SACHER TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to moderately 160°C (325F.).
• Grease a deep 23 cm round cake pan. Line the base with a good baking paper.
• Combine the chocolate and water in a small saucepan. stir over a low heat until the chocolate is melted. Cool. (you can use the microwave for this step. Be very careful not to overcook the chocolate).
• Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar until well combined. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, beating well between addition.
• Stir in sifted flour, almond meal and cocoa.
• Stir in the chocolate mixture.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and bake for about 70 minutes.
• When cooked allow the cake to stand in the tin for 5 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool.
• When the cake has cooled, split the cake in half. Sandwich together with the apricot jam.
• Return the cake to the wire rack and cover the entire cake wiith a thin layer of ganache. Work the ganache over the cake quickly before it has time to set.
• To make the ganache: heat the chocolate and cream in a double saucepan or in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Stir until the chocolate has melted. Strain the ganache before spreading over the cake.
• Decorate: the torte is traditionally decorated by writing, in chocolate, the word "Sacher" a top of the cake.