Chocolate Earl Grey Torte Recipes

CHOCOLATE & EARL GREY TORTE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease and line the base and sides of a deep, 22cm loose-bottomed tin with baking parchment, so the paper comes about 2.5cm above the sides. Stir the Earl Grey tea into the hot milk.
• Melt the chocolate, butter and a pinch of salt together in a bowl over a pan of barely simmering water. Then stir in the ground almonds, followed by the egg yolks and milky tea, including the leaves. Beat the egg whites until stiff, then beat in the caster sugar until stiff-ish again. Fold the whites through the chocolate mix and scrape into the tin. Bake for 30-35 mins - it should still have a slight wobble. Then cool completely in the tin.
• Carefully remove from the tin and lift onto a serving plate. Dust all over with cocoa and icing sugar, then serve in slices with crème fraîche or cream.

EARL GREY TEA CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Put the cream, tea bags, butter and a pinch of salt in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer for 5 minutes, then remove the tea bags. Put the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl, pour the hot cream mixture over it and let it sit, undisturbed, until the chocolate is almost completely melted, about 10 minutes.
• Stir the chocolate-cream mixture with a whisk or rubber spatula until combined and smooth. Stir in the vanilla, then whisk until the ganache is smooth and shiny. Transfer to a shallow container, cover and refrigerate until firm, at least 3 hours or up to overnight.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment. Put the cocoa powder in another shallow dish. Scoop tablespoons of the firm ganache, roll into balls and then coat each in the cocoa powder. Transfer the truffles to the prepared baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour or up to overnight.

MINI CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES WITH EARL GREY FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line two 24-cup mini muffin pans with paper liners.
• Place butter and chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water. Make sure the bowl isn't touching the water. Whisk until melted and smooth, about 5 minutes. Remove bowl; keep water simmering in the saucepan.
• Whisk sugar and flour together in another bowl. Mix into the melted chocolate mixture. Add eggs one at a time, then whisk vanilla extract into the batter.
• Divide batter among the prepared cups, filling each 3/4 of the way.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 15 to 18 minutes. Remove from the pans and cool on a wire rack, at least 20 minutes.
• While cupcakes are cooling, make the icing. Use a whisk to combine sugar, egg whites, lemon juice, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Empty tea bags and add loose tea to the bowl.
• Set the bowl over the saucepan of simmering water; whisk until the mixture is hot and the sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes.
• Transfer the bowl to the stand mixer and lock the whisk attachment in place. Beat on medium-high speed until frosting holds stiff peaks, about 7 minutes.
• Transfer frosting to a large resealable plastic bag. Snip off 1 corner and pipe over the cooled cupcakes.

EARL-GREY TRUFFLES

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, stir together cream and tea over medium heat. Bring just to a simmer, then let mixture continue to gently simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool completely. Place chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl.
• Pass cream mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean saucepan. Bring to a boil, then pour over chocolate and let stand 3 minutes. Stir until smooth, then stir in butter and vanilla. Refrigerate until set, at least 30 minutes or, covered with plastic wrap, up to 2 days.
• Place cocoa in a bowl. Scoop mixture with a level teaspoon, then dust hands with cocoa and roll truffles into balls. Coat your hands with a bit of melted chocolate and roll truffles in your hands to lightly coat to create a "shell".
• Drop truffles into bowl of cocoa; toss to coat. Refrigerate in an air-tight container until ready to serve, at least 30 minutes and up to 1 week. Let stand at room temperature 15 minutes before serving.

EARL GREY TEA CAKE WITH DARK CHOCOLATE AND ORANGE ZEST

Steps:

• Prepare the frosting: In a small saucepan, bring 1/2 cup/120 milliliters heavy cream to a simmer over medium-high heat. Stir in the tea, remove from the heat, cover and let stand for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour. Strain the tea through a fine-mesh sieve, discarding the solids, and chill the remaining cream until completely cold, at least 1 hour.
• Prepare the cake: Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8-inch round cake pan and line with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, tea, baking powder and salt.
• In large bowl, beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the orange zest and beat to combine. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat until combined, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary. Beat in the flour mixture on low, until just combined, then beat in the milk. (Don't overmix.) Add the chocolate and fold it in using a spatula. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake just until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs attached, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool for about 15 minutes. Then tip the cake out onto the rack to cool completely.
• To finish the frosting, add the remaining 1/4 cup/60 milliliters cream and the confectioners' sugar to the tea cream. With an electric mixer on medium, beat the cream mixture until medium-stiff peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the mascarpone and beat just until stiff peaks form. (Do not overmix.) Top the cake with the frosting to serve. Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3 days; let come to room temperature before serving.

CHOCOLATE EARL GREY TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Bring cream and butter to a boil in a small heavy saucepan and stir in tea leaves. Remove from heat and let steep 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, finely grind chocolate in a food processor and transfer to a bowl. Pour cream through a fine-mesh sieve onto chocolate, pressing on and discarding tea leaves, then whisk until smooth. Chill ganache, covered, until firm, about 2 hours.
• Spoon level teaspoons of ganache onto a baking sheet. Put cocoa in a bowl, then dust your palms lightly with it. Roll each piece of ganache into a ball (wash your hands and redust as they become sticky). Drop several balls at a time into bowl of cocoa and turn to coat. Transfer as coated to an airtight container, separating layers with wax paper.

CHOCOLATE EARL GREY COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Cream together butter, sugar, and tea. Beat in vanilla, then eggs, one at a time until incorporated. Sift together flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder; fold into egg mixture until just mixed.
• Drop cookies by rounded tablespoonfuls onto a ungreased cookie sheets.
• Bake in preheated oven for 8 minutes.