RecipesMeals

Chocolate Fudge Loaf

Chocolate Fudge Loaf

This rich and fudgy cake is topped with a thick blanket of dark chocolate ganache and sprinkled with cacao nibs and flaky sea salt.

Ingreadient

• Cooking spray
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons hot strong coffee or black tea (such as English breakfast) (see Note)
• 3/4 cup (about 3 ounces) plus 2 tablespoons Dutch-process cocoa (such as Valrhona or Guittard)
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (4 ounces), melted
• 1 3/4 cups packed light brown sugar
• 1/3 cup canola oil
• 2 1/4 teaspoons fine sea salt, divided
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup crème fraîche or sour cream, divided
• 1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (preferably King Arthur) (about 6 3/8 ounces), sifted
• 2/3 cup dark rye flour (such as Bob’s Red Mill) (about 3 ounces), sifted
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup chopped bittersweet chocolate (70% cacao) (from 3 [2-ounce] bars) (such as Valrhona or Guittard)
• 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
• Flaky sea salt, for garnish
• Cacao nibs, for garnish

Direction

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9- x 5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on long sides. Spray parchment lightly with cooking spray; set aside.
2. Whisk together coffee, cocoa, and butter in a medium bowl until smooth and well combined; let stand 5 minutes. Add brown sugar, oil, and 2 teaspoons fine sea salt to coffee mixture; whisk until sugar dissolves and mixture is smooth, about 1 minute. Add eggs and 1/2 cup crème fraîche; whisk until batter thickens slightly, about 30 seconds. Add all-purpose flour, rye flour, and baking soda; whisk until all dry ingredients are just incorporated. Transfer batter to prepared pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven until cake forms a crust, cracks in the center, and springs back lightly when pressed, 1 hour to 1 hour and 20 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack, and let cake cool in pan 15 minutes. Run an offset spatula around edges of cake; using parchment overhang as handles, remove cake from pan. Transfer cake to wire rack, and let cool completely, about 2 hours. Remove and discard parchment paper.
4. Cook chocolate, corn syrup, remaining 1/2 cup crème fraîche, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt in a saucepan over low, whisking constantly, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; let cool until thickened and spreadable, 15 to 20 minutes, whisking every 5 minutes.
5. Spread chocolate mixture on top of cooled cake, letting some drip down cake sides. Let stand 5 minutes. Garnish with flaky sea salt and cacao nibs.