Grand Marnier Chocolate Torte Recipes

CHOCOLATE & GRAND MARNIER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Line bottoms of two greased 8-in. round baking pans with parchment paper; grease paper., In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until crumbly. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking cocoa, salt, baking soda and baking powder; add to creamed mixture alternately with water, beating well after each addition., Transfer batter to prepared pans. Bake 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks; remove paper. Cool completely., In a chilled large bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners' sugar; beat until soft peaks form. Refrigerate, covered, 1 hour or until very cold., For filling, in a small saucepan, sprinkle gelatin over orange juice concentrate; let stand 1 minute. Stir in sugar. Heat and stir over low heat until gelatin is completely dissolved. Stir in 1/4 cup Grand Marnier and orange zest. Let filling stand at room temperature just until spreadable, stirring occasionally. (If mixture becomes too firm, warm in microwave to soften, about 10-15 seconds.), Meanwhile, using a long serrated knife, cut each cake horizontally in half. Brush layers with remaining Grand Marnier. Place one cake layer on a serving plate; spread with one-third of the filling. Repeat twice. Top with remaining cake layer., To frost cake, cut a hole in the tip of a pastry bag or in a corner of a food-safe plastic bag and insert #829 or other large star pastry tip. Gently stir whipped cream; spoon into bag and pipe onto top and sides of cake. Refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving.

GRAND MARNIER CHOCOLATE TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease 2 9-inch round cake pans. Line bottoms with parchment or wax paper and grease again. Mix flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt together in medium-sized bowl, stirring until well-blended and no lumps appear.
• In large mixing bowl, beat butter until very creamy. Gradually add sugars, beating until light and fluffy - at least 3 minutes. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time and then add vanilla and beat until blended.
• Turn mixer to low and beat in 1/3 of flour mixture, then half of buttermilk, beating only until mixed after each addition. Beat in another 1/3 of flour mixture, then remaining buttermilk and then remaining flour mixture. Beat only until evenly blended - overbeating will toughen cake.
• Divide batter evenly between pans, then bang pans on counter several times to remove air bubbles. Bake in centre of 350 degree oven until centre of cake springs back when lightly touched and sides of cake start to pull away from pan. This should take between 30 and 35 minutes. Let cakes cook in pans on rack for 10 minutes before turning out. Remove paper and cool cakes completely on racks. When ready to assemble cake, slice each half horizontally so you will have 4 layers.
• Filling: Combine frozen concentrate, sugar, gelatin in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until sugar and gelatin are disolved - about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in orange peel and 1/4 cup of the liqueur. Press sheet of waxed paper into surface of orange mixture and refrigerate just until it no longer feels warm to the touch - about 20 minutes.
• In large mixing bowl, whip cream until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in icing sugar until combined. Fold in liqueur mixture until evenly blended.
• To Assemble: Place a layer of cake, cut side up on a serving plate, Brush with 1 Tbsp of liqueur. Spoon a scant 1/5 of filling onto middle of layer and gently spread almost to edge. Top with a cake layer, brush with 1 Tbsp liqueur and then spread with scan 1/5 of filling. Repeat until all layers have been added. Use remaining frosting to frost top and sides of cake. Refrigerate immediately for at least 4 hours - preferably overnight, so flavours blend. Serve at room temperature.

CHOCOLATE GRAND MARNIER TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Butter the bottom of an 8-inch springform pan and line it with wax paper; set aside.
• In a small bowl, cover uncracked eggs with very hot water (not boiling); let stand 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a 2-quart glass bowl, heat semisweet and unsweetened chocolate and butter in a microwave on high 2 1/2 to 3 minutes, stirring twice, until melted and smooth; set aside to let cool slightly.
• In a large bowl, beat eggs with an electric mixer on high speed, until thick and light yellow, about 5 minutes.
• Add chocolate mixture and Grand Marnier and beat until well blended.
• Turn into the prepared springform pan.
• Bake 15-18 minutes, or until almost set.
• Let cake cool 1 hour, then cover with foil and refrigerate several hours or until firm.
• Remove cake from refrigerator at least one hour before serving.
• Run a sharp knife around sides of cake and remove sides of springform pan.
• Cut into slices, taking care not to cut/include wax paper with serving.
• Serve in a pool of Raspberry Sauce and top with whipped cream.
• Raspberry Sauce: In a food processor, combine thawed raspberries and powdered sugar; process until smooth; add Grand Marnier and process to blend well.
• To remove seeds, press puree through a wire strainer placed over a non-reactive (glass or plastic) bowl; using a rubber spatula, scrape inderside of strainer and discard seeds.
• Serve sauce immediately or cover and refrigerate up to 2 days; mix before serving.

FROZEN GRAND MARNIER TORTE WITH DARK CHOCOLATE CRUST AND SPICED CRANBERRIES

Steps:

• For crust:
• Finely grind cookies, chips, and sugar in processor. Add melted butter; blend until wet crumbs form. Set aside 1/2 cup crumb mixture. Press remaining crumb mixture onto bottom and 2 inches up sides of 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides.
• For filling:
• Whisk first 3 ingredients in medium metal bowl. Set over saucepan of simmering water and whisk vigorously until candy thermometer registers 175°F, about 8 minutes. Remove bowl from over water. Add spices. Using mixer, beat until thick and cool, about 5 minutes.
• Using electric mixer, beat whipping cream, sour cream, Grand Marnier, orange juice concentrate, and grated orange peel in large bowl until peaks form. Add egg yolk mixture and fold together. Pour 2/3 of filling into crust. Sprinkle with reserved 1/2 cup crumb mixture. Gently spoon remaining filling over. Cover; freeze overnight or up to 3 days.
• For topping:
• Whisk Port and cornstarch in large skillet to blend. Add sugar, honey, and spices. Bring mixture to boil over high heat, stirring often. Add 3 cups cranberries; cook until mixture boils and cranberries begin to pop but still hold shape, about 5 minutes. Mix in remaining 2 cups cranberries. Chill topping at least 6 hours or overnight.
• Release pan sides from torte. Transfer torte to platter. Spoon topping over filling. If desired, garnish torte with white chocolate curls.

SOUFFLE AU CHOCOLAT ET AU GRAND MARNIER

Steps:

• Coat a large straight sided porcelain baking dish or souffle mold (about 8-inches diameter and 4- deep) with the softened butter. Alternatively, you can use eight individual straightsided porcelain ramekins. Coat evenly and generously all the way to the top, making sure to get the corners. Sprinkle in some sugar and toss around to coat the bottom and sides of the mold or molds. Place molds in the refrigerator to chill (if using individual molds, place them on a cookie sheet first.)
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Find a medium metal bowl that completely covers the top of a small saucepan. Place 3 inches of water in the saucepan and bring to the simmer. Turn off the heat. Place cut up butter and chocolate in the bowl and place bowl over pan of hot water. Let sit for 2 minutes then stir. It should be completely melted; if not, remove the bowl, bring the water back to a simmer, turn off the heat and replace the bowl. Stir until smooth. Stir in the Grand Marnier. Set aside to let cool to room temperature. Place egg yolks in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whip. Beat egg yolks at medium speed until opaque and lightened in color, about 3 minutes. Add to cooled chocolate mixture.
• Bring medium pot of water to a boil. Clean mixer bowl and whip well, and dry them. Place egg whites in bowl and whip at high speed 2 minutes, then reduce speed to medium and add the cream of tartar. Whip until soft peaks form then slowly add the granulated sugar down the side of the bowl while continuing to whip until firm peaks form. Take 1/3 of the whites and whisk into chocolate mixture to lighten it. Fold in remaining whites with a large rubber spatula, trying not to deflate the whites. Fold gently but thoroughly until no white streaks remain. Remove coated molds from the refrigerator. Fill mold or molds with souffle mixture, up to 1/2-inch from rim. Run your thumb around the inside of each mold to form a shallow groove all around. When all molds have been filled transfer to the oven and bake until risen and top is evenly dried, about 10 minutes for individual soufflJs and about 25 minutes for a large. Serve immediately.
• Classic souffle technique: egg yolks combined with flavoring base, lightened with whipped egg whites and baked until risen. Very important that all equipment used for beating whites be scrupulously clean. Running thumb around mold encourages an even rise.

CHOCOLATE GRAND MARNIER CAKE

Steps:

• For cake:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 10-inch-diameter springform pan; line bottom with parchment paper round. Stir chocolate in metal bowl set over saucepan of simmering water until melted and smooth. Cool slightly. Using electric mixer, beat sugar and butter in large bowl 2 minutes. Beat in egg yolks, Grand Marnier, orange peel, and vanilla. Stir in lukewarm chocolate. Add flour and salt; stir to blend. Using clean dry beaters, beat egg whites in another large bowl until peaks form. Fold whites into chocolate mixture in 3 additions. Transfer batter to prepared springform pan.
• Bake cake until top is dry and cracked and tester inserted into center comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, about 45 minutes. Cool cake in pan on rack (top will fall slightly). DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool completely; cover and let stand at room temperature.
• For icing:
• Place chocolate and butter in medium metal bowl. Bring cream to boil in small saucepan. Pour hot cream over chocolate mixture; stir until mixture is melted and smooth.
• Run thin knife around inside of cake pan; remove pan sides. Invert cake onto 10-inch removable tart pan bottom or cardboard round. Place on rack set in rimmed baking sheet. Remove cake pan bottom and parchment. Pour icing over cake and spread to cover top and sides (any icing that drips onto baking sheet can be reused). Chill until glaze sets, about 30 minutes. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome and chill. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before serving.
• Cut into wedges and serve.

CHOCOLATE ORANGE & GRAND MARNIER TRUFFLE CAKE

Steps:

• Line the base and sides of a 1kg loaf tin with cling film. Squeeze the juice from the orange and mix with 3 tbsp of the Grand Marnier. Cut away the bitter white pith from inside the orange shell, then cut the peel into fine strips and boil it in a covered pan with 300ml water for 20 mins until soft. Add the sugar, then simmer uncovered for a bit longer until you have a soft, sticky peel.
• Melt the chocolate over a pan of water, then take from the heat and beat in the butter and egg yolks, followed by the rest of the Grand Marnier.
• Whisk the egg whites until they hold their shape, then whip the cream until softly stiff. Fold both of them into the chocolate mixture.
• Spoon 5 large tbsp of the chocolate mixture into the tin, then dip the finger biscuits in the orange and Grand Marnier mixture one by one and arrange over the chocolate layer - don't soak them too much or they will fall apart. Scatter over some of the sticky peel, then spoon on another 5 tbsp of the chocolate mixture.
• Carry on layering up the biscuits and chocolate mixture until you have 4 layers of biscuit, finishing with a chocolate layer. You should only need to use half the peel. Lightly cover with cling film and freeze until ready to serve. Freeze the remaining peel separately.
• To serve, take the cake and orange peel out of the freezer no more than 1 hr before serving and strip off the cling film. Top with whipped cream and the remaining peel, and scatter with the grated chocolate. Keep chilled until ready to eat.