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What Is The Secret Behind This Famous Austrian Dessert That Makes It So Irresistible?
The original Sacher Torte is THE most famous cake in the world, and has been since 1832.
This recipe is the closest you will get to the original Sacher Torte. Locked away at the Hotel Sacher is the original recipe. In order to recreate the Original Sacher torte, you will need to give yourself time. Viennese treats, and this wonderful Sacher Torte needs to be made when you have time. Do not rush it. This is no ordinary chocolate cake. You will understand why when you taste this delicious chocolate dessert.
A little bit of history first. In 1832, Prince Metternich asked his court kitchen to create a special dessert for a reception. Unfortunately, or rather fortunately, his head chef was ill. The honor of making the special dessert, fell into the hands of a young, sixteen year-old apprentice named Franz Sacher. He put together this marvelous cake, and then and there the Original Sacher Torte was born. His specially created recipe was such a great success. Even Emperor’s and Empress’ were presented with it.

Franz Sacher-The creator of the original Sacher Torte.
The Original Sacher Torte in Vienna is recognized by its’ official Sacher chocolate seal. That’s how you know you are tasting the very best. When recreating this cake, you need to be sure your ingredients are 100% correct, no more, no less, and mixed according to the directions.
Take your time, do it right, so you don’t wind up disappointed.
In 1876, Eduard Sacher his son, founded the Hotel Sacher and started selling the Sacher Torte there.
The Hotel Sacher is the only place with permission to use the term Original Sacher Torte, as well as the characteristic chocolate seal, and their signature layers of apricot jam.
Ready To Recreate The Original Sacher Torte?
I have eaten a lot of Sacher Tortes, and this is the recipe that comes closest to the Original Sacher Torte sold here in Austria. If you love Viennese treats, you might enjoy this lecker Linzer Torte too.
I always recommend making your own apricot jam if you can. That one ingredient can be a real game changer. Let’s begin!
COOK TIME 1 HOUR / PREP TIME – 10 MINS / SERVINGS – 8
Here’s What You’ll Need
- 140 g butter (room temperature)
- 110 g icing sugar
- 1/2 pod vanilla (pulp)
- 6 egg yolks
- 6 egg whites
- 130 g eating chocolate
- 110 g sugar
- 140 g flour (fine)
- 200g apricot jam (Here’s how to make your own Apricot Jam)
- butter and flour (for the cake form)
- cream (whipped)
Ingredients For Frosting
- 200 g sugar
- 125 ml water
- 150 g chocolate
* If you need to convert grams to ounces, you can use this link: Baking Converter *
Prepare To Make The Best Cake Of Your Life
Make a medium sized bowl and whip the butter, icing sugar and vanilla until it is creamy.
Continue beating while you add the egg yolks until the mixture is thick and creamy.
It is best to use a balloon whisk if you have one.
Melt the chocolate using a double boiler. This is so you can to create a gentle and uniform heat. When the chocolate has completely melted, fold into the mass.
Beat the egg white until it’s stiff. Sprinkle in the sugar and continue to beat until the mass is stiff and glossy. Heap the beaten egg white onto the egg yolk mixture, sift over the flour and carefully fold with a cooking spoon.
You Are Almost There……
Next, line the bottom of a spring-clip cake form with baking paper and grease the sides of the form with butter. Make sure you grease the cake form properly so the cake won’t stick. Sift over some flour.
Fill the spring form with your mixture and spread evenly. Bake in a preheated oven at 170 °C (340 F) for 55 minutes.
Check your cake, with any of these three simple tools:
1. A skewer/cake tester/other kind of pokey stick, preferably metal.
2. A thin bladed knife.
3. An instant-read/probe digital thermometer.
Leave your original Sacher Torte in the cake form, and slowly, and oh so gently, turn the cake upside down on a cake rack and allow to cool for about 20 minutes. If it has not cooled long enough, your cake will quickly fall apart.
Open the spring form and peel off the paper. Put the form back on the cake, then turn the cake over, allowing it to fully cool in the form so that all the the cake can settle.
Now Here’s The Hard Part…
Remove the cake form and cut the cake in half horizontally with a sharp knife.
Warm up the jam, and keep stirring until smooth. Spread on to both cake halves, then put them back together again. Spread the jam all over the cake and allow to dry for 5 -10 mins.
Frosting Time
Allow the water to slightly boil, then melt the chocolate in a double boiler, and gradually stir in the sugar until it becomes a thick glaze.
Pour the warm frosting over the cake and,spread the frosting smoothly over the surface of the cake with a spatula. It the frosting is too hot when you do this, the cake will not be glossy when ready to eat.
Allow to dry for a few hours, until the icing is hard. It will be hard to resist tasting a slice, but if you can wait, it will be worth it! When you are ready, serve with whipped cream.
I hope you love to bake and try out new recipes so that you can try out this original Sacher Torte.
However, if you can’t bake to save your life, I have good news for you. The wonderfulHotel Sacher in Vienna will actually ship it to you. The cake is packaged in an air tight wooden box and will arrive at your address in perfect condition.
If you are still unsure about how to perfect this delicious treat, here is a video that will show you how to get it done.
Have you tasted an original Sacher Torte before? If not, I hope this recipe will inspire you to make one soon. Share with me in the comments section below.
55 comments
Oh wow that cake looks amazing! I’ll have to try and recreate it at the weekend x
Omg that looks SO SO good…. Now I have to go to a bakery… Baking’s one of those things I haven’t branched out into… I think I should soon, now that my oven is no longer a “pots and pans rack”…
this looks so good – really incredible. I have not heard of a Sacher Torte before though. Definitely want to try it!
I’d never heard of a Sacher torte before but this looks really nice!
Never heard of this torte before but you made it sound like the best dessert ever created! Love to try a slice and see just how good it really is.
I’ve never heard of a Sacher Torte before but it looks delicious! I’ll have to try to make it.
Oooo I’ve never made a sachet torte before, but after seeing your recipe I have a feeling that’s what I’ll be doing this afternoon.
I have never seen or read about a more delicious cake recipe .So glad it is available for people like me who are baking challenged.Loved the video.
OMG OMG that perfection is UNREAL!!! How gorgeous is the cake! Well done 😛
This looks LEGIT delicious even though I’m not a big fan of chocolate in cakes …yes, i know I’m weird! BUT the history behind it makes it even more interesting, so I’ll need someone to make this for me…whahha..I’m no baking or cooking queen.
I’ve never tasted an original Sacher Torte before. It looks divine! I have to try making it at home.
Oh, wow! This looks divine. I’ve not had sacher torte in years. Is it wrong I’m craving it right now?!
Louise x
This is one of my favorite cakes! I’m sorry I was already three times in Vienna and I never tried the original Saher cake. I’ll have to try next time!
Ooh yummy! Looks so rich and moist. I could definitely enjoy this with a cuppa! xxx
I will definitely give a try this Sacher Torte. It looks easy to prepare and looks delightful. Perfect for a Valentine’s Day cake.
This looks so moist and delicious. Yum!!! I don’t know if I have ever had this particular cake though.
This Sacher Torte version looks rich and moist. I love anything (and pretty much everything) covered in chocolate. My husband’s niece is celebrating her birthday this weekend and LOVES chocolate. I’ll have to try and remake this for her.
Omg wow so fascinating to learn the history about the sacher torte. Cant believe he was so young too. Thank you for this recipe, Ive never thought of making one but sounds heavenly.
I don’t eat sweets but this one looks really yummy in my tummy:)
xoxo, Ophalyn
Sacher Torte sound so good. I love decadent chocolate desserts so much!
This post was so informative. I never wonder about the history behind a dish or a cake but I know I should! So interesting! this dessert looks delicious!
I’m not a massive chocolate fan, but I love baking, so this has definitely got me wanting to bake it
It looks easier to prepare than I thought. Thanks for sharing this!
this looks sooo good! I have never made a torte before, so I’m bookmarking this page to make later!
I can still remember the first time I had sacher torte. I was in culinary school and we had to make it for one of our tests. It was so luscious and creamy – I need to make it again!
I am not a chocolate lover but my husband is!! he would love this!!
I really need to try Sacher Torte. It looks out of this world good.
This looks too good to eat! I love all of the chocolate.
I’ve never heard of this desert before it looks delicious!
There’s two things I love … chocolate and cake. I had Sacher Torte in Vienna a couple of years ago and it was divine! I’ll definitely be trying out this recipe very very soon! That’s amazing that Hotel Sacher can deliver the torte to you. Might have to look into that!
This looks heavenly! I’m just finishing January Whole 30 and I need this torte in my life asap! Yum!
Wow – looks delicious! I’m not a fan of super rich cakes, but my mom loves them. Maybe I’ll save this recipe to make for her birthday 🙂
That looks so good! Perfect for a coffee break!
Wow, that’s amazing! My daughter’s birthday is coming up and I’m still thinking of what ‘something sweet’ will I make… now I have to try this! Thanks for the share. 🙂
What a fabulous treat to make for your Valentine. My husband would feel really spoiled.
wow that looks amazing I am a lover of baking and I will give this a try.
I don’t think ive ever eaten one of these. It does look very good and i could eat one right now
Oh my goodness, that sounds like the most intense and rich cake ever! It looks fantastic, but I think it would be far too much for me. Thank you for including the history behind it though, that I can appreciate!
I may have to have one shipped to just see if i made mine correctly.
Wow, that looks really really good. I cant wait to try it out!
What a great post and that cake, though? DELICIOUS!
This looks fantastic. I suck so bad at glazing cakes haha, looks like your a pro!
I love Austrain pastry, and Sacher torte is one of my favorites. I will try to make it for a special occasion.
Daria
Wow, that looks really good. Really really good. And thanks for giving the history of it! I love learning about where food comes from and how it came to be. It tastes better knowing more about it!
I used to work in a bakery and one of our specialties was Sacher Torte. I haven’t had it in years! I’ll have to give this a try.
I have to admit I don’t think I’ve heard of Sacher Torte before, or if I have I’ve definitely not tried it. I’m going to have to give it a whirl making it.
I’m a huge fan of recreating favorites and home and you did a fabulous job with the gorgeous dessert. Can’t wait to take a try at this.
Oh that looks divine! I may have to try this myself!
wow! Yum! I cant wait to try this! it looks DELISH!
I had never heard of a Sacher Torte, it looks amazing!
well this is amazing! and i cant wait to try it out!
Wow! This looks amazing! Your detailed instructions make me feel like I could attempt this even though I’m not a super-fancy cook! 🙂
This looks amazing! I’m always look for new things to whip up in the kitchen. This is one of those Sunday projects that I can’t wait to try!
This dessert looks delicious! I need to make this for Valentines day.
I love Sacher Torte, it’s so rich and the chocolate in it tastes fantastic! I never thought I could make it at home though! Thank you for the recipe 🙂