Flourless and Sugar-Free Cake

You can't have cake. Deal.

Well, ok, lets look at the options. There are some highly scientific, flat-out scary formulations for low-carb gluten-free bread, for example, so I guess there's a chance. But what are you going to make it out of? bean flour?

Dust bunnies.

Boron

Well, lets look at the science.

Cake is a carefully crafted matrix of starch, sugar, fat, and protein.

The protein here is largely from albumen, though I'm sure that what protein does exist in cake flour plays some part.

Sugar is not just a sweetener, it's a structural component and adds to the texture of the cake. I have no idea if chlorinated sugar works as well here.

So lets say you buy some bean flour, which i hear has almost no carbs. Great. I honestly can't imagine that bean flour will work properly. You might end up with brownies. Cake exists by the grace of air trapped in a flour-based batter. I do not speak from experience, but I'm betting that bean flour and splenda aren't going to have the same ability to form little bubbles.

Even if you make something tht works, the texture and flavor aren't going to be right. It's not going to be'cake'. It's going to be a substance that resembles cake. You may as well use some yogurt in the mix.

I'm sorry, I just get all bent out of shape over dieters substitutions. You chose a life without carbs. Why now are you seeking the shadow of lost carbs?

Forget it. Whatever you come up with will be a very poor representation of cake.

If you're eating low-carb, either have the slice of real cake and budget it into your allowance, or have a "planned cheat" meal or day.

Connie

***************************************************** My mind is like a steel...um, whatchamacallit.

I do not see the point of removing the flour and sugar which are the critical ingredients in a cake. I had some few experiences with these so called sugarless and flourless cakes but I rated them as pure CRAP. Even if they are nicely presented and tastefully decorated with sugar free decorations;From my own standards, I cannot label them as cake as the texture , apperarance etc. is different and the sensory quality is offensive that taste panels ended up rating ( simply stated ) thumbs down .. If you really loved life why deprive yourself of the enjoyment if you are not suffering from some sort of food allergy? Anyway whether you practice or not an Atkins fad diet you will not become immortal anyway...We all die in the end. Therefore if you love to eat cake enjoy the real one not the modified fabricated item. Roy

One of the Atkins recipe books has a cheesecake recipe which isn't bad. Looking around online, I came across the following, which seems to be close to it:

Ingredients:

3- 8 ounce packages of Philly Cream Cheese 25-30 Splenda Packets or equivalent sugar-substitute 2 Tsp Vanilla Extract 3 whole eggs 1 cup sour cream

Preheat Oven To 375 Degrees F

1. Soften cream cheese in a large bowl.
2. With an electric mixer, blend cream cheese ALONE until creamy and of an even consistency.
3. Add sugar, vanilla and sour cream and blend until incorporated.
4. *Important* Add eggs ONE at a time and blend after each until incorporated into batter.
5. Spray a 9 or 10 inch glass pie pan with Pam to prevent sticking.
6. Add Batter to pie pan.
7. *Important, but not necessary* Place first pan in a larger pan filled with water. This prevents the cheesecake from cracking and keeps it moist inside.
8. Place both pans in oven for 45 minutes or until somewhat firm in the center.

You didn't mention what would replace the flour, so here's one w/ nuts. I assume you could substitute Splenda for some sugar, I've never done that, but sounds like you have.

Chocolate Nut Torte

2/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels ½ cup (1 stick) butter or margarine 2/3 cup granulated sugar 3 eggs 1 1/4 cups ground pecans or other nuts (see note) 2 tablespoons orange-flavored liqueur (optional) or Orange juice or zest

For glaze:

2/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels 1/4 cup (½ stick) butter or margarine

Pecan halves, for garnish

Melt chocolate morsels in microwave or over simmering water in double boiler. Let cool.

Meanwhile, in small bowl of electric mixer, cream butter. Gradually add sugar, mixing at high speed, until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. (Batter will appear to have curdled, but this is normal.) With mixer on low speed, add melted chocolate chips, nuts and orange liqueur.

Butter an 8-inch round pan; line bottom with waxed paper. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in preheated 375-degree oven 25 minutes. Center of cake will seem moist and underbaked.

Let cake cool in pan 30 minutes. Run knife around edge of cake, and invert cake onto wire cake rack. Remove pan and paper from cake. Let cake cool a few hours.

To prepare glaze: Melt chocolate morsels and butter in microwave or in double boiler. Spread glaze on top and sides of cake. Garnish top of cake with pecan halves.

Yield: 10 servings.

Note: 2 cups of pecan halves yielded 1 1/4 cups ground pecans. The ground nuts take the place of flour in this recipe.

Tester's note: The results are excellent. This type of cake freezes beautifully, but you may want to glaze it after thawing.