Passion Layer Torte Recipes

PASSION LAYER TORTE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Grease 2 x 20cm loose-based sandwich tins and line the bases with discs of baking parchment. Put the butter, sugar, eggs, flour, coconut, orange zest and baking powder in a food processor or food mixer and blend or beat until well combined, thick and creamy. Do not over-blend or the cake will be tough rather than light. If you don't have a food mixer, put all the ingredients in a bowl and beat hard with a wooden spoon until soft and creamy.
• Spoon the mixture evenly into the prepared tins and smooth the surface. Bake on the same shelf in the centre of the oven for 25 mins or until well risen and just beginning to shrink back from the sides of the tin. Remove the tins from the oven and leave to cool for 5 mins before running a knife around the edge of the cakes and turning out onto a wire rack. Peel off the parchment and leave to cool completely.
• When the cakes are completely cold, very carefully cut horizontally through each one with a serrated knife to make 4 thin sponges. To make the frosting, cut the passion fruits in half and scoop into a sieve. Press through the sieve to strain the juice - you should have 4 tbsp. Set aside and reserve the seeds. Put the butter, icing sugar and cheese in a food processor or mixer and blend until smooth. Do not overbeat or it will become runny. Slowly add the passion fruit juice and blend until just combined.
• Place one of the sponges, cut-side down, on the metal base of the sandwich tin and put on an upturned bowl on a tray. This will help make frosting the cake easier. Spread with roughly a fifth of the frosting - just enough to cover the sponge. Use a paddling motion with a palette knife or soft spatula for the best result, trying to keep contact with the cake to prevent the sponge from lifting.
• Cover with a second cake, spread with frosting and repeat the layers once more, ending with the last sponge, cut-side down. By this stage, you should have layered 4 cakes with passion fruit frosting between 3 of them. Use the remaining frosting to spread over the top and sides of the cakes to cover completely. Don't worry if the sides are a little messy, as the grated chocolate should cover any imperfections.
• Put the cake in the fridge for 30-60 mins to allow the icing to set a little. Coarsely grate the chocolate. Working your way slowly around the cake, scoop grated chocolate onto a palette knife and sweep up the sides of the cake, pressing into the soft icing.
• Take the cake off the bowl, slide the palette knife between the cake and the metal base, and gently transfer to a plate or cake stand. (If the icing is too soft to do this, pop the cake in the freezer for 30 mins and then try again.) Chill until ready to serve. Before serving, drizzle over 1 tsp of the reserved passion fruit seeds over the top of the cake. If making a day ahead, cover with a cake tin or a bowl large enough to cover the cake without touching it, so the cake doesn't get damaged in the fridge.

MEDITERRANEAN LAYERED TORTE

Steps:

• Place cream cheese and feta cheese in food processor; cover and process until blended. Divide into thirds (about 1 cup each).
• Line a 5 cup mold or a 8-1/2 x 4-1/2 x 2-1/2 loaf pan with plastic wrap. Spoon 1/3 of the cream cheese mixture in bottom of mold. Smooth top with spatula. Spread tomatoes over cheese layer. Spoon hummus over tomatoes; then sprinkle cucumbers over hummus.
• Spoon another cup of cheese mixture over cucumbers; smooth out. Spoon olives evenly over cheese layer. Spoon remaining cheese mixture over the olives; smooth out. Bang filled mold on counter to pack down the torte.
• Cover and refrigerate at least 24 hours, but no more than 48 hours.
• When ready to serve, turn mold upside down on serving platter. Remove plastic wrap and serve torte with your choice of breads, or crackers.

STREAMLINE HUNGARIAN TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 11x17 inch jelly roll pan. Mix together the walnuts, ground cinnamon, and 3/4 cup of sugar in a medium bowl and set aside.
• In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes. In a large bowl, stir together the yeast mixture, egg yolks, sour cream, and butter. Gradually stir in the flour until the dough becomes too stiff to use a spoon. Use your hand to knead the dough in the bowl until it becomes smooth, about 5 minutes. Divide the dough into three equal parts, form into balls, cover, and set aside to rest for about 15 minutes.
• Roll one of the balls of dough between 2 sheets of waxed paper to fit the pan. Place the dough in the bottom of the prepared baking pan and spread with 3/4 of the nut mixture. Roll out another ball of dough in the same way, place this over the nut layer in the pan and spread the apricot preserves evenly over the dough. Roll the third ball in the same way and place on top of the layer of preserves.
• Place the torte in the preheated oven and set the timer for 40 minutes. When the timer goes off, the top of the torte should be golden brown, if not then wait a few minutes. Place the egg whites into a clean glass or metal bowl. Whip the egg whites to soft peaks, then gradually add 2/3 cup sugar while beating the egg whites to stiff peaks. Spread the meringue evenly over the top of the torte and sprinkle with the remaining nut mixture.
• Bake the meringue-covered torte for an additional 15 minutes. Cool the torte in the pan set on a wire rack. Trim the edges for a cleaner presentation. Serve at room temperature.

MEDITERRANEAN LAYERED TORTE

Steps:

• Place cream cheese and feta cheese in food processor. Cover and process until blended. Divide into thirds (about 1 cup each).
• Line 5-cup mold or loaf pan, 8 1/2x4 1/2x2 1/2 inches, with plastic wrap. Spoon one-third of the cheese mixture in bottom of mold; smooth top with spatula. Spoon tomatoes evenly over cheese layer. Spoon hummus evenly over tomatoes. Sprinkle with cucumber.
• Spoon one-third of the cheese mixture over cucumber; smooth top with spatula. Spoon olives evenly over cheese layer. Spoon remaining cheese mixture over olives; smooth top with spatula. Strike filled mold on counter to pack down. Cover and refrigerate at least 24 hours but no longer than 48 hours.
• When ready to serve, turn mold upside down onto serving platter. Remove plastic wrap. Serve torte with pita wedges.