Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- First, prepare a 22 cm cake tin by lightly oiling the sides and base, then line the bottom with baking paper. Preheat the oven to 175 °C.
- To begin, whip the butter and the first portion of icing sugar until light in colour, fluffy, and increased in volume.
- Next, add the egg yolks one at a time, mixing well after each addition until fully incorporated.
- Meanwhile, melt the couverture chocolate over a double boiler and allow it to cool to below 30 °C, ensuring it does not melt the butter mixture.
- Then, gently mix the cooled chocolate into the butter and egg mixture until smooth and evenly combined.
- After that, sift the flour and combine it with the almond meal. Add the dry ingredients to the chocolate mixture in two additions, mixing gently until incorporated.
- In a clean bowl whip, the egg whites until medium peaks silky and firm
- Gradually, add the second portion of icing sugar in three additions while continuing to whip, creating a stable, glossy meringue.
- Next, transfer the chocolate batter to a wider bowl. Fold in one-third of the whipped egg whites to lighten the mixture.
- Then, carefully fold in the remaining egg whites in two additions, maintaining as much air as possible.
- Finally, pour the batter into the prepared tin and level the surface gently.
- Bake until just set — the internal temperature should reach approximately 85 °C, or a skewer inserted comes out clean.
- Set aside to cool for 30 minutes before taking out of the tin
- Take out of the tin and divide into three even discs
- Run a palette knife around the sides of the tin
- Using a serrated knife cut three even discs for the cake
Apricot jam
- Warm the jam until smooth
Ganache Glaze
- Bring the water, cream and castor sugar to the boil
- Add the cocoa and bring to the boil stirring constantly
- Allow to cool slightly before adding the soaked gelatine and the remaining water
- Allow the glaze to cool to 30℃ before coating
Ganache Filling
- Bring to the boil the milk cream and butter
- Continue to stir through until the gelatine has dissolved
- Pour over the chocolate and let sit for 30 seconds
- Mix until blended
- Set aside until spreading consistency
- Putting the cake together
- Add a thin layer of apricot jam over each layer
- Add a thin layer of ganache and smooth over each layer
- Add the next Sacher sponge layer on top
- Ensure they are sitting evenly
- Repeat for all three layers
- Coat the outside and top with a thin layer of apricot jam and of ganache
- Smooth over the ganache and set aside in the refrigerator
- Put the cake on a cooking rack
- Heat the glaze until it is 30℃
- Pour the glaze over the cake and down the side (best to pour in the middle to stop any drips)
- Smooth over with a palette knife if needed
- Let set fully
- Pipe the top with decoration using the ganache and a star nozzle
Video
Notes
1-Couverture chocolate 45-55% is ideal but you will still get good results with dark baking chocolate 2.-My favourite is Gelita Gold, Chefs choice or Eward. if you cant find it see below. Gold Gelatine Leaves → Powdered Gelatine
- 1 gold gelatine leaf = approx. 2 g powdered gelatine
- Usually:
- 4 gold leaves = 8 g powdered gelatine
- Sprinkle powdered gelatine over cold water (about 5x its weight)
- Let it bloom for 5–10 minutes
- Heat gently until dissolved
- Add to your mixture
