Chocolate-Espresso Torte with Raspberry Sauce

This elegant dessert is a perfect finale for a large dinner party.

Yield: Makes 12 servings

Ingredients

• About 1 1/2 cups (3/4 lb.) butter or margarine, cut into chunks
• 3/4  pound  bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 1/2  cup  espresso
• About 1 cup sugar
• 6  large eggs
• 5  cups  raspberries, rinsed
• 1  cup  marionberries or blackberries
• Fresh mint sprigs, rinsed

Preparation

1. Butter and flour an 8-inch cheesecake pan.

2. In a 3- to 4-quart pan over low heat, frequently stir chocolate, 1 1/2 cups butter, espresso, and 3/4 cup sugar just until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth, 12 to 15 minutes.

3. In a bowl, beat eggs to blend. Whisk in chocolate mixture until well blended. Pour into cheesecake pan.

4. Bake torte in a 350° regular or convection oven until center barely jiggles when pan is gently shaken, about 40 minutes. Let cool on a rack for 30 minutes (center of torte will sink), then chill until cold, at least 1 1/2 hours.

5. Meanwhile, in a food processor or blender, whirl 1 quart raspberries until smooth. Rub purée through a fine strainer into a bowl; discard seeds. Stir 1/4 cup sugar into raspberry puree; taste, and add more sugar if desired.

6. Spoon raspberry sauce equally onto plates. Run a knife between torte and pan rim; remove rim. Cut torte into wedges. Arrange a wedge on sauce on each plate. Scatter remaining 1 cup raspberries and marionberries over desserts, and garnish with mint sprigs. Serve with scoops of lemon sherbet.

Note: If you don't have an espresso machine, buy prepared espresso from a coffee shop or use strong brewed coffee: Pour 3/4 cup hot (about 195°) water through 1/3 cup ground coffee in a filter cone. If making torte and sauce up to 1 day ahead, chill separately airtight.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

475 (68% from fat)

Protein:

5.9g

Fat:

36g (sat 20)

Carbohydrate:

40g

Fiber:

3.6g

Sodium:

266mg

Cholesterol:

168mg