Chocolate Almond Torte With Strawberry Sauce Recipes

CHOCOLATE-ALMOND TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Toast the almonds on a baking sheet until lightly golden, 6 to 7 minutes. Cool slightly, then pulse in a food processor until finely ground, but not pasty.
• Melt 12 tablespoons butter and the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water). Stir until the chocolate is smooth, then remove from the heat and cool slightly. Grease the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan with butter and coat with the breadcrumbs, tapping out the excess.
• Set aside 2 tablespoons granulated sugar. Combine the 6 egg yolks and the remaining sugar in a stand mixer and beat with the paddle attachment on medium-high until thick and pale, about 3 minutes. Add the orange zest, rum and salt, then beat in the melted chocolate until smooth. Mix in the ground almonds until just combined.
• In a clean bowl, beat the 3 egg whites with a mixer until foamy. Gradually beat in the reserved 2 tablespoons granulated sugar on high speed until almost stiff. Stir one-third of the whites into the chocolate batter, then gently fold in the rest. Spread the batter in the prepared pan and bake until the top is firm and cracked (a toothpick inserted into the cake will be fudgy), 35 to 40 minutes. Cool on a rack 10 minutes, then run a knife around the edge of the pan and remove the ring. Serve warm or at room temperature. Garnish with confectioners' sugar and whipped cream, if desired.

STRAWBERRY CHOCOLATE TORTE

Steps:

• In a microwave, melt 1/2 cup butter. In a small bowl, combine the cracker crumbs,butter and sugar until crumbly. Press onto the bottom and 1-1/2 in. up the sides of a greased 9-in. springform pan; Chill., Meanwhile, in a large bowl, beat the whipped topping, sour cream and pudding mix until blended. Spread half over crust. Arrange strawberries over the top. Spread with remaining filling. , In a microwave, melt chocolate and remaining butter; stir until smooth. Cool to room temperature. Drizzle over filling. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving.

STRAWBERRY-ALMOND CHOCOLATE TORTE

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Coat the bottom of three 9-in. round baking pans with cooking spray; line with waxed paper. Spray the paper with cooking spray and dust with flour; set aside. Sift the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt together three times. , Beat egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in sugar, about 2 tablespoons at a time, on high until stiff glossy peaks form and sugar is dissolved. Combine coffee and extracts. Fold dry ingredients into egg mixture alternately with coffee mixture. , Spread into prepared pans. Bake at 375° for 10-15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. Gently peel off waxed paper. Cool completely., In a bowl, gently mash the strawberries; stir in almond extract. Fold in whipped topping. Place one cake layer on a serving platter; top with half of the filling. Repeat layers. Top with remaining cake layer. , In a small bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Combine confectioners' sugar and cocoa; add to cream. Beat until stiff peaks form. Frost top of cake. Garnish with almonds and strawberries. Chill for at least 1 hour before cutting. Refrigerate leftovers.

CHOCOLATE-ALMOND TORTE WITH STRAWBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Torte:.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil 9-in. springform pan. In food processor, finely grind almonds, matzo cake meal and 1/2 cup of the sugar.
• In large bowl, with electric mixer on high speed, beat egg yolks and 1/2 cup of the sugar until pale and thick, about 4 minutes. With mixer on low speed, beat in zest, juice and vanilla.
• In large bowl, with clean beaters, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in remaining sugar; beat until stiff, shiny peaks form.
• Stir almond mixture into egg-yolk mixture. Fold in egg-white mixture and chocolate until no white streaks remain. Pour into prepared pan. Bake 50 minutes or until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool in pan on rack 10 minutes. Run knife around edges of cake to loosen; remove pan sides. Let cool completely.
• Sauce:.
• In blender or food processor, process raspberries in syrup and the sugar until smooth. With spatula, press through fine-mesh sieve. Stir in sliced berries.
• To serve:.
• Garnish with small fresh strawberries and fresh raspberries; dust lightly with kosher confectioners' sugar, if desired. Serve sauce on the side.
• Note:.
• To make kosher confectioners' sugar, combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 2 teaspoons potato starch in blender or food processor. Process 2 minutes or until powdery.

STRAWBERRY-ALMOND CHOCOLATE TORTE

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a large mixing bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Coat the bottom of three 9-in. baking pans with nonstick cooking spray; line with waxed paper. Spray the paper with nonstick cooking spray and dust with flour; set aside. Sift the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt together three times.
• Beat egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in sugar, about 2 tablespoons at a time, on high until stiff glossy peaks form and sugar is dissolved. Combine coffee and extracts. Fold dry ingredients into egg mixture alternately with coffee mixture.
• Spread into prepared pans. Bake at 375 degrees F for 10-15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. Gently peel off waxed paper. Cool completely.
• In a bowl, gently mash the strawberries; stir in almond extract. Fold in whipped topping. Place one cake layer on a serving platter; top with half of the filling. Repeat layers. Top with remaining cake layer.
• In a small mixing bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Combine confectioners' sugar and cocoa; add to cream. Beat until stiff peaks form. Frost top of cake. Garnish with almonds and strawberries. Chill for at least 1 hour before cutting. Refrigerate leftovers.

ALMOND-LEMON TORTE WITH FRESH STRAWBERRIES

Steps:

• For cake:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Brush 10-inch-diameter springform pan with oil. Line bottom with parchment paper round. Brush paper with oil. Place 2 tablespoons matzo meal in pan and shake to coat; tap out excess.
• Combine remaining 2 tablespoons matzo meal, almond flour, and 1/3 cup sugar in medium bowl; whisk to blend. Place egg yolks in large bowl; place egg whites in another large bowl. Add 1/3 cup sugar to yolks. Using electric mixer, beat yolk mixture until thick and fluffy. Beat in 6 tablespoons olive oil, then lemon juice, orange juice, and lemon peel. Mix in dry ingredients. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt to whites; using clean dry beaters, beat until soft peaks form. Gradually add 1/3 cup sugar and beat until stiff but not dry. Fold whites into yolk mixture in 3 additions. Transfer batter to prepared pan. Sprinkle almonds over.
• Bake cake until golden brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Place pan on rack; cool cake completely in pan. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover cake pan with foil and let stand at room temperature.
• For sauce and berries:
• Combine 2 cups sliced strawberries and 1 tablespoon sugar in processor; blend until smooth. Sweeten sauce with more sugar, if desired; transfer to small bowl. do ahead Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.
• Cut around cake; release pan sides. Cut cake into wedges. Serve with sauce and remaining sliced strawberries.
• Sometimes labeled "ground almonds"; available at specialty foods stores and natural foods stores.