Christmas Special:  Dark Chocolate Cake with Red Wine Poached Rose Apples

Walking around the Mapusa market in Goa, was surprised to find these fruits…I have only seen them so far in my hometown.. I know their name in Tamil… we call them “Jambakka” or ” chambakka” so i googled to find out what on earth are they called in English.. apparently its called “Rose apple” or “Water Rose apple” and i found that they make a wine out of it.. and hence this cake 😀
its a Chocolate cake baked in with Rose apples poached with red wine. 

Ingredients
Poached Rose Apples:

• Red Wine- 120ml ( i used the local red wine, Madera Red)
• Water – 120ml
• Rose apples- 1/2 kilo 
• Cinnamon stick – 1 
• Star Anise – 3-4 pieces
• Clove -2-3 (optional)

Chocolate Cake:

• Flour – 120gm
• Butter – 100gm 
• Sugar – 100gm
• Eggs – 2 large
• Dark Bitter Chocolate (70%) – 75 gm
• Whiskey -30ml
• Baking Powder – 1 teaspoon
• Cocoa Powder – 70gm
• Expresso – 30ml 

Method:
Poached Rose Apples:

• In a heavy bottom saucepan, pour the wine, water, rose apples, a stick of cinnamon and the star anise. 
• Cook it on medium heat, until most of the wine is cooked away. 
• Dont poke the fruits, just swirl the pan when needed. 
• Once the wine is cooked away, take it off heat and let it cool.

Chocolate Cake:

• Melt the dark chocolate, in a bowl on a pan with simmering water or in the microwave and allow it to cool.
• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celsius. Line the baking tray with parchment sheet or coat it with butter and dusted with flour.
• In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. 
• Beat in one egg and at a time. 
• Add the whiskey, Expresso and the melted dark chocolate into the batter. 
• Sift the flour, baking powder and the cocoa powder and mix well until completely incorporated.