Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  1 1/4           cups  pastry flour -- or cake flour
  1           teaspoon  baking soda
  10 1/2        ounces  bittersweet chocolate -- cut into small
                        -- chunks
  12       tablespoons  unsalted butter -- at room temperature
  1 1/4           cups  sugar
  4                     eggs -- separated
     1/3           cup  whiskey -- or brandy warmed
                        -- slightly
  1         tablespoon  vanilla extract
                        powdered sugar
                        ***EQUIPMENT***
                        baking tray
                        parchment paper
  8                     x-2 1/2-inch ring
  8               inch  cardboard round
                        aluminum foil
  1              small  bowl
                        double broiler
                        whisk
                        electric mixer with paddle

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and set and 8 x 2 1/2-inch ring on it. Wrap an 8-inch cardboard round with foil and set aside. 2. In a small bowl, sift together the flour and baking soda. Set aside. 3. In a double boiler or a metal bowl placed over simmering water, melt the chocolate. Keep it warm. 4. Meanwhile, with the paddle of an electric mixer, cream the butter until light. Gradually add 1 cup sugar and continue to cream until fluffy. (It is very important that this mixture is light and fluffy.) 5. Beat in the egg yolks, one at a time, the whiskey or brandy, and the vanilla. Stop the machine and scrape in the melted chocolate. Continue to mix until well combined. Remove the bowl from the machine and fold in half the flour mixture. Fold in the remaining flour. 6. With a clean whisk and bowl, whip the egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add the remaining 1/4 cup of the sugar and continue to whisk until shiny and firm, but not stiff. Stir 1/4 of the whites into the batter to lighten, then fold in the remaining whites. 7. Pour the batter into the prepared cake ring and bake for 1 hour. Invert immediately onto the foil-covered cardboard round and run a sharp knife around the sides of the cake, loosening the cake from the ring. Do not remove the ring from the cake. Let cool completely on a rack. Then, carefully lift off the ring. Presentation: Dust the cake with sifted powdered sugar and serve with whipped cream. Makes one 8-inch cake This chocolate cake is very dense and should be served either at room temperature or a little warm.

Nutritional Information:

4211 Calories (kcal); 320g Total Fat; (64% calories from fat); 54g Protein; 340g Carbohydrate; 1120mg Cholesterol; 1544mg Sodium