This is, like the title says, intense. Chocolate, flourless yumminess. This is based on a Nigella Lawson recipe. My husband, who is not a huge chocolate fan, told me it was “too much chocolate”. He has eaten a piece every night… I made this for my birthday gathering with some girlfriends. My brother in law got me following the New York Times recipes and this was the inspiration.

INGREDIENTS

• 5 ounces bittersweet chocolate
• 5 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
• 9 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 6 large eggs, room temperature and separated
•  Pinch of salt
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons brandy (I used Chambord)

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Position the oven rack in lower center of the oven. Cover the outside of a 9-inch springform pan with a double layer of foil. Using a microwave oven or double boiler, melt together chocolate and butter; set aside to cool slightly.
2. In a bowl, whisk together egg yolks and 1/4 cup sugar until pale, frothy and increased in volume. Whisk in brandy, then fold in chocolate mixture. Place a pot of water over heat, and bring it to a boil. Using an electric mixer, whisk egg whites and salt until thick. Add remaining 1/4 cup sugar, and continue to whisk until stiff and shiny but not dry.
3. Fold about 1/2 cup whisked egg whites into the chocolate mixture to lighten it. Gently fold in remaining whites, being careful not to let the mixture deflate. Pour mixture into lightly-buttered springform pan, and place pan in a roasting pan. Add boiling water to roasting pan to come halfway up side of springform pan. Bake for 45 minutes; top of cake will be hard and inside will be gooey.
4. Remove cake pan from water, and place on a rack to cool completely. Unwrap foil and remove side of springform pan. Place cake on a serving platter. Just before serving, dust top with confectioners’ sugar passed through a sieve or top with melted Chocolate chips and peanut butter.