Mocha Magic Torte Recipes

MOCHA TORTE 1936

Steps:

• 1. CAKE: Separate and beat the yolks (reserve the whites), adding the sugar a little at a time.
• 2. Add the flour, stir to incorporate, then add the nuts and stir. NOTE: If you cannot find ground nuts you can grind them yourself in a food processor. To keep from making nut butter, use 1/4 C of the sugar to help grind the nuts.
• 3. Beat the egg whites to stiff peaks and then fold into above mixture and pour into two well greased 8" round cake pans. (May need to line pans with parchment paper.)
• 4. Bake 300, for 45 minutes After baked, let cool 20 minutes, and then remove from pans and let cool completely. I am not really sure how many layers this will make. I've provided for two layers but a whole pint of whipping cream between 2 layers seems excessive, so, perhaps it makes 3 or 4 layers (each layer cut in half ?) which would make better sense (to me, at least).
• 5. THE FILLING: Whip the cream, gradually add the cocoa, powdered sugar and coffee essence, while continuing to beat.
• 6. Assemble: Place bottom layer on decorative plate, spread 1/3 of the filling to within 1 inch of outside edge, position another layer on top and repeat, ending up with last cake layer on top.
• 7. FROSTING: cream the butter, 1 C of sugar, and the cocoa essence... if you need to adjust the consistency either add more sugar or a little more butter. More butter will make it lighter and fluffier, more sugar will make it stiffer and heavier. (Do not melt the butter, it should be slightly cool, just out of the fridge for about 10-20 minutes -- room temperature is too soft.)
• 8. OPTIONAL: To keep the frosting from being too salty, use unsalted butter and then add 1/4 tsp of salt. FROST THE CAKE and garnish as you please (with chocolate coffee beans, or shaved chocolate, or whatever you wish)
• 9. I've tried to fill out the directions for you... if I've forgotten something please comment and let me know. Thanks!! You can do a search for "coffee essence" and "cocoa essence" to see what those ingredients are and where to find them. I discovered that they sell coffee essence at Amazon.com. Who knew?

LAYERED MOCHA CREAM TORTE

Steps:

• Make crust:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Blend ground cookies and coffee powder in processor. Set aside 3/4 cup cookie crumb mixture. Add butter to remaining crumb mixture and process until crumbs are moist. Press mixture onto bottom and up sides of 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides. Bake crust until just firm to touch, about 10 minutes. Cool completely.
• Make fillings:
• Stir chocolate, butter and 1 teaspoon coffee powder in heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat until melted and smooth. Transfer to large bowl. Set chocolate mixture aside while preparing meringue.
• Stir 1/2 cup sugar and 3 tablespoons water in small saucepan over low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and boil syrup without stirring until candy thermometer registers 240°F, tilting pan to submerge bulb, about 4 minutes.
• Meanwhile, using electric mixer, beat whites in large bowl to soft peaks.
• Gradually beat hot syrup into whites. Continue beating until medium-stiff peaks form, about 3 minutes. Fold 1/3 of meringue into lukewarm chocolate mixture to lighten. Fold in remaining meringue. Set chocolate meringue aside.
• Combine 1/4 cup cream and 5 teaspoons coffee powder in large bowl; stir to dissolve. Add 2 1/2 cups cream, powdered sugar and cinnamon and beat until firm peaks form. Fold 1 1/2 cups coffee whipped cream into chocolate meringue, forming mocha mousse.
• Spoon half of mocha mousse over bottom of crust. Sprinkle 3 tablespoons reserved crumb mixture over mousse. Spoon half of coffee whipped cream over crumbs. Sprinkle with 3 tablespoons crumbs. Repeat layering with remaining mocha mousse, crumbs, coffee whipped cream and crumbs. Cover and refrigerate until set, about 4 hours. (Can be made 2 days ahead; keep refrigerated.) Run knife around pan sides to loosen torte. Remove pan sides and serve.