Chocolate Ganache Cake

👨‍🍳 Method

To assemble

1. 1
   Preheat the oven to 180°C (355°F) and grease a round pan 24 cm across.

   ⚙ Preheating the OvenOven

   💡Put things in the oven only once it's reached temperature, after the heating light has gone off: an oven that hasn't reached temperature changes baking times, and the bake burns outside or stays underbaked.
2. 2
   Melt the chocolate and butter in a double boiler and let cool slightly.

   Double boiler (bain-marie)orMicrowave

   💡In the microwave, melt in short bursts, stirring in between, until the chocolate and butter are smooth and liquid.
3. 3
   Whip the eggs, sugar and vanilla, until the mixture is pale and fluffy.

   ⚙ WhippingBowlHand mixerorStand mixerorWhisk

   💡Room-temperature eggs whip better than cold eggs. Take them out of the fridge 30 minutes before baking. Warm eggs also make a more stable foam that holds up in the oven.
4. 4
   Fold the melted chocolate into the whipped eggs gently.

   ⚙ FoldingSilicone spatula

   💡Fold with a spatula, in broad strokes from the bottom up, and stop when there are no streaks: vigorous mixing knocks the air out of the foam. Add whipped mixtures in stages: a quarter first, to lighten the mixture.
5. 5
   Sift the flour, cocoa and baking powder over the top and Fold gently, just until the batter is smooth.

   ⚙ FoldingSilicone spatulaSifter

   💡Fold with a spatula, in broad strokes from the bottom up, and stop when there's no dry flour: vigorous mixing of a batter with flour develops gluten.
6. 6
   Pour into the pan.

   Round pan
7. 7
   Bake 30–35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs.

   ⚙ BakingOvenRound pan

   💡Check by the cue (until…), not just the clock: every oven bakes a little differently.
8. 8
   Let the cake cool completely.
9. 9
   Finely chop the chocolate and put it in a bowl.

   KnifeCutting boardBowl
10. 10
    Heat the cream until just about to boil and pour over the chocolate. Wait a minute without touching.

    StoveSmall saucepan
11. 11
    Stir gently from the center outward, until you get a smooth, glossy cream.

    💡Stir gently from the center outward: vigorous stirring beats in air, and the ganache loses its shine.
12. 12
    Spread the jam over the cooled cake, cover it with the ganache and let it set.

    Offset spatula
13. 13
    Chill 1 hour before serving.

    Refrigerator