You want something rich and decadent for the holidays. Something chocolate. Something that will impress. Something that really screams celebration.

But you don't want to spend hours making it. The answer? A flourless chocolate cake. It's like a baked truffle — simple, yet sensational enough to impress your guests. All you have to do is dress it up with whipped cream and fresh berries. Be sure to cut small slices from this; it really is amazingly rich.

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FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE

Start to finish: 1 hour, plus cooling

Servings: 16

1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter

12 ounces bittersweet chocolate bits

3/4 cup strong brewed coffee

6 eggs

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted

Pinch of salt

2 tablespoons brandy or rum

Whipped cream, to serve

Fresh berries or shaved chocolate, to serve

Heat the oven to 350 F. Coat an 8-inch cake pan with cooking spray. Line the bottom of the pan with a piece of parchment paper cut to fit. Set the cake pan in a larger baking dish, such as a 9-by-13-inch baking pan.

In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the chocolate bits until completely melted and smooth. Stir in the coffee.

In a medium bowl, use an electric mixer to beat together the eggs, brown sugar, cocoa powder, salt and brandy for 2 to 3 minutes, or until slightly thickened. Beat in the chocolate-butter mixture. The batter should resemble a thick pudding. Pour the batter into the cake pan, jiggling the pan to settle the batter so that it's level.

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