Flourless Chocolate Torte

This amazing flourless chocolate torte will make your chocolate-loving friends absolutely swoon! The best part is that it’s naturally gluten-free and perfect for special occasions like Passover. You’ll love how the apples and walnuts add such a delicious twist to this rich, decadent dessert.

Recipe Details

Timing & Servings: Cook Time: 25 minutes, Additional Time: 40 minutes, Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes, Serves: 8 people.

Nutrition Profile: Low-Sodium, Heart-Healthy

Nutrition Facts (per serving): 260 Calories, 6g Fat, 46g Carbs, 7g Protein

Ingredients You’ll Need

Matzo meal: You’ll need ½ cup, which works as our flour substitute and keeps this torte perfectly kosher for Passover. It adds a lovely subtle texture that’s different from regular flour.

Walnuts: ⅓ cup of walnuts will give you that amazing nutty crunch and richness. Feel free to toast them a bit extra if you love that deeper walnut flavor!

Eggs: You’ll use 2 large whole eggs plus 8 large egg whites, so grab a full dozen. Make sure those egg whites are at room temperature – this helps them whip up perfectly fluffy.

Sugar: 1¼ cups total, but you’ll divide it up during the recipe. Regular granulated sugar works perfectly here.

Vanilla extract: 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla will make everything smell absolutely heavenly while it bakes.

Apple: 1 cup of grated, peeled apple – Delicious variety works great, but any sweet apple you have will do the trick. This adds such wonderful moisture and sweetness!

Cocoa powder: 2 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder gives you that rich chocolate base without being too heavy.

Chocolate: 2 ounces of chopped bittersweet or semisweet chocolate adds those perfect little chocolate chunks throughout.

Salt: ½ teaspoon helps balance all those sweet flavors beautifully.

Confectioners’ sugar: Just for dusting the top – it makes the torte look so elegant and professional!

How to Make Flourless Chocolate Torte

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Combine the matzo meal and walnuts in your food processor. Process until the nuts are finely chopped – you want them small but not powdery.

Step 2: Spread this mixture on a baking sheet. Toast it for 5 to 10 minutes until it smells amazing and fragrant. Let it cool completely while you work on the next steps.

Step 3: Whisk the 2 whole eggs, ¾ cup sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl until everything’s well blended. Stir in your cooled matzo mixture, grated apple, cocoa powder, and chopped chocolate.

Step 4: In a large, super clean bowl, beat the egg whites and salt with an electric mixer on medium speed. Beat until they get frothy and bubbly looking.

Step 5: Increase the mixer speed to high and beat until soft peaks form. Add the remaining ½ cup sugar one tablespoon at a time. Keep beating until you get glossy, stiff peaks that hold their shape.

Step 6: Stir about one-quarter of those beautiful beaten whites into your chocolate batter. Then gently fold in the remaining whites with a rubber spatula – be gentle here to keep all that air!

Step 7: Scrape the batter into an ungreased 9-inch springform pan and spread it evenly. Give the pan a light tap on your counter to release any air bubbles.

Step 8: Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until the top springs back when you touch it lightly. A skewer inserted in the center should come out clean.

Step 9: Use a knife to loosen the edges of your torte. Let it cool completely in the pan on a wire rack – don’t worry when it sinks in the center, that’s totally normal!

Step 10: Remove the pan sides and place your beautiful torte on a serving platter. Dust with confectioners’ sugar before serving.

Easy and Quick Flourless Chocolate Torte Version

Want to save some time? You can skip the toasting step for the matzo meal and walnuts – just process them and use them right away! The flavor won’t be quite as deep, but it’ll still taste absolutely delicious. You can also use pre-grated apple from the store to save yourself some prep time.

Serving Ideas

This torte is rich enough to be a complete dessert on its own! Serve it with a dollop of fresh whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. A handful of fresh berries on the side adds a lovely pop of color and freshness that cuts through all that chocolate goodness.

Storage

Store your torte covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can serve it cold right from the fridge, or let it come to room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving. It actually tastes even better the next day when all the flavors have had time to meld together!

Substitutions

No matzo meal? You can use almond flour or even finely ground crackers instead. If you don’t have walnuts, try pecans or almonds – they’ll be just as delicious. You can swap the apple for grated pear if that’s what you have on hand.

Pro Tips

• Room temperature egg whites: This is super important for getting the best volume when you whip them up!
• Clean bowl for egg whites: Even a tiny bit of grease will prevent your whites from whipping properly.
• Don’t overfold: When adding the egg whites, fold just until combined – overmixing will deflate all that beautiful air.
• Embrace the sink: That sunken center is totally normal and actually makes a perfect little well for berries or cream!

FAQs

Can I make this torte ahead of time?

You bet! This torte actually improves with time, so making it a day ahead is perfect. Just wrap it well and store it in the fridge. The flavors get even more amazing overnight!

Why did my torte sink in the middle?

No worries – this is completely normal for flourless cakes! Without flour to provide structure, the center naturally sinks as it cools. It’s not a mistake, it’s just how this type of cake behaves.

Can I use a regular cake pan instead of a springform pan?

Sure! Just make sure to grease a regular 9-inch round pan really well and maybe line the bottom with parchment paper. You’ll need to turn it out of the pan once it’s completely cool.

Is this really okay for Passover?

Absolutely! Using matzo meal instead of flour makes this perfectly kosher for Passover. Just double-check that all your other ingredients are Passover-approved if you’re keeping strictly kosher.

Final Thoughts

I hope you love this special torte as much as my family does! It’s become our go-to dessert for holidays and celebrations. Let me know how yours turns out – I’d love to hear about any fun variations you try!