Hazelnut And Strawberry Cake Recipes

HAZELNUT, CHOCOLATE AND STRAWBERRY TORTE

Steps:

• for cake:
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Butter and flour 9-inch-diameter cake pan with 2-inch-high sides. Line bottom with parchment. Butter and flour parchment. Finely grind hazelnuts and 2 tablespoons sugar in processor. Place 2/3 cup ground-nut mixture in medium bowl; add flour and whisk to blend. Reserve remaining nut mixture for garnish.
• Using electric mixer, beat eggs and 2/3 cup sugar in large bowl until mixture is thick and slowly dissolving ribbon forms when beaters are lifted, about 8 minutes. Fold in flour mixture in 3 additions.
• Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake cake until top is golden and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 28 minutes. Transfer cake to rack. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Run small knife between pan sides and cake to loosen. Turn cake out onto rack; peel off parchment. Cool completely.
• for ganache:
• Bring cream to simmer in large saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth. Pour into 13x9x2-inch glass dish. Refrigerate until ganache thickens to spreadable consistency, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour 30 minutes (ganache will resemble thick pudding). Transfer 3/4 cup chocolate ganache to small bowl; set aside for garnish.
• Cut cake horizontally into 2 layers (layers will be thin). Place 1 cake layer, cut side up, on platter. Spread 1/2 cup chocolate ganache over. Arrange sliced strawberries in slightly overlapping concentric circles over ganache. Spread 1/2 cup ganache over cut side of second cake layer. Place cake layer atop strawberries, ganache side down, and press slightly to adhere. Spread remaining chocolate ganache over sides and top of cake. Gently press reserved ground hazelnuts onto sides of cake.
• Transfer reserved 3/4 cup ganache to pastry bag fitted with medium star tip. Pipe 8 rosettes around top edge of cake, spacing apart. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome and refrigerate. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before continuing.)
• Starting 1/3 inch from stem end of whole strawberries, thinly slice strawberries lengthwise to tip. Press slices slightly to fan. Place fanned berries between rosettes on cake. Garnish with additional toasted hazelnuts, if desired.

STRAWBERRY HAZELNUT GATEAU

Steps:

• Beat the egg whites with salt until soft peaks form, gradually add sugar, beat until the sugar is dissolved and mixture is of meringue consistency.
• Beat in the vinegar and vanilla.
• Line bases of two 20cm springform pans with greased greaseproof paper which has been lightly dusted with cornflour.
• Spread meringue mixture evenly into tins.
• Sprinkle ground hazelnuts evenly over meringue in both tins.
• With a knife or small spatula, swirl hazelnuts lightly through meringue. Smooth over top of meringue with the back of a spoon.
• Bake in moderate oven 35 - 40 minutes or until meringue is crisp to touch; release sides of pan, cool on the base of the pan.
• Chop chocolate. Combine with water in top of double saucepan; stir over simmering water until melted; cool.
• Remove cakes from bases.
• Place a layer of meringue on a serving plate, flat side down; spread with a thin layer of chocolate. Spread whipped cream over chocolate. Reserve 4 strawberries, wash and hull the remainder, cut in half, arrange over cream.
• Spread the underside of second meringue with remaining chocolate mixture, place on top of strawberry layer, chocolate side down.
• Whip extra cream, cover sides and top of cake and if desired, pipe cream decoratively on top.
• Arrange reserved halved strawberries on top of cake. Refrigerate until ready to serve. If desired, brush strawberries used for decoration with warmed, sieved strawberry jam to give them a pretty glaze before arranging on cake. Cheers, Doreen Doreen Randal, Wanganui.
• New Zealand.