Sacher Bars Recipes

SACHER TORTE SQUARES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 13x9-in. baking pan., In a large bowl, combine cake mix, apricot filling, eggs and vanilla; beat on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium 2 minutes. Fold in chocolate chips. Transfer to prepared pan. Bake 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean., Remove pan from oven and place on a wire rack. In a small bowl, mix preserves and vanilla; spread over warm cake., In a small saucepan, combine butter, sugar and cream; bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat; stir in chocolate chips until melted. Spread over cake; sprinkle with almonds. Refrigerate until set, about 1 hour.

SACHER TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly butter a 9-inch springform pan; place a circle of parchment paper inside, and butter that as well.
• Melt 4 ounces of chocolate in a metal bowl placed over gently simmering water. Stir frequently until melted, then remove from the heat and let cool slightly.
• Beat the butter together with confectioners' sugar until creamy. Mix in the melted chocolate, then beat in the egg yolks, one at a time. In a clean bowl, beat egg whites with white sugar until stiff and glossy. Fold into chocolate mixture, then fold in cake flour, until incorporated. Pour into prepared springform pan, and smooth the top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the edges begin to pull away from the sides of the pan, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out dry, about 45 minutes. Cool pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes, then run a small knife around the edge and remove the sides of the pan. Allow cake to cool completely on the base of the pan. When cool, remove from pan, and remove parchment paper; slice cake in half horizontally.
• Bring 1/4 cup water and sugar to a boil in a small saucepan. When the sugar has dissolved and the syrup is clear, remove from heat and stir in 2 tablespoons rum. Brush 1/3 of the syrup onto the cut side of the cake bottom.
• Puree the apricot preserves with 1 tablespoon of water until smooth. Bring to a simmer over medium heat in a small saucepan, and cook until thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in remaining rum, then spread 1/3 of the jam mixture onto the cut side of the cake bottom. Place the top of the cake onto the bottom. Brush the outside of the cake with the remaining syrup, then spread remaining apricot preserves over the top and sides; refrigerate until the icing is ready.
• To make the icing, melt 9 ounces of chocolate over a double boiler or in the microwave until smooth. Bring the cream to a simmer in a small saucepan, then stir into melted chocolate. Cool slightly, stirring often, until the chocolate reaches a spreadable consistency.
• Set the cake on a cooling rack set over a cookie sheet or waxed paper to catch any drips. Pour the icing on top of the cake, and spread around the edges; allow excess icing to drip through the rack. Cool cake to room temperature, then carefully remove from the cooling rack using a spatula. Transfer to a dessert plate and store in the refrigerator. Allow cake to come to room temperature before serving.

SACHER TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to moderately 160°C (325F.).
• Grease a deep 23 cm round cake pan. Line the base with a good baking paper.
• Combine the chocolate and water in a small saucepan. stir over a low heat until the chocolate is melted. Cool. (you can use the microwave for this step. Be very careful not to overcook the chocolate).
• Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar until well combined. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, beating well between addition.
• Stir in sifted flour, almond meal and cocoa.
• Stir in the chocolate mixture.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and bake for about 70 minutes.
• When cooked allow the cake to stand in the tin for 5 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool.
• When the cake has cooled, split the cake in half. Sandwich together with the apricot jam.
• Return the cake to the wire rack and cover the entire cake wiith a thin layer of ganache. Work the ganache over the cake quickly before it has time to set.
• To make the ganache: heat the chocolate and cream in a double saucepan or in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Stir until the chocolate has melted. Strain the ganache before spreading over the cake.
• Decorate: the torte is traditionally decorated by writing, in chocolate, the word "Sacher" a top of the cake.