Step 1

Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C). Grease a 9-inch round springform pan.

Step 2

Put eggs in the bowl of a stand mixer and whip for 1 minute on medium speed. With mixer running, slowly add the sugar in a steady stream, then add the salt. Increase the speed to high and whip for 8 minutes until the eggs quadruple their volume.

Step 3

In the meantime melt the chocolate on bain-marie or in 20-second intervals in the microwave, mixing between intervals.

Step 4

When eggs have quadrupled in volume, reduce speed to medium and slowly pour the melted chocolate in. Increase the speed of the mixer again and mix until chocolate is combined. The mixture will lose some of its volume.

Step 5

Pour mixture into prepared pan and bake for 20-22 minutes, until cake feels soft but not runny in the center. Transfer to a cooling rack.

Step 6

After 10 minutes, use a knife to release the cake from the sides of the pan (do not open the pan, keep the cake inside). Put a clear cake strip around the cake to make for a cleaner presentation (optional) and transfer the cake to the fridge for 30 minutes.

Step 7

Put the cold heavy cream in the bowl of a stand mixer. With mixer running on low, slowly add the vanilla pudding powder to the cream. Stop the mixer to scrape the powder from the sides of the bowl as needed. Turn mixer speed to high and mix for a couple of minutes or until the mixture creates soft peaks. (Make sure not to over whip, the mixture should still be soft. It will get firmer in the fridge over time.) Remove bowl from mixer, add lemon zest and fold it in. Use a spatula to transfer the cream to the cake pan on top of the chocolate cake and smooth the top. Transfer to the fridge for 1 hour.

Step 8

To make the ganache, put all the ingredients in a bain-marie or in a microwave safe bowl and melt in 20 seconds intervals, mixing between intervals.

Step 9

Take the cake out of the fridge and slowly pour the chocolate ganache all over the top. Use an icing spatula to spread the ganache evenly all over the top.

Step 10

Cover the pan with aluminum foil and transfer to the fridge for at least 4 hours to set.