Sachertort is a classic Austrian chocolate cake made with layers of dense chocolate sponge cake filled with apricot jam and covered in rich dark chocolate icing. It is one of the most famous cakes in the world, and millions of people have enjoyed its unique flavor for centuries.
Brief History and Origin
Franz Sacher first created the Sachertort in 1832 at the request of Prince Metternich. The prince was hosting diplomats from all over Europe and wanted to impress them with an original dessert. Franz Sacher rose to the challenge and created one of the world’s most famous cakes.
Sachertort – The Recipe
- Preparation Time: 1 hr
- Cooking Time: 1 hr
- Total time: 2 hrs
- Servings: 12
Ingredients
- 200g dark chocolate, chopped
- 8 eggs, yolks, and whites separated
- 275g white sugar
- 175g unsalted butter, softened
- 200g all-purpose flour
- Pinch of salt
For the filling and glaze
- 250g apricot jam
- 2 tbsp. apricot liqueur
- 170ml double cream
- 50g caster sugar
- 200g dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa content)
- 70g milk chocolate, chopped
- 25g butter
Instructions
- Prepare the oven and preheat it to 150 degrees C. Also, prepare a 24cm springform pan by lightly greasing it with butter. Add a layer of parchment paper to the bottom and grease the paper.
- Melt the chocolate in the microwave oven, and set aside until cool. Add egg whites and salt in a separate bowl, and whisk using an electric mixer until soft peaks appear. Slowly add 200g white sugar while continue whisking until stiff peaks appear.
- Add the remaining sugar and butter in a large bowl, whisk using an electric mixer until creamy and light, and ensure that the sugar dissolves completely. Slowly add the melted chocolate and egg yolks while you keep whisking.
- Add 1/3 of the egg white mixture and fold gently. Then add flour into two batches and fold after adding each portion. Finally, add the remaining egg white mixture and fold using a spatula until everything combines well.
- Pour the batter into the prepared tin and place in the oven. Bake for 1 hour or until the cake has risen. Remove from oven, leave to cool slightly, then remove from tin and place on the wire rack until cool.
- In a saucepan, add liqueur and jam; when hot, strain the mixture into a bowl and set aside.
- Peel off the parchment paper from the cake and cut it in half horizontally from the center. Place one half of the cake on the cake stand and spread half of the jam on top; place another half of the cake on top and spread a thin layer of remaining jam on the top and sides of the cake. Leave the cake to dry.
For the Chocolate Glaze
- Pour water into a saucepan over medium heat, add sugar, and heat until sugar dissolves. Then remove from heat and set aside until cool; add 2 tbsp. of double cream and mix.
- Add remaining cream in a saucepan over medium heat, add butter, and heat until butter melts; remove from heat and add chocolate, stir until chocolate melts. Add sugar syrup and mix to combine everything.
- Drizzle chocolate glaze over the cake middle and let the glaze flow across the cake; ensure a coating all over the cake, but no need to make a smooth surface.
- Melt the white chocolate and pour it into a piping bag. Make a striped pattern on the cake and leave the cake to dry. When ready, slice and serve.
Popular variations
Here are a few ways you can change this basic recipe to adjust it to your liking:
- Sacher torte with Raspberry Jam: This version of Sacher torte is made with raspberry jam instead of traditional apricot jam. The raspberries and the jam give the cake a tangy yet sweet taste that plays well with the dark chocolate indulgence.
- Double Chocolate Sacher Brownies: The brownies are fudgy and chocolaty but with the traditional flavors of Sacher torte. It also has the apricot jam layer, and it goes so well with the fudgy brownie texture.
- Spiced orange Sacher torte: The classic combination of orange and chocolate in the rich Sacher torte is divine. It is sweet and rich and has a slight tanginess from the orange.
- Cheesecake Sacher torte: The cheesecake-inspired Sacher torte has the deliciousness of chocolate with the cream cheese baked filling. We love the biscuit and walnut crust with the chocolaty Sacher torte filling.
- No-Bake Sacher Torte: this interpretation of classic Sacher Torte in a no-bake version is genius. It has a chocolate biscuit crust, mascarpone cheese, apricot jam filling, and chocolate ganache. Indeed, it is so easy to bake and delicious.
