Chocolate Orange Torte

This decadent chocolate orange torte is gluten-free and absolutely delicious.

Serves: 10-16 slices

Prep Time: 15-20 min

Cooking Time: 30-40 min

Total:  1 hour, 1 1/2 hour cooling

Ingredients

2 cups (about 450 g) quality dark chocolate (70% or 80% cacao)
3/4 cups butter or vegan margarine
1/3 cup cocoa powder
3/4 cup sugar
5 eggs
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
1 tbsp. orange zest
2 cups almond meal
1/4 tsp. salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 
2. Butter the sides of a 9 inch springform pan and line the bottom with parchment paper. 
3. Break the chocolate into small chunks.
4. In a saucepan, stir chocolate and butter over low heat until melted. Whisk in cocoa powder and allow to cool for 10 minutes.
5. In a large bowl beat eggs, sugar orange juice, orange zest and salt with an electric mixer set on high for about 3-4 minutes. Beat in almond meal until well combined and then fold in chocolate mixture. Pour batter into prepared pan.
6. Bake torte until dry and cracked on top, about 30-40 minutes.  Test with toothpick inserted into the centre of the cake.  It should come out with some moist crumbs attached.
7. Cool pan on a wire rack for 1 hour, and the centre of torte may fall.
8. Using a knife, cut around the sides of the springform so that it can be removed easily. Place a plate on top of the torte and invert it. Remove pan bottom and peel off parchment paper from the torte.  Let cool.
9. If desired, decorate the torte with a light sprinkling of powdered icing sugar or cocoa powder.  By using a doily or strips of paper arranged on top of the tort, make fancy designs when sprinkling powdered icing sugar or cocoa powder.  Carefully remove paper to keep pattern intact.
10. Serve with vanilla ice cream or substitute.

Adapted from foodandpaper.blogspot.com