Chocolate heaven: Discover the magic of torta caprese

Located in the Bay of Naples, Capri has long been considered one of the most beautiful islands in Europe—even Roman emperors visited to admire the extraordinary landscapes and enjoy the excellent cuisine, primarily based on nature's bounty from land and sea.

Today, one of Capri's culinary symbols is a cake made of chocolate and almonds, without flour or yeast, but full of flavor and aroma. Allegedly, the recipe for Torta Caprese was born accidentally, thanks to a mistake by the pastry chef Carmine Di Fiore.

This happened in the turbulent 1920s. Three American gangsters visited Di Fiore's shop, having come to Italy for shady business. They ordered an almond cake—the pastry chef's specialty from Capri. However, Di Fiore was so focused on his task that he forgot to add flour, though he did not skimp on the chocolate. To his amazement, the cake turned out incredibly tasty—moist, delicate, and with an intense flavor. The guests from the United States were delighted, and from this mishap, a recipe was born that quickly gained popularity, not only on the island but throughout Italy.

Today, Torta Caprese can be enjoyed at many pastry shops throughout Italy, and it plays a significant role in various celebrations and special events.

The classic cake recipe still relies on just five ingredients: dark chocolate, almonds, sugar, butter, and eggs. However, there are versions with additional ingredients like lemon juice, orange zest, pistachios, and even yeast. One interesting variation is Torta Caprese Bianca, which uses lemon zest and juice and replaces dark chocolate with white chocolate.

Some recipes include almond flour, which undoubtedly speeds up cake preparation. However, the residents of Capri believe that chopped or blended almonds are better suited, adding flavor, aroma, and nutritional value.

Almonds are a treasure trove of unsaturated fatty acids, especially linoleic acid, which restores balance between "good" and "bad" cholesterol, reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases, strengthens the immune system, and helps inhibit the development of cancer cells. They also improve mood, thanks to a high concentration of tryptophan, zinc, and selenium—minerals that play a crucial role in brain function. Almonds are rich in other minerals, including calcium, iron, manganese, and vitamin E, aptly called the "vitamin of youth."

The second key ingredient of Torta Caprese, dark chocolate, is equally valuable. It’s rich in magnesium, an effective remedy for stress. Chocolate improves mood and boosts energy levels, thanks to the alkaloids theobromine and caffeine. With its high content of pyrazine, chocolate also positively influences concentration and intellectual performance.

Break the dark chocolate (with at least 70% cocoa content) into pieces and melt it in a water bath until it becomes a homogeneous, velvety mass. Set it aside to cool.

In a large bowl, cream room-temperature butter (around 7 oz) with sugar (around 7 oz) until light and fluffy. Then mix the egg yolks one at a time (four in total, also at room temperature). Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract and the cooled chocolate, and mix well.

Add ground almonds (around 7 oz) and combine with the rest of the ingredients. In a separate bowl, beat four egg whites with a pinch of salt until stiff peaks form. Then, gently fold them into the chocolate mixture using a spatula, making upward motions to maintain fluffiness.

Transfer the batter into a baking-paper-lined and greased pan with a diameter of about 9 inches, and smooth the top. Place it in an oven preheated to 340°F for about 40-50 minutes. Check with a skewer—it should be slightly moist and not too dry. The goal is to achieve a cake with a crispy crust but a moist, soft center.

After baking, remove the Torta Caprese from the oven and let it cool completely in the pan. Only then should you remove it and dust with powdered sugar before serving. The cake tastes best a few hours after baking when it reaches the ideal consistency and the flavors meld together.

Torta Caprese can be served with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, or fresh fruits such as raspberries or strawberries, which perfectly complement the intense chocolate flavor.