Cheddar Pecan Torte Recipe 45

CHEDDAR-PECAN CRISPS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and cheese until light and fluffy. In another bowl, whisk flour, salt, garlic powder and cayenne; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Stir in pecans., Shape into eight 10-in. long logs. Wrap in plastic. Refrigerate 2 hours or until firm., Preheat oven to 350°. Unwrap and cut dough crosswise into 1/4-in. slices. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake until edges are crisp and lightly browned, 12-14 minutes. Cool on pans 1 minute. Remove to wire racks to cool. Refrigerate in airtight containers. Freeze option: Place wrapped logs in resealable plastic freezer bags; place in freezer. To use, unwrap frozen logs and cut into slices. If necessary, let dough stand 15 minutes at room temperature before cutting. Bake as directed, increasing time by 1-2 minutes.

CHOCOLATE PECAN MERINGUE TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Draw two 8-inch circles on a sheet of parchment paper and place it on a sheet pan, pencil side down.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites, cream of tartar, and salt on high speed for one minute, until frothy. With the mixer on high, slowly add the 2/3 cups sugar and 1 teaspoon of the vanilla and beat on high for 2 minutes, until it makes firm, glossy peaks.
• Divide the meringue between the two circles and spread into two flat 8-inch disks with a rubber spatula. Bake the meringues for one hour, turn the heat off, and leave the meringues in the oven for 2 hours. Remove them from the oven and allow to cool completely to room temperature on the sheet pan.
• With a large flat spatula, carefully transfer one disk, rounded side up, to a totally flat serving plate. (It's okay if the top cracks a little.) Spread the chocolate pecan filling evenly on top. Place the second meringue, rounded side up, on top.
• Combine the heavy cream, the 2 tablespoons sugar, and the remaining 1 teaspoon of vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat on high speed until it forms firm peaks. Spread the whipped cream on top of the torte. Decorate with the shaved chocolate and refrigerate for 2 hours or for up to a day and serve cold.
• In the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade, process the pecans until finely ground. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl set over a pan of simmering water, whisk the eggs, sugar, and cornstarch together, making sure the bottom of the bowl doesn't touch the water. Whisk the mixture almost constantly, until it is 130 to 140 degrees and thickened like custard. Set aside to cool to room temperature, whisking occasionally.
• Set another bowl over the pan of simmering water, making sure the bottom of the bowl doesn't touch the water. Put the chocolate and espresso in the bowl and heat just until the chocolate melts, stirring occasionally. Stir in the Kahlua and vanilla and set aside to cool to room temperature. Whisk the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture, then whisk in the butter, one tablespoon at a time, whisking until smooth. Stir in the pecans. The filling can sit at room temperature for up to 4 hours.

CHEDDAR PECAN TORTE RECIPE - (4/5)

Steps:

• Combine cheddar cheese with pecans and onion. Place half of the mixture in an 8-inch round souffle dish. Combine (8-ounce) package cream cheese with the chutney blend thoroughly. Spread over cheddar cheese mixture. Drain spinach completely, squeeze (really squeeze) out all excess moisture. Add seasonings and remaining 1 (8-ounce) package of cream cheese. Blend thoroughly. Top with remaining cheddar cheese mixture. refrigerate until serving time. To serve invert on a plate and serve with crackers.

ELEGANT CHEESE TORTE

Steps:

• In a bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Remove 3-1/2 cups to a small bowl; stir in pepper and set aside. Fold olives into the remaining cream cheese mixture. Spread evenly over the bottom of a 9-in. springform pan; set aside., In another large bowl, beat cheddar cheese, cider and paprika on low speed for 1 minute. Beat on high until almost smooth. Spread half over olive layer. Top with peppered cheese mixture. Top with remaining cheddar mixture. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate for 6 hours or until firm., Place on serving plate and remove sides of pan. Press pecans into top; garnish with additional olives or grapes if desired. Serve with crackers.

PECAN TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put egg yolks, granulated sugar, zest, vanilla, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until pale and thickened, about 4 minutes. Fold in pecans.
• Beat whites in a clean mixing bowl until stiff peaks form; fold into yolk mixture. Pour into a 10-inch springform pan.
• Bake until golden brown, about 1 hour (if top browns too quickly, tent with foil). Let cool on a wire rack 30 minutes. Remove sides of pan. Let cool completely. Dust with confectioners' sugar. Serve with curd and berries; garnish with zest.

TOASTED PECAN TORTE WITH BUTTERSCOTCH TOPPING

Steps:

• Place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 350°F. Butter and flour pan. Toast pecans on a rimmed baking sheet, tossing once, until slightly darkened in color and fragrant, 12-15 minutes. Let cool.
• Pulse baking powder, 1 tsp. salt, 1 1/2 cups flour, and 2 1/2 cups pecans in a food processor until nuts are finely ground. Using an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat granulated sugar, orange zest, and 1 cup butter in a large bowl, scraping down sides, until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs to bowl. Beat until combined and mixture is even fluffier, about 1 minute. Beat in 3 Tbsp. rum; stop mixer and add dry ingredients. Mix on low speed just until combined, then fold a few times with a rubber spatula, scraping bottom and sides of bowl, to ensure batter is evenly mixed. Scrape batter into prepared pan and smooth top.
• Bake torte until golden brown and a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 45-50 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let torte cool in pan.
• Meanwhile, bring brown sugar, 1/2 cup cream, remaining 1/4 cup butter, and remaining 1 Tbsp. rum to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring often, and cook until slightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Remove butterscotch from heat and stir in remaining 3/4 tsp. salt. Mix in remaining 2 cups pecans and let sit at room temperature, stirring occasionally,until butterscotch is cool but still pourable.
• Spread topping over torte. Whisk remaining 1 cup cream in a large bowl to medium peaks. Serve torte topped with dollops of whipped cream.
• Do Ahead
• Topping (without pecans) can be made 3 days ahead; cover and chill. Reheat over low before mixing in the nuts. Torte can be baked 1 day ahead; store tightly wrapped at room temperature.

CHEDDAR BISCUITS WITH PECANS

Steps:

• Place cheese, butter, flour, salt, and cayenne pepper in the bowl of a food processor; process until a dough is formed, about 10 seconds. Turn dough out onto work surface and divide into two equal pieces. Roll each piece of dough into a 1 1/2-inch-thick log; wrap with wax or parchment paper and refrigerate until dough is firm, at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.
• Unwrap dough and slice each log crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick rounds. Place dough rounds on prepared baking sheet 1 1/2 inches apart; gently press a pecan half into the center of each. Brush with egg whites and sprinkle lightly with paprika.
• Bake biscuits until crisp, about 15 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes on baking sheets before transferring to a wire rack to cool slightly. Serve warm or at room temperature.

DARK CHOCOLATE PECAN TORTE

Steps:

• Remove the side from an 8" springform pan.
• Line the bottom of the pan with waxed paper, extending the paper over the bottom edge.
• Attach side to bottom of the springform pan, making sure paper is secured to the pan.
• Trim paper to just beyond edge of pan.
• Grease paper and 1 inch up sides of pan with shortening or butter; set aside (or, grease the bottom of a 9x1 1/2" round baking pan; line bottom of pan with waxed paper. Grease the paper and side of pan. Set aside).
• Place the 1 cup of chocolate pieces and the 1/3 cup butter in a large microwave-safe bowl.
• Microwave on 100 percent power (high) for 1 minute to 1 minute and 15 seconds or until chocolate is smooth when stirred; cool slightly.
• Add granulated sugar and the 1 1/2 tsp vanilla to melted chocolate mixture.
• Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until well mixed.
• Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Beat in flour and water on low speed, just until combined.
• Stir in the 3/4 cup pecans.
• Thoroughly wash beaters.
• In a bowl, beat egg whites, cream of tartar, and salt with electric mixer on high speed just until stiff peaks form (tips stand straight).
• Stir a small amount of the beaten egg white mixture into the chocolate mixture to lighten the batter.
• Carefully fold the remaining egg white mixture into the chocolate mixture.
• Pour batter into prepared pan.
• If using the springform pan, place it in a shallow baking pan on the oven rack.
• If using the 9" baking pan, place it directly on the oven rack.
• Bake cake in a 350°F oven about 45 minutes for the springform pan or about 35 minutes for the 9" pan or until the top is evenly puffed.
• Torte will not test done in center.
• Top will have a sugary crust that will crack.
• Remove springform pan from baking pan.
• Cool cake in pan on wire rack.
• Loosen edge of cake from pan.
• Remove side of pan.
• Invert onto serving plate.
• Remove pan bottom.
• Peel off paper.
• If using 9" pan, cool cake in pan on wire rack for 30 minutes; loosen side of cake and invert onto plate.
• Peel off paper.
• Cool.
• Spoon Chocolate Glaze over cake, spreading to cover top and allowing glaze to drip over sides.
• If desired, sprinkle top with chopped pecans.
• Cover; refrigerate about 30 minutes or until glaze is set.
• Chocolate Glaze.
• In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine the 1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips, 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter and 2 tablespoons water.
• Microwave on 100 percent (high) about 45 seconds.
• Add 1 cup sifted confectioners' sugar and 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract; beat until smooth.
• If necessary, add hot water, 1 teaspoon at a time to make a glaze consistency.
• Notes:.
• Because the torte has very little flour and lots of sugar, the top will puff up during baking and crack.
• Don't worry about the cracks.
• Before glazing, invert the cake so the smooth bottom becomes the top.
• My cake did not crack on top.
• Use a large spoon to spread the glaze on the torte, letting some of the glaze spill oven the side.
• For a fancier dessert, use a spatula to carefully smooth the glaze around the sides of the torte and over the top.