Quick Chocolate Cake

(from Simple Gourmet)

serves 8

Ingredients
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter – plus more for pan
1 pound bittersweet chocolate, chopped into small pieces
9 large eggs, separated
3/4 cup sugar

Powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350°.

Butter a 9 inch spring form pan.

Place chocolate and butter into the top of a double boiler and heat over simmering water until melted.

Whisk the eggs yolks with the sugar in a mixing boil until pale yellow.

Whisk in a little of the chocolate mixture in with the egg yolk to temper the eggs (it will help to keep the eggs from scrambling).
Slowly whisk in the rest of the chocolate.

Beat the egg whites until stiff peaks are formed. Fold into a chocolate mixture.

Pour into prepared pan and bake until top starts to crack. Slip a toothpick in center, if it comes with moist crumbs attached, it is perfect – about 20 -25 minutes.

Let cake stand for 10 minutes, then release from sides of pan.

Serve at room temperature dusted with powdered sugar.