Salted Dark Chocolate Pretzel Truffle Cake Recipe
Salted Dark Chocolate Pretzel Truffle Cake
There are always challenges whenever you move, right? Things always pop up, like trying to figure out how to arrange the furniture, which kitchen drawers will handle which utensils, how the closet is going to get organized… things like that. If you happen to have a food-obsessed Golden Retriever, then you need to add “how far back on the counter is far enough” to the list of things to do at a new house.
I made this cake with the intention of sharing it with everyone for dessert on Sunday. I photographed it late Sunday morning, pushed it to the back of the counter on the island, and went upstairs to put Joseph down for a nap. When I came back down, the cake was in the same spot, but half of it had been decimated and there was a certain Golden Retriever (ahem, Einstein) that was huffing and puffing and looking all kinds of guilty. Needless to say, I apparently haven’t found a safe resting spot for food on the counter yet, and unfortunately, my husband and I (and Einstein, of course!) were the only two that got to taste how utterly amazing this cake is!
I saw a recipe in a recent Donna Hay magazine for a salted chocolate cake that had pretzels on top. I loved the idea, but thought, if we’re putting pretzels on top, then why not put them on the bottom, too?! I am such a sucker for the combination of sweet and salty flavors, which is why I can’t ever get enough of things like chocolate-covered pretzels or chocolate-covered popcorn.
I stole the crust recipe from one of my favorite desserts – strawberry pretzel salad – which consists of crushed pretzels, sugar and melted butter. It’s a perfect base for the dark chocolate, truffle-like cake. The addition of flaky sea salt into the actual cake gives it the perfect punch of salty/sweet balance. The chocolate cake itself isn’t quite as dense as a truffle filling, but is just as smooth and creamy.
You could probably make this with semisweet chocolate if you prefer your chocolate a little bit sweeter, but I really do prefer the combination of dark chocolate and salt. This cake is such a fantastic combination of not only flavors, but also textures. If you’re a fan of sweet and salty, run into the kitchen and make this today!
(And if you have a food-obsessed Golden Retriever, make sure you push that cake far, far away from the edge of the counter!)
Four years ago: Root Beer Float Cake
Five years ago: Classic Lemonade
Six years ago: Chocolate Chip Cookie-Topped Brownies
Seven years ago: Homemade Pancake Mix
Salted Dark Chocolate Pretzel Truffle Cake
Yield: 8 to 10 servings
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 25 to 35 minutes
Total Time: 4 hours
A crushed pretzel crust topped with a salted dark chocolate truffle-like filling, topped off with even more pretzels.
Ingredients:
For the Crust:
- 2 cups finely crushed pretzels
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ⅔ cup unsalted butter, melted
- For the Cake:
- 16 ounces dark chocolate, finely chopped
- ½ cup unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
- 4 eggs, separated
- ¼ cup superfine sugar
- 2 teaspoons flaky sea salt (such as fleur de sel or Maldon)
- 1 cup mini pretzels
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9-inch springform pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
2. Make the Crust: In a medium bowl, mix together the pretzel crumbs, sugar and butter with a fork until evenly moistened. Press onto bottom of the prepared pan. Bake until golden brown and set, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside.
3. Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
4. Make the Cake: Place the chocolate and butter in a large heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water; stir occasionally until completely melted and smooth. Remove from the heat and set aside.
5. Place the egg whites in the bowl of an electric mixer and, using a whisk attachment, whip the egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add the sugar and whisk until the mixture is thick and glossy.
6. Add the egg yolks and salt to the chocolate mixture and stir until thoroughly combined. Working in three batches, gently fold the egg white mixture into the chocolate mixture until just combined.
7. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smooth into an even layer, and arrange the pretzels on top. Bake until a toothpick inserted near the edge comes out clean and the center is just set, 25 to 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes, then chill in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours before serving.