Nut Torte Cake Recipes

HUNGARIAN WALNUT TORTE

Steps:

• Let eggs stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. In a large bowl, beat egg yolks and sugar for 10 minutes or until light lemon-colored. Beat in vanilla. Combine cake flour and baking powder; add to egg mixture alternately with water, beating well. Fold in walnuts., In another bowl and with clean beaters, beat the egg whites on high until stiff peaks form. Fold a fourth of the egg whites into batter; fold in remaining whites. , Pour into two greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., In a small saucepan, whisk the milk and pudding mix. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat. Pour into a bowl; press a piece of waxed paper or plastic wrap over pudding. Refrigerate for 30 minutes., In a bowl, cream the butter, shortening and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla and cooled pudding. Split each cake into two layers. Place one bottom layer on a serving plate; spread with about 3/4 cup filling. Repeat layers. Garnish with chocolate curls if desired.

GRANDMA'S HUNGARIAN NUT TORTE

Steps:

• For Top/Bottom Layers: In separate bowl, beat egg yolks with sugar and baking powder till it becomes lemon colored. It takes about 10 minutes to get it thick and lemony. Add flour and ground nuts until well combined. In a different bowl, beat the egg whites till they form stiff peaks. Fold the egg whites into the egg yolk mixture. Bake in two greased and floured cake pans at 325 degrees F for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. For Middle Layer: In separate bowl, mix egg yolks with sugar till it becomes lemon colored. Add the flour and baking powder until well combined. In a different bowl, beat the egg whites till they form stiff peaks. Fold the egg whites into the egg yolk mixture. Bake in greased and floured cake pan (same size as top and bottom) at 325 degrees F for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. For Grandma's 30 Minute Icing: Beat the shortening, butter and sugar for 10 minutes or until grainy texture is gone. Add the flour and milk slowly, alternating between the two and beat till smooth as whipped cream, about 20 minutes. It will be very light and fluffy. But you do need to beat it this long for the sugar to dissolve and the icing to get fluffy as it should be. It will spread beautifully and you will be amazed at the taste.

NUSSTORTE (NUT CAKE)

Steps:

• Beat eggs, gradually adding the sugar, and continue beating until light and fluffy. Mix in the nuts and flour only until blended, then fold in the cooled, melted butter.
• Turn into a greased and floured 9-inch springform pan and bake in a 325 degrees F oven for 40 to 60 minutes, or until cake tests done. Cool cake for about 15 minutes, then remove from the pan and cool on a rack.
• While cake is cooling, stir all of the filling ingredients together over medium heat until smooth, and let the mixture come to a boil. Cool.
• When the cake is cold, split it in half and fill with filling mixture. Replace top layer.
• Whip cream until very thick, and add sugar and flavoring. Spread on cake or use a pastry bag with a fluted tube and your imagination.

VIENNESE CHOCOLATE-NUT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a loaf pan.
• Cream margarine and sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer until well combined. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Mix flour, cornstarch, hazelnuts, and cocoa powder in a separate bowl and quickly mix into the margarine mixture. Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Run a table knife around the edges to loosen. Invert carefully onto a serving plate or cooling rack. Let cool completely before dusting with confectioners' sugar.

ENGADINER NUSSTORTE (NUT CAKE)

Steps:

• Cream butter and sugar.
• Mix flour, rind, salt and egg on high speed until a dough is formed.
• Divide the dough into 1/3 and 2/3 parts, wrap well in foil and chill for minimum 1/2 hour.
• In the meantime, heat the sugar for the filling until it caramelises to a very light brown.
• Heat the cream (can be in microwave) and add it to the caramel, stirring rapidly.
• Add the honey, heat until it reaches a rolling boil.
• Add nuts and stir well. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
• Mix well and allow to cool.
• Roll out the larger of the pastry dough rolls and fit into a greased 24cm springform pan to cover the base and sides.
• Pour in the cooled filling.
• Roll out the remaining dough to form a lid for the cake. Put on top of the filling and join the edges well.
• Paint the top of the cake lightly with whisked egg yolk.
• Cook the cake at about 180 degrees for 50-60 minutes.
• Take the cake out of the oven and allow to cool. Do not remove outside of tin until cool! The cake should be totally cold before serving- I put mine in the fridge on the base, and only take it off the base once it's cold and the filling has set. Otherwise if the filling is still hot the bottom will sag when you pick it up.

DATE NUT TORTE

Steps:

• In a bowl, beat eggs. Gradually add sugars and beat until well mixed. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to egg mixture and stir until moistened. Stir in nuts and dates. Pour into a greased 8-in. square baking pan., Bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Torte top will be crusty and the inside chewy. Cool. Cut into squares and serve with a dollop of whipped cream.

THREE-NUT TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Butter three 8-inch round cake pans. Line bottoms with parchment paper; butter parchment, and sprinkle with flour, tapping out excess.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat yolks and 1/4 cup sugar until thick and pale, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. In a separate bowl, toss together nuts, chocolate, zest, baking powder, and salt. Sprinkle over yolk mixture; do not mix in.
• Whisk egg whites in the heatproof bowl of an electric mixer set over a pan of simmering water until whites are warm to the touch. Attach bowl to mixer fitted with clean whisk attachment; beat on high speed until soft peaks form. Beat in remaining 3 tablespoons sugar until stiff and glossy peaks form.
• Fold egg-white mixture into egg-yolk mixture, one-third at a time. Divide batter evenly among prepared pans, and spread with an offset spatula to smooth the tops. Bake until springy to the touch, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool, about 10 minutes. Run a knife around edge of each cake to loosen, and invert cakes onto wire racks, removing parchment paper. Let cool completely.
• Place one cake layer on a turntable or flat work surface. Spread 1 1/4 cups buttercream evenly over the top. Place second cake layer on buttercream; evenly spread 1 1/4 cups buttercream over the top. Place final cake layer on top; evenly spread remaining 1/2 cup buttercream on top. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes while you make the ganache.
• Transfer cake to a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet. Pour ganache over top of cake; use an offset spatula to smooth top and sides. Place cake in the refrigerator, and let ganache set, at least 30 minutes, before serving.

WALNUT TORTE WITH COFFEE WHIPPED CREAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Using coarse grating disc (with large holes), grate walnuts in processor. Remove grating disc, leaving walnuts in processor bowl. Fit processor with metal blade. Using on/off turns, grind walnuts until finely ground but not pasty. Set aside 2 tablespoons ground walnuts for garnish.
• Butter bottom (not sides) of 9-inch-diameter springform pan. Using electric mixer, beat egg yolks in large bowl until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Gradually add 1/2 cup sugar, beating until well blended. Stir remaining ground walnuts into yolk mixture. Using clean dry beaters, beat egg whites in another large bowl until stiff but not dry. Fold whites into nut mixture in 2 additions. Transfer batter to prepared pan.
• Bake cake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool 5 minutes. Run knife between cake and pan sides to loosen; remove pan sides. Cool cake completely on rack (cake will fall in center). (Cake can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and store at room temperature.)
• Using electric mixer, beat cream, powdered sugar, coffee mixture, and vanilla in large bowl until peaks form. Spread coffee whipped cream onto top of cake. Sprinkle top with reserved ground walnuts; arrange walnut halves in center of cake. Cut cake into wedges.

HUNGARIAN CHOCOLATE-WALNUT TORTE

Steps:

• Have all ingredients at room temperature.
• Line the bottom of an 8-inch square cake pan or a 9-inch springform pan with parchment or wax paper.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• In a heavy-bottomed 2-or 3-quart saucepan, combine 1/2 cup of the sugar and 1/2 cup water and bring to a boil, stirring constantly over medium heat. Continue boiling and stirring until all the grains of sugar have completely dissolved and the mixture forms a simple syrup. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the chocolate until melted and smooth. Set aside to cool.
• In a large bowl, beat the egg yolks with an electric mixer until light and thickened, about 4 minutes. Grind the walnuts with the remaining sugar and the matzoh meal in a food processor using the pulse motion and stir into the egg yolks. Add the cooled chocolate mixture and combine thoroughly.
• Using clean beaters, beat the egg whites in another bowl until they hold stiff peaks. Gradually fold the whites into the chocolate-walnut mixture, incorporating them gently but thoroughly so that no whites are visible. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until puffed and almost set but still a little gooey in the center. A wooden toothpick inserted 1 inch from the edge should come out clean.
• Remove the pan from the oven and let cool on a rack. When completely cool, unmold the cake by running a thin-bladed knife around the edges of the cake to release it from the pan (or release the springform); invert onto a platter. Peel off the parchment paper. Serve the torte at room temperature.
• If desired, lightly dust with Passover confectioners' sugar. For a lovely, simple presentation, place a doily or a stencil-handmade by you or, even better, your children-over the torte, then sprinkle with the sugar. Carefully remove the doily or stencil.
• Or glaze with the chocolate icing. Lay long strips of wax paper or foil on a cake plate or serving platter and place the cake on top. Pour the glaze over the top of the cake, letting it drip down the sides. Using a spatula, evenly spread the glaze over the top and sides. Now, pull out and discard the paper strips or foil strips--the plate will be clean and ready for serving. If you'd like, garnish with a few walnut halves attractively placed in the center of the cake. Refrigerate the cake for about an hour to set the glaze, but bring it to room temperature before serving.
• The plain or frosted torte is heavenly with generous dollops of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
• Passover Confectioners’ Sugar:
• In a blender, mini-food processor, or clean coffee grinder, whirl 1 cup minus 1/2 tablespoon regular granulated sugar until it is powdery. Place in a small bowl and stir in 1/2 teaspoon potato starch. Sift before using. (Recently commercial Passover confectioners' sugar, made without cornstarch, has appeared in some stores with large kosher-for-Passover sections. If available, by all means use it here.)
• Chocolate Icing:
• Melt the butter or margarine slowly in a heavy saucepan over very low heat. When half is melted, gradually whisk in the chocolate, stirring well as it melts. After all the chocolate has been added, stir in 2 tablespoons water and beat well until the glaze is completely smooth. Let the mixture cool about 5 minutes to thicken slightly.

SUGARSWEET TOMATO NUT TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Butter a nine-inch springform pan. Cut a round disk of baking parchment to fit the bottom.
• Place the walnuts and a half-cup of unsifted flour in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Pulse until the nuts are chopped to a medium size. Set aside.
• Combine the tomato puree with the vinegar and set aside.
• Sift the remaining flour with the baking powder, salt and spices in a triple sifter and set aside.
• Put the eggs into the large bowl of an electric mixer. Beat on high speed until thickened and light in color - about two minutes. Gradually add the brown sugar and beat for five minutes longer. The mixture will be very thick.
• Reduce the speed to medium-high and blend in the orange rind and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients alternately with the tomato puree, dividing the flour into three parts and the puree into two parts. Start and end with flour. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. The batter will be very loose. Pour in the butter and quickly add the chopped nuts. Beat just to blend, then immediately pour it into the prepared pan. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes. The cake is done when the top is golden brown, springy to the touch, and the sides come away from the pan. Test by inserting a toothpick into the center. It should come out dry.
• Remove from the oven and set on a cake rack to cool completely. Just before serving, dust the top with confectioners' sugar. Or, if desired, split the torte into two or three layers, using a long serrated bread knife, and fill and frost with sweetened whipped cream. Garnish with a few chopped walnuts.

HUNGARIAN FLOURLESS HAZELNUT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9-inch springform pan. Grind hazelnuts until very fine. Add baking powder and set aside.
• In a large bowl, whip the egg yolks with the sugar until pale yellow in color. Beat in the ground hazelnut mixture.
• In a separate CLEAN bowl, with a CLEAN whisk, whip the egg whites until stiff. Quickly fold 1/3 of the egg whites into the yolk mixture, then add the remaining whites and fold in until no streaks remain.
• Pour into a 9 inch springform. Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 75 minutes, or until top of cake springs back when lightly tapped. Cool on wire rack.
• When cake is cool, slice horizontally into 3 layers. Whip the cream until stiff, and spread generously between layers, on top and on the sides of the cake. Sprinkle chopped hazelnuts on top for decoration.