Bittersweet Cheesecake Torte Recipes

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour an 8-inch springform pan.
• Place a large heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water, making sure the water doesn't touch the bowl. Put the butter and chocolate in the bowl, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate melts. Take the bowl off the heat and set aside.
• First, whisk the sugar into the chocolate mixture, then whisk in the eggs, coffee, and salt, whisking until the mixture is combined and smooth. Sprinkle on the flour and fold it in with a rubber spatula until it's incorporated.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and place it on a sheet pan. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes (see Cook's Note), until the top puffs up and cracks and the cake doesn't wobble when you jiggle the pan. (A toothpick will not come out clean.) Remove from the oven and cool completely on a baking rack. The cake will deflate as it cools. Run a small knife around the cake and remove the sides of the pan. Cut the cake in wedges and serve warm or at room temperature with sweetened whipped cream, vanilla ice cream, or crème fraîche.

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F. Wrap outside bottom and side of 9-inch springform pan with foil to prevent leaking. Lightly spray inside bottom and side of pan with cooking spray. In medium bowl, mix crust ingredients with fork until crumbly. Press mixture in bottom and 1 inch up side of pan. Bake 10 minutes or until set. Place on cooling rack; cool completely.
• In another medium bowl, beat cream cheese, 2/3 cup granulated sugar and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in flour. Beat in eggs, one at a time, just until blended. Beat in chocolate. Pour over crust.
• Bake 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes or until edge of cheesecake is set at least 2 inches from edge of pan but center of cheesecake still jiggles slightly when moved. Turn oven off; open oven door at least 4 inches. Let cheesecake remain in oven 30 minutes. Run small metal spatula around edge of pan to loosen cheesecake. Cool on cooling rack 30 minutes. Refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight before serving.
• Just before serving, run small metal spatula around edge of springform pan; carefully remove foil and side of pan. Let cheesecake stand at room temperature 15 minutes before cutting. Sprinkle with powdered sugar; garnish with raspberries. Cover and refrigerate any remaining cheesecake.

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE WITH WHITE TRUFFLE SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 275°F. Lightly grease bottom and side of 9-inch springform pan. In medium bowl, beat cream cheese and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Gradually add sugar, beating until fluffy. Beat in flour. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Beat in chocolate. Pour into pan.
• Bake about 1 hour 15 minutes or until center is set. (Do not insert a knife because the hole could cause cheesecake to crack.) Cool at room temperature 15 minutes.
• Run knife around side of pan to loosen cheesecake. Cover and refrigerate about 3 hours or until chilled.
• In 2-quart saucepan, melt white chocolate and butter over low heat, stirring constantly (mixture will be thick and grainy); remove from heat. Stir in whipping cream until smooth. Cover and refrigerate about 2 hours or until chilled.
• Run knife around side of pan to loosen cheesecake; remove side of pan. Let cheesecake stand at room temperature 15 minutes before cutting. Serve cheesecake with sauce and berries. Store in refrigerator.

SINFUL TORTE (PASSOVER ... SPECIAL OCCASION)

Steps:

• 1. I was able to find Parve semi-sweet chips at Wegman's. If making for Passover, adjust as you see fit.
• 2. Use a 9 inch springform pan. Spray pan with non-stick spray. Line bottom of pan with parchment paper and wrap outside of pan with foil.
• 3. Combine 14 ounces of bittersweet chocolate with your cubed butter in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on half power for one minute. Stir. Microwave 30 seconds at a time until chocolate and butter are almost completely melted. Stir until completely melted and incorporated. Cool.
• 4. In a medium bowl, whip egg yolks with half of the sugar (6 tablespoons) until thick and pale, about 5 minutes. Fold cooled chocolate into the yolks along with vanilla and rum.
• 5. In a separate bowl, whip the egg whites until foamy. Gradually add remaining sugar. Continue to whip to medium stiff peaks. Fold egg whites into the chocolate mixture in thirds. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
• 6. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 - 50 minutes, until the top of the cake is puffed and cracked. Cool cake in the pan on a wire rack. The top will fall.
• 7. Ganache: Pour heavy cream into a sauce pan and heat until just boiling. Remove from heat and stir in remaining pound of chocolate.
• 8. Press down gently on top of cake to make it somewhat uniformly flat. Remove sides from the pan and invert cake onto a plate with edges lined with waxed paper. Remove parchment paper from cake and ladle warm ganache over the top. Spread out to cover the sides of the torte. Let stand until set. You can then remove the waxed paper and have a drip-free plate.

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Grease a 9-inch round cake pan and line the bottom with a circle of parchment paper. Grease the top of the paper, too.
• In a small, microwave-safe bowl, melt together chocolate and butter. Heat in 30-60 second increments and stir well after each to avoid overcooking the mixture. Cool for 5-8 minutes.
• Pour butter mixture into a large mixing bowl and add chocolate. Whisk in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract. Stir in flour, cinnamon, cayenne and salt, followed by the pecans and chocolate chips.
• Pour into prepared pan.
• Bake for 38-40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out almost clean, with a few crumbs attached. Cool for 5 minutes in the pan, then run a knife around the edge and invert onto a serving platter. Remove parchment paper and cool completely.
• Before serving, whisk together 2 tbsp cocoa powder with 1 tsp cinnamon. Sift over the top of the torte.

CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine cookie crumbs and sugar; stir in butter. Press onto the bottom of a greased 9-in. springform pan; set aside. In a microwave, melt chocolate chips; stir until smooth. Set aside., In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar and flour until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low just until combined. Stir in vanilla and melted chocolate just until blended. Pour filling over crust., Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. , Garnish slices with strawberries and chocolate shavings if desired. Refrigerate leftovers.