George Clooney Cake

The other day was my twenty-fourth birthday. How strange!

My friend Mary and I once stumbled upon a recipe for something called George Clooney Cake, and lemmetellya, it is my favorite thing that has ever been in my mouth. I'm not much for chocolate desserts or even Mr. Clooney, now that I come to think of it, but this cake...oh, THIS CAKE!!! I decided several months ago that if nothing else got done today, this cake would. 

Since I like recipes and baking so very much and since I almost never get to really make food anymore, I decided to go totally overboard and do a step-by-step entry with pictures. 

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup cocoa
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 eggs, separated
• 1 cup cold whipping cream
• chocolate curls (optional...sort of)

Destructions

1. 
   

   1

   Heat oven to 425 F degrees Grease bottom of 8-inch springform pan.
2. 
   

   2

   In medium saucepan over low heat, melt butter. Mmmm...
   
   
   
   
3. 
   

   3

   Add cocoa and 1 cup sugar, stirring until well blended.
   
   
4. 
   

   4

   Remove from heat; cool slightly.
5. 
   

   5

   Stir in flour and vanilla.
6. 
   

   6

   Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. I love this part. Your mixture will thicken up really quickly after about the third yolk...don't panic.
   
   
7. 
   

   7

   In small mixer bowl, beat egg whites with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar until soft peaks form (check out my peaks!); gradually fold into chocolate mixture.
   
   
8. 
   

   8

   Spoon batter into prepared pan.
9. 
   

   9

   Bake 16 to 18 minutes or until edges are firm (center will be soft).
   
   
10. 
    

    10

    Cool completely on wire rack (cake will sink slightly in center as it cools).
11. 
    

    11

    Remove side of pan. I don't do this, because I usually take the cake somewhere and want the side for extra support. 
12. 
    

    12

    Refrigerate cake at least 6 hours. This is the hardest part. Aaaaaah! Agony!
    
    
13. 
    

    13

    In small mixer bowl, beat whipping cream until soft peaks form; spread over top of cake.
14. 
    

    14

    Cut cake while cold, but let stand at room temperature 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
15. 
    

    15

    Garnish with chocolate curls, if desired. Justin's family looked so excited to eat, that I forgot to take a picture...or even put candles in the darn thing. Oh well...it was still mighty tasty!