Blackberry Orange Cloud Cake

Prep Time: 20 mins | Cook Time: 40 mins | Course: Dessert | Serves: 12

A light and airy flourless chocolate cake that is wispy as a cloud with a refreshing orange essence and a mound of blackberries and cream billowing in its pretty little concave center. Inspired by Food 52, Richard Sax, and Genius Recipes https://food52.com/recipes/78350-richard-sax-s-chocolate-cloud-cake

8 oz dark chocolate

½ cup butter

1 cup sugar, divided

6 eggs, separated

1 orange, zested

2 Tablespoons grand marnier or orange cognac

Orange Cloud Cream:

1 cup heavy cream

2 Tablespoons powdered sugar

1 Tablespoon orange zest

2 Tablespoons grand marnier or orange cognac

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 pint blackberries

Preheat the oven to 350*. Line a 8-inch springform pan with parchment (do not butter or grease the pan or the parchment) and set to one side.

In a large pyrex or other large microwave-safe mixing bowl, microwave chocolate and butter for 1 ½ minutes. Stir and add in ½ cup of sugar, then egg yolks, stirring well after each yolk is added. Stir in the orange zest and grand marnier. Allow to cool while whipping the egg whites.

In a stand mixer, whip egg whites while slowly adding the remaining ½ cup sugar. Whip to stiff peaks.

Very gently fold ⅓ of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture to lighten it, taking care not to deflate them. Continue with another third of the whites, then the final third. Scrape the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Place it on a rimmed baking sheet, then into the oven. Bake for 35-40 minutes, the cake will be puffy and the top will no longer be wobbly. Allow to cool completely before unmolding and setting on a serving plate. I used the parchment to move the cake as it is very delicate, almost wafer like (trim parchment after). The center will concave almost begging to be filled with the mound of cream and blackberries. 

In a stand mixer, whip the cream, orange zest, and powdered sugar to medium peaks, add in the orange cognac and vanilla. Whip another few brief seconds to incorporate. Fill the center of the cake with the cream and top with the berries.