Chocolate Date Hazelnut Meringue Torte Recipes

HAZELNUT AND CHOCOLATE MERINGUE TORTE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 160°C (315°F/Gas 2-3). Line 2 large baking trays with non-stick baking paper. Draw two 10 x 25 cm (4 x 10 inch) rectangles on one lined tray, leaving a little room between for spreading, and one rectangle on the other. Turn both pieces of paper over. 2. Finely chop 115 g (4 oz/¾ cup) of the hazelnuts. Coarsely chop the remaining nuts and put in an airtight container. 3. Use an electric mixer with a whisk attachment to whisk the egg whites in a medium bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add the sugar, a little at a time, whisking well after each addition. Whisk for a further 2-3 minutes or until very thick and glossy. Add the vanilla and vinegar and whisk for 30 seconds or until combined. Use a large metal spoon or spatula to gently fold in the finely chopped hazelnuts. 4. Divide the meringue mixture among the marked rectangles and use a palette knife to spread it out evenly. Bake for 30 minutes or until dry to touch. Turn the oven off. Cool completely in the oven, with a wooden spoon keeping the door slightly ajar. 5. Spread three-quarters of the melted chocolate over the cooled meringue rectangles and leave to set. Reserve the remaining melted chocolate. 6. To make the chocolate mousse, put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Bring 100 ml (3½ fl oz) of the cream just to a simmer, then pour over the chocolate. Stand for 1 minute, then stir gently until melted and well combined. Set aside at room temperature until the mixture has cooled completely. 7. When the chocolate mixture has cooled, use an electric mixer with a whisk attachment to whisk the remaining cream until soft peaks form (do not whisk the cream past soft peaks or it will curdle later). Add the chocolate mixture and use a spatula or large metal spoon to fold together until just combined. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm. 8. Place a meringue rectangle on a serving platter. Spread with half the chocolate mousse. Continue to layer the remaining meringue rectangles and mousse, finishing with meringue. Warm the reserved chocolate until it is melted again, then drizzle over the torte and refrigerate overnight. 9. Remove from the refrigerator 1 hour before serving. Serve sprinkled with the coarsely chopped hazelnuts.

CHOCOLATE-HAZELNUT MERINGUE LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease with shortening two 9-inch round cake pans. Line pan bottoms with cooking parchment paper; grease again, and sprinkle pans with flour.
• In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil and egg yolks with electric mixer on low speed until moistened. Scrape bowl; beat 2 minutes on medium speed. Spread batter evenly in pans.
• In another large bowl, beat egg whites with electric mixer on medium speed until foamy. Gradually add granulated sugar, beating on high speed until stiff peaks form. Fold in ground hazelnuts. Place spoonfuls of meringue on top of batter in each pan; carefully spread to cover batter to within 1/4 inch of sides of pans.
• Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on cooling racks 15 minutes. Carefully run knife around sides of pans to loosen cake and meringue. Remove from pans, and place meringue-side-up on cooling racks. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• For topping, using chilled large bowl and beaters, beat whipping cream using electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form. Add 1/4 cup of the hazelnut spread and the powdered sugar; beat until stiff peaks form.
• To assemble cake, place cake layer on serving plate or cake stand, meringue-side-up. Place remaining 1/3 cup hazelnut spread in small microwavable bowl. Microwave uncovered on High 15 to 30 seconds or just until softened. Carefully spread softened hazelnut spread over meringue layer. Top with remaining cake layer, meringue-side-up. Top with dollops of whipped cream mixture, spreading slightly to cover top of cake. Garnish top with candies. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

CHOCOLATE AND HAZELNUT MERINGUE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-by-3-inch springform pan. Line bottom with parchment. Butter parchment, and sprinkle with flour; tap out excess. Set aside.
• Spread hazelnuts in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Toast until fragrant and skins start to crack, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven; rub vigorously with a clean kitchen towel to take off skins. Let cool; roughly chop. Set aside.
• Make cake batter: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and brown sugar until pale and smooth. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition, until mixture is light and fluffy. Add melted chocolate, vanilla, and rum, if using; beat until combined. Set aside.
• In a clean mixer bowl, combine 6 egg whites and salt; using the whisk attachment, beat on high speed until soft peaks form, about 2 minutes. Stir one-third of the egg whites into chocolate mixture. Fold in remaining beaten egg whites just until combined. Pour batter into prepared pan, and bake 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make meringue: Combine hazelnuts, chopped chocolate, and cornstarch in a small bowl, and set aside. Place remaining 4 egg whites and cream of tartar in a clean mixer bowl; using a clean whisk attachment, beat on high speed until frothy. With mixer running, slowly add superfine sugar; continue beating until stiff peaks form, about 8 minutes. Fold in hazelnut mixture.
• Remove cake from oven. Using an offset spatula, spread meringue mixture on top of cake, and return to oven. Bake until meringue is lightly browned and crisp, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack; let stand 10 minutes. Run a knife around the edge of the cake to loosen, and release sides of pan. Let cool, about 30 minutes, before slicing and serving.

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT MERINGUES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 225°F. Line cookie sheets with cooking parchment paper.
• In medium bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar with electric mixer on low speed until foamy. Increase speed to medium; gradually add 2 tablespoons of the granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until soft peaks form. Increase speed to high; gradually add remaining 6 tablespoons granulated sugar, the powdered sugar and cocoa, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating 2 to 4 minutes or until stiff peaks form and sugar is dissolved. Fold in hazelnuts.
• Spoon mixture into decorating bag fitted with large open star tip. Onto cookie sheets, pipe meringues about 1 inch apart.
• Bake 1 hour 35 minutes. Turn oven off; leave meringues in oven with door closed 2 hours. Store tightly covered at room temperature up to 1 week.

CHOCOLATE, DATE & HAZELNUT MERINGUE TORTE

Steps:

• Cake:.
• Preheat oven to 180c (170C fan forced).
• First, prepare the nuts. Place the hazelnuts on a baking tray and bake at 180C for exactly 8 minutes (set a timer so you don't burn them).
• Remove nuts from oven, wrap in a tea towel and then rub firmly to remove as much skin as possible. You may have to do this a couple of times and rub stubborn ones between your fingers. Don't fuss too much if some skin won't come off - just get rid of as much of the loose papery stuff as possible.
• Put skinned and roasted hazelnuts into a food processor and chop roughly. Place nuts into a medium mixing bowl.
• Now break up the chocolate and place it in the food processor and chop roughly. Don't worry if it's not evenly chopped, some will be like grated chocolate, and you'll have some larger bits. That's fine. Just don't overchop it. Add chocolate to nuts in mixing bowl.
• Cut dates in half then process in a food processor until finely chopped, but be careful not to pulverise them to mush. Add dates to mixing bowl.
• Using your hands or a spoon, mix nuts, chocolate and dates well.
• Now, spray a 22-24cm (9") springform tin with spray oil and line base and sides with silicone paper. Paper should come 2.5cm-5cm (an inch or two) over the top of the tin.
• In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat egg whites until soft peaks form, then add sugar, 1 tablespoon a time, beating after each addition, until all the sugar is used. Continue beating until mixture is stiff and glossy.
• Note: If you don't have a large mixer, it's a good idea to divide the egg whites and sugar in half and beat each half in a different medium sized bowl.
• Using a spatula, gently fold date, hazelnut and chocolate mixture into the egg whites until well combined.
• Spoon mixture evenly into prepared tin, smooth top and bake on the centre shelf of the oven at 180C (170C fan forced) for 50 minutes.
• After 50 minutes, turn off oven, but DO NOT OPEN THE OVEN DOOR! Leave the cake in the oven overnight (or at least for several hours until the oven is completely cold) without opening the door.
• The next morning, you can remove the cake from the oven and decorate it just before serving.
• Ganache:.
• It's best to make the chocolate ganache the day before too. Simply bring the cream to a boil, remove from the heat, add the chopped chocolate and stir until chocolate is melted. Pour into small bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight.
• The next day, remove the ganache from the refrigerator and sit on the kitchen bench until it comes back to room temperature (this will take at least 2 hours).
• Decoration:.
• Just before serving, remove cake from springform tin onto a serving plate.
• Add sugar and vanilla to whipping cream and beat with electric mixer until thick.
• Spread whipped cream over the top of the cake.
• Spoon room temperature ganache into a piping bag with a large star nozzle fitted.
• Pipe rosettes around the perimeter of the cake and one large rosette in the centre.
• Remove stems from strawberries and cut strawberries in half.
• Pile strawberries (or berries of your choice) onto the top of the cake.

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 225 degrees. Butter an 8 1/2-inch springform pan; sprinkle with cocoa, and tap out excess. In a small bowl, combine currants and whiskey or hot water. Let macerate at least 10 minutes or up to 30 minutes. Strain currants in a fine sieve, and discard whiskey.
• In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring cream and butter almost to a boil; making sure all butter is melted. Place chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl, and pour the cream over to cover. Whisk gently until chocolate is melted and mixture is combined.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, and salt. Whisk into chocolate mixture, and stir in nuts and currants. Pour mixture into prepared pan.
• Bake until edges are set and center is still a little soft to the touch, about 2 hours. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Cover with plastic wrap, and chill overnight in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, remove from refrigerator, and dust with cocoa powder.

MELISSA KELLY'S CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottom of an 8-inch round cake pan with parchment paper, and lightly butter it.
• Combine hazelnuts, chocolate, lemon zest and orange zest in a food processor. Pulse until finely ground.
• Combine egg yolks and 1/4 cup sugar in an electric mixer. Whisk on high speed for about 3 minutes, until light and creamy. Turn speed to low, and mix in the ground hazelnut-chocolate mixture.
• Place egg whites in a clean bowl, and whip at medium speed until frothy. Increase to high speed, and whip until softly peaked. Continue to whip, gradually adding remaining sugar, until stiff.
• Fold a third of the beaten egg whites into the batter, and when they are almost completely incorporated, fold in the rest.
• Spread in prepared pan, and bake for about 35 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool briefly on a rack. The cake will drop somewhat as it cools. Remove the cake from the pan, and invert it. Peel off the paper. Serve while still warm, with ice cream.

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT TORTE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream and coffee. Beat just until combined., Pour into 2 greased and floured 6-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For frosting, in a small saucepan, melt chocolate with cream and sugar over low heat; stir until smooth. Remove from the heat; whisk in Nutella. Transfer to a small bowl; cover and refrigerate until frosting reaches spreading consistency, stirring occasionally. , Spread frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake. Garnish with chocolate curls and hazelnuts if desired.