TENERINA FERRARESE - CHOCOLATE CAKE FROM ITALY

This is the most famous sweet from my little world heritage city. Its name is TENERINA, made of mostly chocolate and butter. Then you can guess how wonderful it is. Making Tenerina is super easy, the result is ... killing!!! 🤤
Tenerina Ferrarese is a classic Italian chocolate cake hailing from Ferrara, known for its rich flavor and delightful texture. This indulgent dessert features high-quality dark chocolate, which is melted and combined with eggs, sugar, and a hint of butter to create a luscious batter. The cake is baked until the edges are set while the center remains soft and fudgy, resulting in a wonderfully moist texture. Often dusted with powdered sugar and served with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of gelato, Tenerina Ferrarese is a true chocolate lover's delight. Its simplicity and intense chocolate flavor make it a perfect choice for special occasions or a cozy treat any time. This cake beautifully embodies the essence of Italian dessert-making, celebrating quality ingredients and a passion for rich flavors.

Do you know:
1. Dark chocolate: Dark chocolate is a rich, bittersweet chocolate made from cocoa solids, cocoa butter, and sugar, with a higher cocoa content than milk chocolate. It is renowned for its health benefits, being high in antioxidants like flavonoids, which may help reduce inflammation and improve heart health. Dark chocolate is also a good source of iron, magnesium, and fiber, contributing to overall nutrition. Its intense flavor enhances various desserts, from brownies to mousses, and can be used in savory dishes to add depth. The higher cocoa percentage gives dark chocolate a distinct, bold taste that appeals to many chocolate lovers.

2. Melted butter: Melted butter is a key ingredient in baking and cooking, providing moisture, flavor, and richness to dishes. When heated, butter transforms from a solid to a liquid, allowing it to blend seamlessly with other ingredients. It contains saturated fats, which contribute to the tender texture of baked goods, and is also a source of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. Melted butter is often used in recipes for cakes, cookies, and pastries, enhancing flavor and creating a desirable crumb structure. Its rich, creamy taste elevates both sweet and savory dishes.

3. Sugar: Sugar is a sweetener derived from sugarcane or sugar beets, commonly used in cooking and baking to add sweetness and enhance flavor. It plays a vital role in texture, moisture retention, and browning in baked goods. Sugar also contributes to the fermentation process in yeast-based recipes, helping dough to rise. While providing energy in the form of carbohydrates, excessive sugar intake can have health implications, so it should be consumed in moderation. In desserts, sugar balances flavors and can be adjusted to create different levels of sweetness, making it a fundamental ingredient in many recipes.

4. Eggs: Eggs are a versatile ingredient in cooking and baking, valued for their binding, emulsifying, and leavening properties. They provide protein, essential amino acids, vitamins D and B12, and healthy fats, contributing to overall nutrition. In recipes, eggs add moisture and richness, helping to create a tender texture in baked goods. They are used in a variety of dishes, from cakes and custards to sauces and savory dishes. The combination of egg whites and yolks allows for a variety of cooking techniques, making eggs an essential component in many culinary applications around the world.

Weightwatchers (Opt for losing weight):
To make Tenerina Ferrarese, a chocolate cake from Italy, more weight-loss-friendly, consider using a smaller amount of sugar or substitute it with a natural sweetener like stevia or monk fruit to reduce calories. Use a lower-fat alternative for melted butter, such as applesauce or Greek yogurt, to maintain moisture while cutting fat content. Choose dark chocolate with a higher cocoa content (70% or more) for a richer flavor with less sugar. Reduce the amount of flour or replace half with almond flour for added nutrients and healthy fats. For frosting, use unsweetened cocoa powder with minimal icing sugar or skip it altogether, allowing the cake's natural richness to shine through while keeping the dessert lighter.

Note: The egg-beating bowl and tools must be clean to ensure the eggs whip up properly.