"take care that you do not make me look like a fool tonight"

Yesterday, we celebrated National Sacher Torte Day. Who knew? Don't you just love historic confections that have their very own day devoted to them?

This chocolate and apricot cake was created in a moment of panic by a sixteen year old baking apprentice, Franz Sacher in 1832. The "coachman of Europe" Wenzel Clemens Prince Metternich wanted to create a glorious dessert for his guests and had given the stern warning to "take care that you do not make me look like a fool tonight" in regard to the creation of this confection. The head chef who Sacher worked under was ill that day, and Sacher had to come up with something fit for a prince and his guests. In pastry school, we had read that the addition of apricot jam (the cake's signature addition) by Sacher was simply an afterthought - and thus the world renowned Sacher Torte was born. Sacher's cake became so famous that he eventually opened the Hotel Sacher in Vienna, where people flocked for his signature dessert.

Want to make a Sacher Torte? 

Makes one 9-inch torte

For 1 Sachertorte base:

4 oz couverture
1/2 cup soft butter
1/4 cup + 2 teaspoons confectioners' sugar
6 eggs, separated
1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons sugar
1 cup flour, sifted

For the icing:

2 cups sugar
3/4 cup water
13 oz couverture, chopped

You will also need:

9-inch springform pan
Parchment paper
About 3/4 cup apricot jam for filling and spreading

On the Sacher Hotel's website, they mention that there is a secret ingredient added, and that the real Sacher recipe is shrouded in mystery. The definition of a Sacher Torte was decided in a Viennese court shortly after the cake's inception. It was decided by the Congress of Vienna that the Sacher was made of two layers of chocolate cake, separated by apricot jam and covered in chocolate glaze. The cake is supposed to be served with a quinelle of chantilly cream.

I have heard that the original cake is quite dry, I've made this cake several times with a little doctoring and it is decadent and such a treat (if you are into rich dark chocolate desserts).  I'm very curious what this mystery ingredient is. Any guesses from anyone who has had the original Sacher Torte? 

The recipe is considered exclusive to the Hotel Sacher of Vienna, and you can only have an authentic Sacher Torte made by the hotel. The tortes are available for purchase online through the hotel's website. The are quite beautiful and come in really lovely wooden boxes. To order a Sacher straight from the Viennese hotel, click here.

 

 

Comments

[Apricot cakes]

Atlast i found this hiding blog. Very nice and yummy ice cakes. www.vivamagonline.com chocolate and apricot cakes are my favourite. Very interesting article and i feel like tasting it now itself.

[vanessa]

I'm so glad you found my blog :) Thank you for your nice words! I will check out that site that you posted. Let me know if you try making a Sacher and what you think. Cheers :)