Pear Chocolate And Hazelnut Crostata Recipes

PEAR, CHOCOLATE, AND HAZELNUT CROSTATA

Steps:

• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375°F. Place large sheet of parchment paper on work surface. Place crust dough atop parchment; roll out dough to 14-inch round. Transfer parchment with dough to large unrimmed baking sheet. Whisk egg and cream in small bowl. Brush center 10 inches of dough with some of egg glaze, leaving 2-inch plain border. Arrange pear slices in concentric circles atop glaze on dough. Sprinkle hazelnuts and both chocolates, then 4 tablespoons raw sugar over pears. Fold dough border over filling to form 11-inch round, pleating loosely and pinching to seal any cracks in dough. Brush crust with egg glaze; sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons raw sugar, then with 1/4 teaspoon sea salt, if desired.
• Bake crostata until crust is deep golden and pears are tender, about 40 minutes. Transfer baking sheet to rack. Run long thin knife under crust to free from parchment. Cool to lukewarm on parchment on sheet. Using large tart pan bottom as aid, transfer crostata to platter. Serve lukewarm or at room temperature.

CHOCOLATE PEAR HAZELNUT TART

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix flour, hazelnuts, brown sugar and salt; cut in butter until crumbly. Gradually add ice water, tossing with a fork until dough holds together when pressed. Shape into a disk. Wrap and refrigerate 30 minutes or overnight., Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 400°. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; transfer to a 9-in. fluted tart pan with removable bottom. Trim crust even with edge. Prick bottom of crust with a fork. Refrigerate while preparing filling., In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until blended. Beat in egg yolks and amaretto. Beat in hazelnuts and cocoa., With clean beaters, beat egg whites on medium speed until stiff peaks form. Fold a third of the egg whites into hazelnut mixture, then fold in remaining whites. Spread onto bottom of crust. Arrange pears over top., Bake on a lower oven rack 30-35 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Brush pears with warm honey. Cool on a wire rack. If desired, dust with confectioners' sugar before serving.

PEAR-HAZELNUT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a 10-inch springform cake pan.
• Peel, core and slice the pears. Toss them with the juice of one-half lemon and set aside.
• Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together. Stir in the nuts. Set aside.
• Cream 12 tablespoons of the butter with one cup of the sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Stir in the flour and nut mixture, then the remaining lemon juice and the vanilla. Spread the batter in the pan.
• Arrange the pear slices, overlapping, on the surface of the batter in a pattern. Sprinkle them with all but one tablespoon of the remaining sugar and dot with the remaining butter. Place the cake in the oven and bake until it is golden brown, the top springs back when lightly touched and a cake tester comes out clean, about 70 minutes.
• Allow to cool at least 30 minutes before removing the sides of the pan. Sprinkle with the remaining tablespoon of sugar. Serve at once or when completely cooled.

PEAR, HAZELNUT & CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to fan 140C/ conventional 160C/gas 3. Butter and line the base of a 20cm round cake tin. Grind the hazelnuts in a food processor until fairly fine. Add the flour and mix briefly. Add the butter and pulse until it forms crumbs. Add the sugar and eggs and mix briefly. Peel, core and chop two of the pears. Stir the pears and chocolate lightly into the cake mixture.
• Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and smooth the top. Peel, core and slice the remaining pears and scatter over the top of the cake. Press down lightly and bake for 50-60 minutes, until firm to the touch. Cool in the tin for 10 minutes, then turn out and cool on wire rack. Warm the jam and brush over the top. Serve warm or cold.

HAZELNUT FUDGE CROSTATA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Roll crust to 12 inches. Fit in bottom and up side of 10-inch tart pan with removable bottom. Trim edge. Bake 5 to 8 minutes or until beginning to brown. With back of wooden spoon, gently press out any bubbles.
• Meanwhile, in medium bowl with electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter and Stevia In The Raw until creamy. Add hazelnuts, eggs and melted semisweet and chocolate; mix well. Spread in partially baked crust. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until filling is set. Cool 1 hour. Mix melted white chocolate baking bar with oil. With fork, drizzle over surface of tart. Let stand until set, about 1 hour. Or place in refrigerator 15 minutes to set quickly. Cut in wedges to serve. Garnish each wedge with a dollop of whipped cream, a raspberry and green leaves.