If you also believe that chocolate has always been the undisputed king of world pastry making, the new Taste Atlas report is right for you: the famous international gastronomic atlas has in fact drawn up a ranking of the best chocolate cakes on the planet – 41, to be precise – and the results reserve surprises that confirm the excellence of the Italian confectionery tradition. The ranking is based on 3,503 user reviews, of which 2,397 are recognized as authentic by the system. A methodology that favors the real opinions of consumers over nationalistic or biased assessments.
The podium and the Swedish surprise
In first place goes the Kladdkaka, a Swedish dessert that has won 4.5 stars out of 5. This cake, with an almost unpronounceable name, is famous for its soft and sticky consistency, capable of melting in the mouth leaving an intense chocolate flavour. Its simplicity in preparation, combined with an extraordinary result, has made it the favorite of portal users.
The silver medal goes to Torta Caprese, the famous dessert from the Campania island in the Gulf of Naples. On the third step of the podium is Tenerina from Ferrara, both with 4.3 stars out of 5. The equal score between the two Italian cakes demonstrates how difficult it is to establish supremacy when it comes to the confectionery excellence of our country.
The Italian queens of chocolate
Torta Caprese represents one of the most refined expressions of Southern pastry making. Flour-free and made with ground almonds, dark chocolate, eggs and sugar, this cake is naturally gluten-free.
The origin dates back to the 1920s, when a Capri pastry chef made a lucky mistake by forgetting to add flour to the dough. The result was a dessert with a unique consistency, moist inside and slightly crunchy on the surface.
Tenerina Ferrarese is a riot of dark chocolate. The main feature is the crunchy crust which hides a soft and creamy, almost liquid centre.
According to legend, it was created to celebrate Queen Elena of Montenegro, known for her sweet and gentle character. The term “tenerina” in fact derives from the adjective “tender”, which perfectly describes the consistency of a dessert prepared with very little flour, or even without.
The Italian dominance continues
Italy also monopolizes the rest of the top 5, with Palermo’s Torta Setteveli in fourth place and Catania’s Torta Savoia in fifth. The Setteveli is a masterpiece of confectionery architecture composed of seven layers that alternate crunchy bases and chocolate creams, while the Savoia from Catania, perhaps less known to the general public, represents another pearl of Sicilian pastry making. There is also space for the Torta Barozzi from Vignola (16th place), the Pampepato from Terni (35th place), the Torta Osimhen from Naples (37th place) and the Crescionada from Spoleto (40th place).
Only in sixth place does the Vienna Sacher appear, the famous Austrian cake which for decades has been considered the emblem of Central European pastry making. Such a relatively low position in the ranking demonstrates how users’ taste favors cakes with a more intense character and softer texture compared to traditional Viennese elegance.
The complete ranking
Here is the complete list of the 41 best chocolate cakes in the world, signed by Taste Atlas:
1. Kladdkaka (Sweden) – 4.5
2. Torta Caprese (Island of Capri, Italy) – 4.3
3. Torta Tenerina (Ferrara, Italy) – 4.3
4. Setteveli Cake (Palermo, Italy) – 4.3
5. Savoy Cake (Catania, Italy) – 4.3
6. Sacher-Torte (Vienna, Austria) – 4.2
7. Bolo de brigadeiro (Brazil) – 4.2
8. Molten Chocolate Cake (New York City, United States of America) – 4.2
9. Texas Sheet Cake (Texas, United States of America) – 4.2
10. Mississippi Mud Pie (Mississippi, United States of America) – 4.2
11. Chocotorta (Argentina) – 4.2
12. Blackout Cake (New York City, United States of America) – 4.2
13. Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte (Black Forest, Germany) – 4.1
14. Garash Cake (Ruse, Bulgaria) – 4.1
15. Reform cake (Serbia) – 4.1
16. Barozzi Cake (Vignola, Italy) – 4.0
17. Mađarica (Croatia) – 3.9
18. Amandine (Romania) – 3.9
19. Torta 900 (Ivrea, Italy) – 3.9
20. Prinzregententorte (Bavaria, Germany) – 3.9
21. Dios cake (Hungary) – 3.9
22. Devil’s Food Cake (United States of America) – 3.8
23. Royal (France) – 3.8
24. Rigó Jancsi (Hungary) – 3.8
25. Wuzetka (Warsaw, Poland) –
26. Anthill Cake (Brazil) – 3.7
27 .Arretje nof (Netherlands) – 3.7
28 .German Chocolate Cake (United States of America) – 3.6
29. Kalter Hund (Germany) – 3.6
30. Zoumero (Greece) – 3.6
31. Joffre Caje (Romania) – 3.5
32. Pistocchi cake (Florence, Italy)
33. Panama cakes (Austria)
34. Sokolatina (Grecisa)
35. Pampepato of Terni (Italy)
36. Double chocolate Laminbgtons (Australia)
37. Osimhen cake (Naples, Italy)
38. Mohr im Hemd (Vienna, Austria)
39. Kaštelanska cake (Croatia)
40. Crescionada (Spoleto, Italy)
41. Kek chokulåti (GUAM)
