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Torta caprese

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Torta caprese
A slice of Torta caprese with powdered sugar
TypeFlourless chocolate cake
Place of originItaly
Region or stateCapri
Main ingredientsAlmonds, butter, chocolate, eggs, salt, sugar, vanilla extract

Torta caprese is a flourless chocolate cake made out of almonds. It originates from the island of Capri, however its story is disputed. One hypothesis holds that a chef named Carmine di Fiore accidentally created the cake in the 1920s for Italian-American mafia, while the other story holds that it was created as an improvisation for Maria Carolina of Austria. Alongside almonds, the cake's ingredients are butter, chocolate, eggs, salt, sugar, and vanilla extract. The cake is popular in Italy and is also featured in restaurants in the United States.

History

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Torta caprese originates from the island of Capri.[1] Its origin is, however, disputed.[2][3] One hypothesis holds that the cake was inadvertently made in the 1920s by chef Carmine di Fiore. While creating a chocolate almond cake for Italian-American mafia, he forgot to add flour to the cake.[3][4] Reportedly, the gangsters liked the cake.[4] According to a different theory, Maria Carolina of Austria ordered her chefs to create the Sachertorte. Instead of creating the cake, the chefs improvised by adding almonds.[3] However, it is disputed that the queen wanted the Sachertorte, considering that the cake was invented in 1832.[5] The cake is also sometimes attributed to an unknown baker who, while creating an almond cake, forgot to add flour to the cake.[2]

The cake is sometimes referred to as "one of history's most fortunate mistakes" (uno dei pasticci più fortunati della storia).[2]

Ingredients and preparation

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The primary ingredients of Torta caprese are almonds, butter, chocolate, eggs, salt, sugar, and vanilla extract.[1][6] The cake can be made either with almond flour or raw almonds. After combining sugar and ground almonds, the recipe instructs adding chocolate and butter to a bowl and melting them together. The chocolate mixture is then mixed with ground almonds, salt, and vanilla extract. It is also necessary to separate the eggs and then mix the egg whites until they foam. The chocolate mixture is then cooked for 30 to 40 minutes after the gg white have been incorporated into it. The cake can be decorated with powdered sugar or unsweetened cocoa powder.[1] The cake can be served with vin santo.[7]

Torta caprese is similar to Elizabeth David's chocolate and almond cake.[4]

Variations

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According to cookbook author Silvia Colloca's recipe, olive oil is used instead of butter,[2] while according to chef Giada De Laurentiis's variation, white chocolate and lemons are used instead of dark or bittersweet chocolate.[8]

In culture and reception

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The cake is popular in Italy and is also served in restaurants in the United States.[5][9] According to the Guinness World Records, a Capri bakery named Buonocore holds the record for the largest Torta caprese at 3m long.[5] Colloca described Torta caprese "as rich and indulgent as it looks".[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Seneviratne, Samantha (23 December 2024). "Chocolate Torte (Torta Caprese)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 7 March 2025. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e Noone, Yasmin (13 July 2022). "Torta Caprese: One of History's Most Beautiful, Flourless Mistakes". SBS Food. Archived from the original on 7 March 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  3. ^ a b c Ciccarelli, Leonardo (31 March 2020). "La storia della torta caprese, tra Maria d'Absburgo e Al Capone" [The History of the Torta Caprese, Between Maria Carolina of Habsburg and Al Capone]. Cookist (in Italian). Archived from the original on 12 October 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  4. ^ a b c Davies, Emiko (25 October 2016). "The Crazy Good Flourless Chocolate Cake With an Even Crazier Backstory". Food52. Archived from the original on 24 January 2025. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  5. ^ a b c Pozzi, Carolina (9 May 2024). "Storia della Torta Caprese e dell'errore frettoloso che l'ha resa celebre". Today.it. Archived from the original on 16 March 2025. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  6. ^ De Laurentiis, Giada. "Torta Caprese". Food Network. Archived from the original on 10 March 2025. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  7. ^ Mazzei, Francesco (April 2019). "Torta Caprese". Delicious Magazine. Archived from the original on 12 November 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  8. ^ Saha, Joy (16 August 2024). "Looking for the Perfect Summer Desert? Try Giada's Recipe for Lemon Torta Caprese". Salon. Archived from the original on 9 October 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
  9. ^ Schachter, Margo (2 July 2023). "Torta caprese, direttamente da Capri la ricetta originale" [Torta Caprese, Directly from Capri the Original Recipe]. La Cucina Italiana (in Italian). Archived from the original on 9 July 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
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