CHOCOLATE DECADENCE

Steps:

• Cut circle of parchment paper to fit 8-inch round cake pan.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Combine chocolate and butter in top of double boiler.
• Set over gently simmering water and stir until melted and smooth.
• Remove from heat.
• Transfer to bowl and set aside.
• Wipe out top of double boiler (you'll be using it again).
• Combine eggs and sugar in top of double boiler.
• Set over gently simmering water and whisk constantly until sugar is dissolved and mixture darkens and is barely warm to the touch.
• Remove from heat.
• Beat at high speed with electric mixer until eggs have tripled in volume and are consistency of lightly whipped cream, about 5 to 10 minutes.
• Gently fold in flour.
• Carefully stir 1/3 of egg mixture into chocolate to loosen, then fold chocolate into remaining egg mixture until thoroughly combined.
• Turn into prepared pan.
• Bake until cake is soft in center but crusty on top, about 15 minutes.
• Let cool completely in pan, then freeze overnight.
• (Cake can be kept in freezer up to one month before serving.) About 1 hour before serving, whip cream with confectioners' sugar and vanilla until stiff.
• Invert cake onto serving platter.
• (Spinning pan briefly over high heat will help loosen cake from pan.) Spread 2/3 of whipped cream over top.
• Mound chocolate curls in center.
• Pipe rosettes around edge of cake using remaining whipped cream.
• Refrigerate until about 15 minutes before serving.
• Pass raspberry puree separately.