Flourless Chocolate Bean Cake #SundaySupper

This was not my first choice of recipe, and while making it still had my doubts. Then I tried it and knew it was perfect for today. Not at all what I had in mind when I started brainstorming, because there are some Sunday Supper themes that require probably a lot of posts for me to feel like I have it minimally covered, so it´s hard to decide.

Like the bucket list theme (hello a million items and counting!), or the retro recipes, or don´t get me started on drinks and appetizers.

Today´s event is hosted by Angie, of Big Bear´s Wife. The title is Cheese, Cake and Cheesecake. 

Take that in and tell me how do you choose? One, only one. I can easily have a blog devoted to that and post for years. So, I originally decided on a homemade cheese and a recipe to go with it. But the cheese in cuestion, ricotta, was already being made so, having as I did a million and one extravagant ideas involving cheese and cake, a simple flourless chocolate cake never crossed my mind.

But as you might have guessed from the title, this is no ordinary flourless cake, this one has beans in it, white canellini beans added to a mousse-like batter. The result is the tallest flourless chocolate cake I ever made. And it stays that way.

Now, I swear by Nigella´s flourless chocolate mousse cake, which I already posted served with my favorite caramel ice cream. It´s beyond good, not only in flavor but also texture. I´ve made it dozens of times and will probably never tire of it. 
But the one I´m sharing today has a completely different texture, courtesy of, not only the pureed white beans, but also of a large amount of ground walnuts. So, if you want to stretch it, you can say that eating a slice of this cake is almost good for you. And I think it is. Two birds in one shot. 
No one will ever know what they´re eating, but the texture is coarser and the flavor is sharper. I love it and can´t wait to make it again.

FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE BEAN CAKE

from Chocolate Cake, by Michelle Urvater

Ingredients

8oz. (225g) semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

2 cups (200g) walnuts, lightly toasted

1 cup (200g) sugar

1 ½ cups (scant two 300g cans, drained) white beans, I used canellini

2 Tbs dark rum

1 Tbs vanilla extract

6 large eggs, separated

Pinch of salt

Confectioners´ sugar, for dusting

Directions

Preheat oven to 350ºF/180ºC. Lightly butter or spray a 10-inch silicone or springform pan.

Melt the chocolate in a steel or glass bowl over a pan of boiling water, being careful the bottom of the bowl is not touching water. Or microwave, in 30 seconds intervals, mixing well between each one and being careful not to overcook the chocolate and scorch it. Let cool to room tº.

Meanwhile, in a food processor, grind walnuts with ¼ cup of the sugar. Transfer to another bowl.

Using the same processor, puree the white beans with the rum and the vanilla extract.

One by one, add the egg yolks and process until smooth. Add the melted chocolate and process until smooth.

With an electric mixer, beat the egg whites and salt until soft peaks start to form. While beating at high speed, gradually add the remaining ¾ cup sugar and beat until stiff peaks form and the meringue is glossy.

Add ¼ of the chocolate batter into the meringue, and mix lightly with a spatula. Add the rest of the chocolate in two more additions, mixing lightly between each one. It will not be even colored.

Add the ground walnuts and mix with a spatula until it´s all one even batter, but careful not to overmix.

Put into the prepared pan, place an aluminum foil in the bottom of the oven if using a springform pan in case the cake drips, and bake for about 50 minutes to 1 hour. The top will be firm and a tester inserted in center of the cake will come out clean.

Transfer to a cooling rack until the cake is at room tº.

Unmold on a serving plate, dust with confectioners´ sugar and serve.

Can be kept for a few days. If you refrigerate it, serve it at room temperature.

We have put together a mind blowing list of cheese, cake and cheesecake recipes to last you a long time:

Cheese –

§         Garlic and Goat by Supper for a Steal

§         Quick and Easy Homemade Cottage Cheese by The Meltaways

§         Homemade Velveeta Cheese by Juanitas Cocina

§         Cheesy Spinach and Artichoke Dip with Parmesan Crisps by BigBearsWife

§         Irish Cheese Soufflés by girlichef

§         Paneer Tikka Masala by Kimchi Mom

§         Creamy Meyer Lemon Pasta with Homemade Ricotta and Broccoli by The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen

§         Ricotta Croquettes by Basic N Delicious

§         Cheeseburger Soup by Dinners Dishes and Desserts

§         Cherry Blossom Crescents by The Ninja Baker

§         Saag Paneer! Golden Roasted Ricotta In Savory Spinach Sauce by Sue’s Nutrition Buzz

§         Sourdough Cheese Crackers by Curious Cuisiniere

§         Basil Balsamic Strawberries & Whipped Feta Grilled Cheese by Cupcakes & Kale Chips

§         Lox and Cream Cheese Mini Omelettes by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings

§         Buffalo Cream Cheese Stuffed Chicken by In The Kitchen With KP

§         Baked Mozzarella Sticks by Mama’s Blissful Bites

§         Paneer Indian Cottage Cheese Pancake by Masala Herb

§         Crepes with Strawberry Mascarpone Cream Filling by Soni’s Food

§         Roasted Pears with Pecorino by Happy Baking Days

§         Pan-Fried Halloumi Cheese Salad by The Catholic Foodie

§         Chevre Torte with Mango and Sweet Pepper Salsa by Noshing with the Nolands

Cakes –

§         Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting by Hezzi D’s Books & Cooks

§         Sour Cream Chocolate Chip Cake by Gourmet Drizzles

§         Dairyfree Ice Cream Cake by Galactosemia in PDX

§         KitKat Chocolate Cake by The Urban Mrs.

§         Old Fashioned Caramel Cake by There and Back Again

§         Peanut Butter Banana Bundt Cake with Chocolate Chips by Gotta Get Baked

§         Flourless Chocolate Bean Cake by Vintage Kitchen

§         Dense Chocolate Cherry Cake by What Smells So Good?

§         Tequila Lime Cupcakes by Mama Mommy Mom

§         Almond Polenta Cake by Shockingly Delicious

§         Salmon Cakes by Family Foodie

§         Banana Split Bundt Cake with Chocolate Glaze by NeighborFood

& Cheesecakes

§         Kit Kat Cheesecake Brownies by Chocolate Moosey

§         Reese’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Bundt Cake by Daily Dish Recipes

§         Nutella Cheesecake Brownies by The Foodie Army Wife

§         Individual Strawberry and White Chocolate Cheesecakes by Small Wallet Big Appetite

§         Grasshopper Cheesecake Bars by That Skinny Chick Can Bake

§         Chocolate Covered Cherry Cheesecake by Magnolia Days

§         Mini Toddler Cherry Cheesecakes by In the Kitchen with Audrey and Maurene

§         Mocha Cheesecake by The Lovely Pantry

§         Lime Cheesecake Bites by Peanut Butter and Peppers

§         No-Bake Banana Sundae Cheesecake by The Messy Baker

§         Mini Raspberry Cheesecakes with White Chocolate Crusts by Cupcakes and Pearls

§         Savory Shrimp Cheesecake with Herbs and Garlic by Food Lust People Love

§         Cheesecake au Baileys by Baker Street

§         Tiny Turtle Cheesecakes (No Bake) by Cravings of a Lunatic

§         Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip Mini Cheesecakes by Cookistry

§         Chocolate Cheesecake Bites by Mom, What’s For Dinner?

Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter each Sunday. We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. This week we will be sharing our love of Cheese, Cakes AND Cheesecakes!  Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm EST!

Follow the #SundaySupper hash tag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat.

Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos.

Join us Around the Family Table this Sunday at 7PM Eastern Time and share your favorite Cheese, Cake and Cheesecake Recipes with us!