Brittle Torte Recipes

ALMOND BRITTLE TORTE

Steps:

• Line a 13x9-in. baking pan with foil; butter the foil and set aside. In a saucepan, combine the sugar, water, corn syrup and coffee granules. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until a candy thermometer reads 290°. Sprinkle with baking soda, stirring constantly (mixture will foam). Stir in the almonds. Pour into prepared pan. Cool completely., In a large bowl, combine the egg yolks, water, lemon juice and vanilla; mix well. Combine flour and 3/4 cup sugar; add to egg yolk mixture and mix well. In a large bowl, beat egg whites, cream of tartar and salt until soft peaks form. Beat in remaining sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time. Fold into the batter. Pour into an ungreased 10-in. tube pan. Bake at 350° for 50-55 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Cool on a wire rack., Remove cake from pan. Split horizontally into four layers. Place bottom layer on a serving plate; spread with about 3/4 cup whipped cream. Break almond brittle into small pieces; sprinkle some over cream. Repeat layers twice. Spread remaining whipped cream over top and sides of cake; sprinkle with remaining brittle. Refrigerate until serving.

BRITTLE TORTE

Steps:

• Let eggs stand at room temperature 30 minutes. , Place oven rack in lowest position. Preheat oven to 325°. Combine flour, sugar and salt. Whisk egg yolks, water, lemon juice and vanilla; add to flour mixture. Beat until blended., Beat egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form; fold into batter. Spoon into an ungreased 10-in. tube pan. Cut through batter with a knife to remove air pockets. Bake 50-60 minutes or until top springs back when touched. Immediately invert pan; cool completely., For topping, grease a 15x10x1-in. pan. In a heavy saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup, water and coffee granules. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer reads 300° (hard-crack stage)., Remove from heat; stir in baking soda. Immediately pour into prepared pan. Stretch brittle in pan with two forks; cool. Break into pieces. In a large bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add sugar and vanilla; beat until stiff peaks form., Unmold cake; cut horizontally into four layers. Place bottom layer on a serving plate; top with 1/2 cup whipped cream. Repeat layers twice; top with remaining layer. Frost top and sides of cake with remaining cream. Sprinkle with brittle.

INDULGENT BROWNIE TORTE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Line 13x9-inch pan with foil so foil extends about 2 inches over sides of pan. Spray foil with cooking spray.
• Make brownies as directed on box for cakelike brownies in a 13x9-inch pan. Cool completely, about 1 1/2 hours. Remove from pan by lifting foil; peel foil away. Trim sides if desired. Cut brownie crosswise into thirds; place one piece on serving plate.
• Spoon frosting into microwavable bowl. Microwave uncovered on High 15 to 20 seconds; stir frosting until smooth.
• Pour 1/3 of the frosting over brownie piece on serving plate. Place another brownie piece on top; pour half of remaining frosting over second brownie piece. Top with remaining brownie piece; pour remaining frosting over top. Refrigerate 30 minutes to set. Garnish with chocolate curls. Store loosely covered.

SPAGHETTI BASIL TORTE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°. Spray springform pan, 9x3 inches, with cooking spray. Cook and drain spaghetti as directed on package. Rinse with cold water; drain.
• Toss spaghetti, Parmesan cheese, ricotta cheese, Italian seasoning and eggs until spaghetti is well coated.
• Press half of the spaghetti mixture in bottom of pan. Sprinkle with half of the basil. Layer with half of the tomato and cheese slices. Press remaining spaghetti mixture on top. Sprinkle with remaining basil. Layer with remaining tomato and cheese slices.
• Bake uncovered 30 minutes until hot and light brown. Let stand 15 minutes. Remove side of pan. Cut torte into wedges.

COPYCAT OF PRANTL'S BURNT ALMOND TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease two 8-by-2-inch round cake pans.
• For the cake:
• Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together into a bowl and set aside.
• Cream the butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
• Reduce the speed to medium-low. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating 30 seconds between additions.
• Add alternating increments of the flour mixture and buttermilk and vanilla, blending well after each addition; this should take about 3 to 5 minutes.
• Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.
• Bake for about 30 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean.
• Cool in pans, on wire racks, for 10 minutes, unmold the cakes and let cool completely.
• Note: The cake recipe makes two 8-inch round cake layers. Only one is used for this recipe.
• To make the brittle:
• Combine the granulated sugar, honey and water in a medium-sized saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar.
• Boil, without stirring, until the mixture turns a deep amber color, about 10 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat and immediately stir in the toasted almonds, butter and baking soda.
• Mix with a wooden spoon just until the butter melts and the foaming subsides.
• Pour the mixture into a nonstick or lightly greased baking sheet and set aside to cool.
• Once the brittle has hardened, break it up and crush to fine crumbs in a food processor.
• Store in a covered container in the refrigerator until ready to use.
• To make the custard cream:
• In a heavy saucepan over medium- low heat, heat milk to barely simmering.
• Meanwhile, combine egg yolks, sugar and cornstarch in a medium mixing bowl. Whisk to blend smoothly.
• Stir the heated milk into the egg mixture; return mixture to saucepan.
• Bring back to a boil, over medium-low heat, whisking constantly; boil 1 minute.
• Remove pan from heat; add butter and vanilla, stirring to melt the butter.
• Transfer custard to a bowl; place a piece of waxed paper directly on top to prevent a crust from forming and refrigerate until cold.
• Whip the cream and confectioners' sugar until stiff peaks form.
• Fold into the chilled custard and refrigerate until ready to use.
• To assemble cake:
• Cut the cake in half horizontally.
• Place one layer on a cake plate, spread cake with cold custard cream and sprinkle with brittle crumbs.
• Cover with the remaining layer of cake.
• Spread the remaining custard cream over cake, applying a thinner coat to the sides, then the top.
• Chill for at least 1 hour before garnishing.
• To garnish, press brittle crumbs onto the sides of the cake with the palm of your hand and sprinkle a layer of crumbs on the top. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Note: To toast nuts, arrange in a single layer on a baking pan. Bake in a 375-degree oven until golden brown, about 7 to 10 minutes. Allow nuts to cool before using.

CHOCOLATE-BRITTLE TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Grease bottoms of three 9-inch cake pans, line with wax paper and grease paper.
• Separate eggs, placing whites in a large bowl, 3 egg yolks in another large bowl, and set aside 3 yolks in a cup to make the frosting later.
• Beat egg whites with cream of tartar until foamy white and double in volume. While beating, sprinkle in 1 cup of sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it forms soft peaks.
• Stir water into the 3 egg yolks in large bowl, beat until thick. Beat in remaining ½ cup of sugar 1 tablespoon at a time, until fluffy, then beat in vanilla and lemon extract.
• Sift flour, baking powder and salt over egg mixture and fold into it.
• Fold in meringue until no streaks remain.
• Measure ¾ cup (original says 1 1/3 cups but my Mother's note is ¾ cup) of batter into each of the prepared pans, spread to edges to make thin layers. (Cover remaining batter to make 3 more layers after these are done.).
• Bake layers 20 minutes, or until golden and centers spring back when lightly pressed with fingertip.
• Remove from pans, peel off wax paper and cool on racks.
• Wash pans, grease bottom, line with wax paper and grease paper. Make 3 more layers like the previous ones.
• Make Chocolate Cream:.
• In a medium bowl, beat egg yolks with water until thick. Beat in sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until fluffy.
• Melt chocolate in top of a double boiler over simmering water, stir in egg mixture. Cook, stirring constantly, about 1 minute, or until mixture thickens. Remove from heat.
• Beat in rum extract and vanilla, cool slightly.
• In a medium size bowl, cream butter or margarine. Beat in chocolate mixture very slowly. (Mixture will be thin but will thicken as cream is folded in.).
• Beat cream until stiff in a small bowl; fold into chocolate mixture until no streaks of white remain.
• Assemble cake:.
• On a serving plate, put layers of cake together by spreading ½ cup chocolate cream between each. Chill cake and keep chocolate cream at room temperature while you make the brittle.
• Make Caramel Brittle:.
• Melt ¾ cup sugar over low heat in a small heavy saucepan, stirring often with a wooden spoon; just until golden. (Watch it, for sugar will turn brown quickly.).
• Pour slowly over cake at once, spreading quickly to the edge. (It hardens fast so be speedy.).
• Frost sides of cake with remaining chocolate cream, making deep swirls with the knife.
• Decorate top and bottom edges with walnut halves.
• Chill until serving time. Torte is best and cuts more neatly, if chilled overnight.
• When ready to serve, crack candy topping by tapping along cutting lines with a sharp heavy blade knife, then slice into serving size wedges.

BLITZ TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter two 9-by-2-inch round baking pans. Dust with flour, tapping out excess. Set aside.
• Make the cake: Place butter, sugar, salt, and egg yolks in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed until combined. Reduce speed to low. Beat in flour, buttermilk, vanilla, and baking powder, until well blended.
• Divide batter between prepared pans (the batter will barely cover the bottom of the pans).
• Make the meringue topping: In a clean bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk the egg whites until soft peaks form. While continuing to whisk, gradually add 1 cup sugar and whisk until meringue is smooth, glossy, and somewhat stiff, but not holding a stiff peak.
• Spread the meringue on top of the cake batter, and sprinkle evenly with almonds, cinnamon, and remaining tablespoon sugar. Bake cakes until lightly browned, about 30 minutes. Transfer pans to a wire rack to cool for 15 minutes. Loosen the edges with a knife or offset spatula, gently remove cakes from pans, and return the rack to cool completely. If some of the almonds fall off during this process, sprinkle them back on top.
• Make the filling: Whisk together sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a medium saucepan. Whisk together milk, orange juice, and egg yolks in a glass measuring cup. Add milk mixture to the saucepan, along with butter. Cook over medium heat until mixture comes to a simmer. Continue to cook until it comes to a boil. Let boil 1 minute. Remove from heat and add vanilla.
• Strain pastry cream through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl. Stir in orange zest and cover with plastic wrap, pressing it directly onto the surface of the pastry cream to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours or up to 2 days. Just before using, whisk until smooth.
• Place one of the cake layers, meringue-side up, on a serving plate. Spread with pastry cream. Top with second cake layer, meringue-side up. Serve immediately or refrigerate until serving, up to 3 hours.

DOBOS TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C). Have ready two 10-inch cardboard circles. Generously grease a 9-inch springform pan with soft butter, and dust with flour.
• Beat the egg whites until frothy, and gradually add 1 cup sugar. Beat just to soft peaks. In another bowl, beat the yolks with the milk, lemon peel, vanilla, and salt. Fold this into the egg whites. Sift the flour over the egg mixture, and fold in.
• Spread 1 1/3 cups batter into the prepared pan. Bake for about 5 to 9 minutes, or until small, brown spots begin to appear on cake. Remove the cake from the oven, and remove layer from pan with a spatula. Dust the cake lightly with flour, and place on a rack to cool. Grease pan again, and repeat this process until all of the batter is used, about 6 times more. Place the layers between wax paper, and cover with a towel. Chill layers for a few hours. Make the Chocolate Buttercream.
• Layer the chilled layers on one of the cardboard rounds with the buttercream. Start with one layer; cover with the buttercream, and then press down with another layer to make a good seal. Repeat this with the remaining layers, but reserve one layer. Wrap the cake in plastic, and chill for at least 6 hours along with the remaining buttercream. Grease the other cardboard round with the shortening, and place the last layer on it.
• Place 1 cup sugar into a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Allow sugar to cook until the edges look melted and brown. Begin stirring with a wooden spoon. Cook until the sugar become an amber color, and is smooth. Carefully pour the caramel over the top of the last layer, and spread to the edges with an oiled knife. Quickly, using an oiled knife, indent the top of the caramel into 16 wedges. Allow to cool slightly, and then retouch the indents with the knife again. Place layer onto a counter top dusted with sugar, and allow the caramel to cool completely.
• Place some more buttercream on top of the chilled torte, and top with the caramel round. Frost the sides with the remaining buttercream. Chill the torte before serving.