The Dense Italian Chocolate Cake With A Backstory That Involves Mistakes And Mobsters

When it comes to cakes with intrigue, Italy's torta caprese takes the (chocolate) crown. This dense, fudgy, flourless chocolate and almond cake is a dessert so decadent it's hard to imagine it came about by accident. But that's exactly what one of its most famous origin stories claims. As the tale goes, the torta caprese was born in the 1920s on the stunning island of Capri, when a local baker supposedly forgot to add flour while making a cake for some rather intimidating customers: none other than mobsters from the U.S. Instead of ruining the cake, this blunder resulted in a rich, chewy masterpiece that's been a staple of Italian dessert menus ever since.

Whether the mobster story is true or just a delicious slice of mythology, the cake itself is no joke. It's a perfect marriage of almonds and chocolate, with a touch of butter and sugar, baked into a treat that's simultaneously dense, moist, and impossibly light. And while other famous chocolate cakes — like the super easy wacky cake — rely on pantry hacks involving vinegar and oil, the brilliance of torta caprese is in its simplicity and classic Italian flavors. Still, there's no denying that its colorful backstory featuring gangsters, kitchen chaos, and the Mediterranean sun, only sweetens the deal.

The torta caprese owes much of its legend to a mistake allegedly made by Carmine di Fiore, a baker on Capri in the early 20th century. According to lore, Carmine was tasked with creating a dessert for two American mobsters, but in the frenzy of baking under pressure, he simply forgot to add the flour. Instead of disaster, this "error" yielded a cake so rich and tender that it was a hit with the gangsters and soon became a local sensation.

Of course, the mob connection may just be a tall tale, but the cake's rise to fame is not. Its dense texture and bold chocolate flavor quickly won fans far beyond Capri. Another version of the story claims the recipe was inspired by Capri's culinary tradition of using almonds in desserts, paired with the luxurious addition of chocolate; a relatively new ingredient in Italian kitchens at the time. This version may be more likely, but is decidedly less fun to tell, so people stick to the mobsters for this one.

Whether the cake was the result of a slip-up or genius improvisation, its simplicity is its strength. Made with just a handful of ingredients — almond flour, dark chocolate, eggs, butter, and sugar — it's a prime example of how even just a few ingredients can lead to a chocolate cake masterpiece. Its flourless nature gives it a delightfully fudgy texture, and the lack of gluten means it appeals to a wide range of eaters.

The best part of the torta caprese story? You can recreate this piece of Italian history in your own kitchen. While the original recipe calls for simple ingredients, modern bakers often add their own twists, like a splash of espresso or lemon zest to deepen the flavors. Serve it with a dusting of powdered sugar, a dollop of whipped cream, or even a drizzle of liqueur for a dessert that feels equally at home at a family dinner or a fancy soirée.

And if you can't make it to Capri to taste the cake where it all began, consider this: The legend of the torta caprese reminds us that some of the best things in life, and in baking, happen by happy accident. So next time you're in the kitchen, channel a little of that Mediterranean magic, and don't be afraid to embrace the unexpected. (How else would we have ever known that mayo makes a stand-out chocolate cake.) Without even trying, you might just stumble upon your own culinary masterpiece.