will create moisture in the oven preventing the cake from drying out. So the cake essentially bakes in a wet steam oven rather than dry air.
- Bake - Transfer to the oven and bakes for about 30 to 35 minutes, The top will be crisp. There may be a few cracks on the top and you will see that the cake is almost done. Pro tip - If you insert a skewer it will have some cake crumbs but not wet gooey batter.
- Cool - Let cool in the pan completely, the center will sink, don't worry, it's normal for this cake.
Glaze
- Chocolate - In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate, butter, and honey until smooth. Honey gives it a nice shine.4 oz Chocolate, 2 tablespoon Butter, 1 tablespoon Honey
- Glaze the pecans - Half dip each pecan in the chocolate glaze as shown in the video for decorations. Place on parchment paper and in the fridge to set for a few minutes.10 - 12 Pecan halves
- Cake - Pour the rest of the chocolate glaze on the cake. Place the nuts on the cake as shown in the video or pictures above.
- Set - Let the chocolate set in the fridge for an hour or two. Once completely cooled. Use a hot knife to loosen the sides of the cake.Pro tip - dip the blade of a knife or off-set spatula in hot water and run it around the edges of the cake and pan for a clean release.
- Finish - Transfer to a serving platter. You can use a few crushed pecans for the sides if you wish. I did not.Pro tip - to cut clean slices, again dip the blade of a knife in hot water and whip the knife after each cut. This will give slices clean cuts with neat edges just like the bakery?
- Enjoy!
Recipe Notes & Tips
- The chocolate you use will determine how delicious this cake turns out. Get a chocolate bar from the supermarket but pick one you would enjoy eating. NO cooking chocolate, and not compound chocolate.
- Melt the chocolate and butter in a microwave or double boiler. Chocolate can burn easily and holds its shape even when melted unless agitated so don't overheat it. Make sure to stir then heat some more as necessary.
- Tips when making nut meal (pecan-meal)
- If you toast and cool the nuts before you pulse they taste better and they even pulse better.
- Start by adding the nuts to the food processor - pulse a few times until coarse ground.
- Then add a tablespoon or two of sugar or powder sugar from the recipe and add it to the food processor.
- The sugar will prevent the nuts from releasing any oil and grind them further finely.
- Continue with the recipe using the remaining sugar. The sweetness will be adjusted when you add this pecan meal.
- When baking in a water bath make sure to keep the water to at least an inch above the pan.
- Also, don't forget to wrap the outside of the pan with aluminum flour to prevent water from getting into the pan.
Adapted from -
Nutrition Information
Serving: 66- gCalories: 327- kcalCarbohydrates: 26.2- gProtein: 3.7- gFat: 23.8- gSaturated Fat: 10.9- gPolyunsaturated Fat: 12.6- gMonounsaturated Fat: 0- gTrans Fat: 0.3- gCholesterol: 65- mgSodium: 65- mgPotassium: 0- mgFiber: 2.7- gSugar: 21.7- gVitamin A: 0- IUVitamin C: 0- mgCalcium: 0- mgIron: 0- mg
The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you
Did you make this recipe? Share it with me.Tag @veenaazmanov on instagram or #hashtag it #veenaazmanov
Jamey Estep
I am really confused with this recipe. I am very anxious to try it cause it sounds delicious! However the Ingredients do not match Directions. First, vanilla extract is not listed in ingredients but directions say to add vanilla in with pecans and coffee. So how much vanilla? Ingredients say to separate eggs but then in the directions, it says to "whip" the whole eggs with sugar. Why then do they need to be separated? Also, in ingredients, states sugar is to be divided 3 times but I can only find two instances. Any clarification would be appreciated as I can't wait to taste this! Thanks for posting the recipe!
Veena Azmanov
Jamey- I apologize. I just changed the recipe from separated to whole eggs and then forget to make all the changes. Yes, you do not need to separate the eggs anymore and the sugar can be divided into two. Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I just fixed it. This is a very delicious cake but the separating of eggs would discourage people from trying so I decided to retest the recipe and this one is much easier. Let me know how it was. Thanks.
bhaavi
hi.. i would love to try this recipe. pls suggest if i can make vegetarian verion of flour less cake. how to substitute eggs? and i also noticed there is no baking powder or soda?
thank you
Veena Azmanov
This one needs eggs Bhavi. there is no substitute for eggs in this one.
bhaavi
hmm... i thought of using aquafaba in place of eggs? Do you think it will work?
Veena Azmanov
I have not tried it so I cannot say, Bhaavi.
Gabi
Your nut loaded chocolate cake sounds and looks YUMMY !!!!!! This recipe is a must try and absolutely perfect for Passover.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Gabi. This is perfect for Passover.
Geetha Priyanka
This flourless cake looks absolutely gorgeous!!! Chocolate and pecan combo sounds amazing, I can imagine how delicious this cake would taste.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you, Geetha. It was very delicious.
Anita @ Daily Cooking Quest
I am weak to anything with chocolates and nuts, and your photos makes me drool. I don't have pecans at home, but I do have a surplus of almond, so I guess I'll be making this soon. 🙂
Veena Azmanov
Thanks, Anita. Chocolate is my weakness too.