Chocolate Pear Torte Recipe

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 2 cups almond flour
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 3/4 cup maple syrup, plus more for brushing pears
• 1/4 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• 4 large eggs, separated
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 pears, cut in half, cored, and cut crosswise into 1/4-inch slices
• 1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts
• Powdered sugar

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Melt chocolate in a double boiler or microwave on high, 10 seconds at a time, stirring in between, until melted. Set aside to cool slightly.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together almond flour, cocoa powder, and cardamom.
4. Once chocolate has cooled but is still melted, add maple syrup, vinegar, and egg yolks. Whisk until slightly thickened.
5. Add dry ingredients to wet and combine.
6. In a clean, dry bowl, whip egg whites with 1/4 teaspoon salt until very stiff. Gently fold egg whites into batter in 3 additions.
7. Pour batter into a greased 9-inch springform pan. Decorate top with pear slices by gently fanning them out, small amounts at a time. Vary the direction and spacing to create a pattern. Brush pears with maple syrup. Sprinkle cake with hazelnuts.
8. Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool before unmolding. Dust with powdered sugar.