This most well known Viennese cake, sachertorte, is a layered chocolate cake with apricot jam. It has a mysterious and layered origin story and many questions remain, but one thing we know is true, the cake is delicious.
Ingredients
Servings 16
For the chocolate cake
- 10 ½ tablespoons vegan butter divided
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 6 eggs
- ¾ cup chocolate chips
- 1 cup all-purpose flour minus two tablespoons
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Glaze
- 1 ½ cups apricot jam
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 4 tablespoons vegan butter
- 2 tablespoons corn syrup
Nutritional Facts
Nutrition Facts
Sachertorte - Chocolate Cake
Amount per Serving
Calories
327
% Daily Value*
Fat
16
g
25
%
Saturated Fat
6
g
38
%
Trans Fat
0.1
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
3
g
Monounsaturated Fat
4
g
Cholesterol
61
mg
20
%
Sodium
116
mg
5
%
Potassium
109
mg
3
%
Carbohydrates
45
g
15
%
Fiber
0.3
g
1
%
Sugar
32
g
36
%
Protein
3
g
6
%
Vitamin A
619
IU
12
%
Vitamin C
2
mg
2
%
Calcium
29
mg
3
%
Iron
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉. Cover the bottom of a round 9-inch springform cake pan with parchment paper. Smear 1/2 tablespoon vegan butter on the insides of the pan and sift some flour over it, so the cake will be easier to remove later.
- Cream remaining vegan butter with sugar and vanilla extract. Separate the eggs and keep the egg whites for later. One at a time, add the yolks to the creamed vegan butter while stirring.
- In a double-boiler, heat up the ¾ cup chocolate chips on medium heat until they are melted. If no double-boiler is available, simply melt the chocolate in a glass or ceramic bowl over a pot of water, on medium heat. Add the melted chocolate into the creamed butter.
- Mix the flour with the cornstarch and add it to the mixture, 1/4 cup at a time, and stir until everything is combined.
- In another bowl, whip the egg whites until they are stiff. Add egg whites to the batter, folding it in slowly.
- Pour the batter into the cake pan and bake for 45 minutes.
- Remove from oven and let it cool for 10-20 minutes.
- Open the springform, separating the cake from the edges, and flip it onto a cooling rack. Remove the parchment paper from the bottom of the cake. Cut the cake horizontally into two and let the halves cool.
- To prepare the glaze, heat apricot jam on high heat in a small saucepan for about a minute. If the jam has large pieces, run it through a strainer. Pour half the jam over one of the cake halves and spread it out evenly over the surface. Stack the second half cake on the first. From the center of the top, pour the rest of the jam over the two cake layers. Spread the jam evenly over the surface and sides. Let the apricot glaze rest for at least one hour.
- Using the double-boiler, melt 1 cup chocolate chips, and 4 tablespoons vegan butter. Stir to combine and add the corn syrup. From the center, pour the chocolate over the entire surface and sides of the cake. It is essential to work quickly so the chocolate glaze will be smooth and shiny. Let the cake rest in the fridge for two hours. Serve with coffee and whipped cream. As they say in Austria, Guten Appetit!
Great article BUT Why corn syrup?! It’s so bad for our health… I have never had a sacher torte with corn syrup… is this a kosher version?
The author chose corn syrup because it makes a really nice shiny glaze and has less issues of crystallization but you can certainly sub with maple syrup or honey.
Does it have to be vegan butter. Can I use actual butter and if so, salted or unsalted?
We wanted it to be dairy free but you can certainly use real butter, unsalted
The best torte in the world! Thanks Aish for sharing the original recipe.
I thought there were ground almonds in the cake . The Austrian bakery I used to buy my cake from told me they had nuts in it . Maybe this is a variation of the original recipe . I will try this recipe and see if it tastes the same .
The Sacher torte in Vienna (which I tasted) does not contain almonds.
I agree! My sacher torte (chocolate flourless cake) always uses almond flour…
Yes please let us know, I am sure there are many variations on this cake with such a long history.