Chocolate Chestnut Cake

The season is almost over but finally I managed to bag some fresh chestnuts this weekend at Avondale market. I know most people tend to forage for chestnuts but out at Muriwai we don’t have many Chestnut trees, perhaps they don’t like the sea air?

I have many strong memories of street vendors in the UK and Germany roasting chestnuts and the nutty smell wafting along the high street while out shopping. Holding a bag of hot chestnuts  was a welcome relief from the cold winter day if you had forgotten your gloves.  Not something I have to worry about now in New Zealand, I no longer own a pair of gloves except for snow boarding gloves taht I might use once a year. Funny how things change, gloves in the Europe are one of those essential winter accessories that you matched to your outfit like a pair of shoes!

I have a lot more chestnuts left after making this cake and have seen a great soup recipe over at Nourish Magazine which I hope to make this weekend.

Ingredients

225g 70% bitter chocolate
125g unsalted butter
5 free-range eggs, separated
100g caster sugar
50g plain flour or ground almonds
150g fresh peeled and roasted chestnuts
100ml dark rum


50g 70% cacao chocolate, chopped
50ml single cream

Method

Preheat the oven to 170°C and line a 28cm x 18cm rectangular cake or tart tin with parchment paper.
In a small saucepan bring the rum and fresh peeled and roasted chestnuts to the simmer; remove from the heat and leave to soak for 10 minutes.
Melt the chocolate and butter in a double boiler.
Whilst the chocolate is melting separate the eggs, whisk the whites until fluffy and then gradually add the sugar, continuing to whisk until it reaches a soft peak meringue.
Stir the soaked chestnuts, rum and egg yolks into the melted chocolate. Fold in the flour or ground almonds
Fold in the whipped egg whites.
Spoon the cake mixture into the lined tin . Bake the cake for 15 -20 minutes in the pre-heated oven.
Once cooked, remove the cake from the oven and leave to cool completely.
Heat the cream then add the chopped chocolate. Stir until smooth then pour over the cooled cake and smooth across the top of the cake.