Anna Olsons Black Forest Torte Recipes

BLACK FOREST TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.
• Prepare, bake and cool cake according to package directions.
• Beat whipping cream in a large bowl until soft peaks form. Add sugar gradually.
• To assemble, place one cake layer on serving plate. Spread two-thirds cherry pie filling on cake to within 1/2-inch of edge. Spread 1.5 cups whipped cream mixture over cherry pie filling. Top with second cake layer. Frost sides and top with remaining whipped cream mixture. Spread remaining cherry pie filling on top to within 1-inch of edge. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

ANNA OLSON'S BLACK FOREST TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 °F (160 °C). Line the bottom of three 8-inch (20 cm) pans with parchment paper, but do not grease the pan at all.
• In a large bowl or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whip attachment, sift the flour, icing sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Add the coffee, oil and egg yolks and whip on high speed until the mixture is thick and glossy (it will look almost like chocolate pudding).
• In a separate or clean bowl, whip the egg whites and cream of tartar until they are foamy, then slowly pour in the sugar and continue whipping until the whites hold a stiff peak when the beaters are lifted. Fold a third of the whites into the chocolate batter, and then fold in the remaining two-thirds.
• Pour the batter (it will be fluid) into the prepared pans and bake for about 30 minutes, until the centre of the cake springs back when gently pressed. Out from the oven, turn the cakes upside down to cool (if you have new or non-stick pans, the cakes may pop out, but that is OK).
• For the cherries, simmer the cherries with the sugar, water and cinnamon sticks over medium heat for 10 minutes, then remove the cinnamon sticks. Stir the cornstarch and kirsch (or brandy, if using) together and add to the cherries, stirring until the cherry juices have thickened and are bubbling. Remove from the heat, cool and then chill completely.
• For the whipped ganache, bring the cream up to a full simmer, then pour this over the chocolate. Let the mixture sit for a minute, then whisk gently until it is smooth. Cool the ganache and then chill completely. When you are ready to assemble the torte, whip the ganache by hand until it holds peaks when the whisk is lifted (or if using beaters, beat on medium-low speed). Spoon all of the whipped ganache into a piping bag fitted with a large star or plain tip.
• For the whipped cream frosting, whip the cream until it holds medium peaks. In a separate bowl, beat the cream cheese, icing sugar and vanilla until smooth. Add about a cup of the whipped cream and beat well until smooth (don't worry if the cream deflates a little. Fold in the remaining cream and the kirsch (or brandy, if using), then fold in the skim milk powder.
• To assemble, place a cake layer on a platter. Pipe an edge around the outside of the top of the cake with the whipped ganache, as well as a little circle in the centre (this prevents the cake from collapsing as you slice it later). Spoon and spread half of the cherry filling over the cake within the piped ganache and top with a second cake layer. Repeat again with the whipped ganache and the remaining cherry filling (the remaining whipped ganache can be used for decorating). Frost the top and the sides of the cakes with the whipped cream frosting and pipe any details you wish on the top. Sprinkle the top of the cake with chocolate shavings and arrange candied or brandied cherries if you wish. Chill for at least 2 hours before serving.The torte will keep, refrigerated, for up to 3 days.** You can use frozen pitted cherries, since fresh tart cherries are tough to find and have a short season (and are a pain to pit). You can often find frozen cherries at European style groceries or deli's. If impossible to source where you live, use tinned cherry pie filling as is, with a little kirsch stirred in.