Lisbon Chocolate Cake Recipe is as much an institution as it is a cake. This decadent and rich dessert has been made for many celebrations in Portugal, some of which date back to the late 1800s. The recipe is as old as the country and has evolved through trials, errors, and successes.
The Chocolate Cake Recipe, or Bolo de Chocolate in Portuguese, was most likely first made by nuns at the Convent of Santa Isabel in Lisbon during the reign of King Joseph I (1750-1777). It was a small cake that served to send humble gratitude to King José for sparing the convent during his occupation of Portugal.
What is Lisbon Chocolate Cake Recipe?
Lisbon chocolate cake is humble and not as elaborate as some European desserts. The recipe below is from the treatises left by the Portuguese nuns at Santa Isabel Convent in the late 1800s. It comprises a simple batter of baked eggs, flour, sugar, and butter and then is covered with a bittersweet chocolate glaze. The nuns served this cake with no embellishment, and in the 1950s (after the nuns had sold their recipe to private bakeries), it evolved into a decadent treat that we know today.
A Lisbon chocolate cake is so simple yet so delicious. It has a soft texture that mingles very well with the bittersweet chocolate glaze, which tastes almost like dark fudge.
How to make Lisbon Chocolate Cake Recipe?
- preparing time: 20 mins
- cooking time: 30 mins
- total time: 50 mins
- serving: 5
ingredients:
For the cake:
- 130g butter at room temperature
- 165g (1 cup) white sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- Four large eggs, lightly beaten
- 165g (1 cup) all-purpose flour
- 150g (1 bar) dark chocolate,
- finely chopped (50 to 60% cacao) or bittersweet chocolate chips
- 50g butter,
- softened in a room for 10 minutes.
Directions:
Steps 1:
Preheat the oven to 180C (350F). Butter a round cake pan and put aside.
Steps 2:
In a small bowl, stir together the sugar, flour, and salt. Touching as little as possible, combine all three ingredients and set aside.
Steps 3:
In a large bowl, cream the butter until smooth. Add the sugar mixture and continue stirring until well combined; this will form your cake batter.
Steps 4:
Add one egg at a time without pausing to scrape down the side of the bowl. Stir until all the eggs have been incorporated. Keep adding the eggs and mixing well; proceed until the batter has thickened and is smooth.
Steps 5:
Pour your cake batter into your prepared pan, and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes clean. Allow cooling completely before icing.
Steps 6:
To prepare your glaze, place the chocolate in a bowl set over a pot of water on medium heat. Stir until the chocolate has melted and is smooth. Remove from the heat, add your butter, and allow to melt.
Steps 7:
After the cake has completely cooled, pour the glaze over the warm cake—store covered in an airtight container at room temperature.
Steps 8:
Serve slightly chilled with Spanish coffee or milk.
Tips:
- Use any chocolate you like. The recipe below has a bittersweet flavor, but you can use any chocolate, even chocolate chips, if you prefer them that way.
- If the glaze isn’t thick, add more melted butter until it is.
- You could also use a whisk for this step instead of a wooden spoon; with the whisk, you have to move it back and forth in circles, and what will come out will be a smoother glaze.
Nutrition facts of Lisbon Chocolate Cake Recipe:
| Nutrition | Amount |
|---|---|
| calories | 360 |
| fat | 23g |
| carbohydrates | 37g |
| sugar | 21g |
| phosphorous | 7mg |
| cholesterol | 126mg |
7 health benefits of Lisbon Chocolate Cake Recipe:
1. low in fat:
This cake is low in fat and hence, perfect for someone looking to lose weight.
2. low in cholesterol:
This cake has a low cholesterol level, which makes it suitable for those suffering from heart problems or high blood pressure.
3. high in fiber:
The cake recipe is high in fiber, which helps lower the risk of heart disease and controls weight. Fiber helps push through food and excretes toxic waste from the body through the stool. Fiber also slows down the movement of glucose into the bloodstream and controls blood sugar, which is suitable for diabetic patients.
4. high Vitamin B6:
The cake recipe is high in pyridoxine, a water-soluble vitamin that helps reduce cholesterol levels, build muscle tissues, and maintain healthy red blood cells.
5. Contains dietary minerals:
The chocolate cake recipe is high in calcium, phosphorus, and zinc, essential for various body functions, including growth, development, and cell repair.
6. Contains antioxidants:
Antioxidants are an essential part of any nutrition plan. Antioxidants help reduce free radicals that can lead to cancer, coronary heart disease, and aging. The cake recipe has a higher antioxidant level than most other desserts.
7. low sodium:
This cake recipe is low in sodium, which helps to regulate blood pressure levels.
Conclusion:
Lisbon chocolate cake is a decadent treat that could be enjoyed as an after-dinner dessert. It’s simple to make, but it can be easily modified by adding chocolate chips (the cookie dough kind), strawberry jam, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The original recipe is simple, but it’s more than just a cake; It’s a piece of history, and in Portugal, it’s called bolo de rei, which means “cake of the king.
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Which flavor is best in chocolate cake?
Whether the taste is chocolate or vanilla, the cake is delicious and will be enjoyed by all.
The chocolate cake has a rich flavor you can taste in each bite. The chocolate icing was not too sweet and perfectly balanced with the cake, which tasted like a chocoholic’s dream.
This cake is so rich in flavor, but it’s so light that all your guests will want to eat more.