A few years ago we were in Vienna Austria for a very short 3 days. We stopped in the Sacher hotel and had a slice of their authentic Sacher-Torte. I had expected a rich chocolate cake with a moist, dense, fudgy texture but it turns out that the Sacher-Torte is actually a dry cake with a mild and light chocolate flavor.

The light chocolate flavor compliments the apricot jam that covers the cake and then it is balanced out with a wonderfully rich chocolate glaze. The combination of the different chocolate flavors and the apricot jam create a lovely balance of flavors.

The cake was created in the 1800’s by a 16-year-old apprentice chef in his second year of training. He apparently saved the day and the head chef’s reputation by turning out a successful and delightful dessert for the Prince.

It is not an especially difficult cake to make but it is a bit time consuming. If you are taking the time to make the cake you really should use a good quality chocolate, it will make all the difference and reward your time and efforts.

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Sacher-Torte

A chocolate sponge cake glazed in an apricot jam and covered in a rich velvety smooth chocolate glaze.

4.64 from 11 votes

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Prep Time: 30

Cook Time: 45

Total Time: 1 15

Servings:

Calories: 469kcal

Author: Dahn Boquist

Ingredients

4 oz good quality dark chocolate 70% cocoa butter
½ cup butter softened
½ cup powdered sugar
6 eggs separated
2 teaspoons vanilla
½ cup granulated sugar
1 cup 100 g sifted cake flour

Apricot Glaze

1 ½ cups apricot jam
2 tablespoons rum or water

Chocolate Glaze

¾ cup sugar
½ cup water
5 ½ ounces dark chocolate 70% cocoa butter, chopped

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour a 9 inch springform pan.
Melt the chocolate in a microwave, stirring every 15 to 30 seconds (or place in a double boiler over simmering water, stirring frequently until melted). After the chocolate has melted completely, set it aside to come to room temperature.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and powdered sugar about 2 minutes until smooth. Add the egg yolks one at a time and beat for 1 to 2 more minutes. Add the vanilla and melted chocolate and beat until smooth and well blended.
In a separate clean bowl, beat the egg whites with a whisk attachment until foamy then slowly add the granulated sugar. Continue to beat until soft, shiny peaks form.
Stir about 1/3 of the beaten egg whites into the chocolate batter to loosen the batter, then gently fold the remaining egg whites and sifted flour into the batter.
Spread the batter in the prepared pan. Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Cool for 5 to 10 minutes then loosen the cake from the sides of the pan with a knife and remove the sides of the springform pan. Transfer the cake to a wire rack and cool completely.
When the cake is cooled, slice it into three layers. It is helpful to put the cake on a turntable and hold the knife level while spinning the turntable. As you rotate the turntable, move the knife closer toward the center until you have sliced all the way through. Slide the top two layers on a plate or cardboard.
In a microwave proof bowl, heat the apricot jam and rum until it is warm and thin enough to pour. Pour the jam glaze through a strainer to get out the lumps.
Place the bottom slice of the cake on a cardboard round the same size as the cake and put it on a rack with saran wrap or wax paper underneath the rack. Pour about ½ cup of the jam glaze onto the first cake layer. Allow the glaze to soak in then add the second cake layer. Pour another ½ cup of the jam glaze over the cake layer and let it soak in. Place the top layer on the cake and pour the remaining jam glaze onto the cake. Allow the glaze to run down the sides and completely cover the cake. Use a knife to smooth the glaze into any areas that are bare. Refrigerate the cake for 5 minutes to completely set the apricot jam glaze.
To make the chocolate glaze, place the water and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Pour the chocolate into the pan and bring back to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and using a candy thermometer, continue to heat the mixture until it reaches 230° F. You will need to stir the mixture frequently. Take the mixture off the heat and continue to stir for 1 or 2 minutes until it cools slightly.
Place the cake in a sheet pan that has been lined with waxed paper. Pour the chocolate mixture over the cake. Using a knife or an offset spatula, smooth the chocolate mixture over the top and down the sides of the cake completely covering the cake. Allow the chocolate to puddle up at the base of the cake. Cool the cake in the refrigerator for one hour until the chocolate is completely set. Using a knife, cut around the edge of the cake to separate the puddle of chocolate from the cake. Using an offset spatula, transfer the cake to a clean platter.
Slice the cake using a knife dipped in hot water and serve with whipped cream.

Notes

Use a good quality dark chocolate. The cake is not very sweet and has a mild chocolate flavor in spite of the dark chocolate however the chocolate glaze is very sweet and chocolaty. Just as the authentic Sacher-Torte from Vienna, this Sacher-Torte is firm and somewhat dry. If you prefer a moister cake, thin the apricot glaze out more so it soaks in deeper.