Ultra Chocolate Nut Torte Recipes

ULTIMATE CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 F. Butter 2 (8-inch) circular pans and line with parchment paper.
• In a medium bowl combine the 1 cup melted butter and cocoa and stir until the cocoa is dissolved.
• Add the sugar, 1/4 cup at a time, and mix well. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and mix until incorporated. Stir in the vanilla, flour and salt and combine until the flour is no longer visible. Fold in the chopped peanut butter cups and divide the mixture between the pans. Bake for approximately 25 minutes, then remove from the oven and set aside to cool.
• Run a knife around the edge of each pan and turn out onto a work surface.
• Put 1 cake layer on a cake plate or a round platter. Spread the 1/4 cup of peanut butter over the first layer and top with the second layer. In a bowl, combine the remaining 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, the confectioners' sugar and water until a glaze forms. Add more water, if needed, to achieve desired glaze consistency. Pour the glaze on top of the torte, spreading it out with a small knife allowing it to drip over the sides. Melt the chocolate chips in a double boiler and drizzle over the glaze. Cut into slices and serve.

CHOCOLATE-WALNUT TORTE

Steps:

• Heat over to 350°F. Place cooking parchment paper or waxed paper in bottoms of two 9-inch round cake pans. In medium bowl, mix walnuts, crushed cookies, brown sugar and butter until crumbly. Spread about 3/4 cup mixture in each pan; reserve remaining mixture.
• In large bowl, beat all cake ingredients with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on high speed 3 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour about 1 1/4 cups batter over topping in each pan; refrigerate remaining batter.
• Bake about 20 minutes or until tops spring back when touched lightly. Immediately remove from pans to cooling rack; peel off paper. Repeat with remaining topping mixture and batter. Cool completely.
• In chilled large bowl, beat whipping cream, granulated sugar and vanilla with electric mixer on high speed until stiff. Place 1 cake layer, walnut side up, on serving plate; spread with about 3/4 cup of the filling. Repeat with remaining layers and filling.
• Or place whipped cream for top layer in decorating bag fitted with star tip number 6. Pipe rosettes in center of cake; garnish with chocolate leaves. To make chocolate leaves, wash and dry leaves. In 1-quart saucepan, melt chocolate chips and shortening over low heat, stirring constantly. Using small brush, brush chocolate about 1/8 inch thick over backs of leaves. Refrigerate at least 1 hour until firm. Peel off leaves, handling as little as possible. Cover and refrigerate torte about 4 hours or until chilled. Store in refrigerator.

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.

TWO-NUTS CHOCOLATE TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5. Line the bottom of an 8 to 10-inch tin with a piece of greaseproof paper. Butter the bottom and sides then dust with flour. Place the nuts into a food processor and whizz up until finely ground. Then add the chocolate and cocoa and whiz for 30 seconds to break up the chocolate. Remove to a bowl and set aside. Add the butter and sugar to the food processor and beat until pale and fluffy. At this point add the egg yolks 1 at a time them mix together with the chocolate and nuts.
• In another bowl beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until they form stiff peaks. Gently fold the egg whites into the chocolate, butter and nut mix. Pour all the mixture into the tin. Bake in a preheated oven about 1 hour. To test if the torte is cooked, insert a cocktail stick or the tip of a knife for 5 seconds; when removed it should be reasonably clean. Serve with whipped cream, ice-cream or creme fraiche.

CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO-NUT TORTE

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Line the bottom of a greased 9-in springform pan with waxed paper; grease the paper and dust with cocoa. Set aside., Place hazelnuts and brown sugar in a food processor; cover and process until ground. In a second large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add 1 egg yolk at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the melted chocolate, espresso powder, extract and salt. Gradually add hazelnut mixture., In the first large bowl, with clean beaters beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold into batter. Spread into prepared pan. Place pan on a baking sheet., Bake at 375° for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Cool on a wire rack to room temperature. Remove sides of pan and invert onto a serving plate., Place chocolate in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chocolate; whisk until smooth. Cool, stirring occasionally, to room temperature or until ganache reaches a spreading consistency, about 30 minutes., Spread ganache over top and sides of cake; press almonds onto sides. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or until set.

CHOCOLATE NUT TORTE

Steps:

• Beat eggs until very light.
• Add the sugar a little at a time.
• Melt chocolate and butter together.
• Add to the sugar and egg mixture.
• Stir in nuts, flour and vanilla.
• Pour into a greased square tin and bake slowly for half an hour.

CHOCOLATE WALNUT TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Beat the egg yolks with half cup of the sugar until well blended, about 2 minutes at high speed in an electric mixer. Beat in the chocolate and fold in half the nuts. Set aside.
• Beat the egg whites with the salt until very softly peaked, then gradually beat in the remaining sugar and continue beating until the egg whites hold firm peaks but are not dry.
• Stir a little of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture, then gently fold in about half the remaining egg whites. Finally fold in the remaining nuts and the rest of the egg whites.
• Spoon the mixture into an ungreased 10-inch tube pan. Place in the oven and bake 1 hour and 15 minutes.
• Remove the cake from the oven and turn upside down on a rack or suspend, upside down, over the neck of a bottle, until completely cooled. Use a knife with a thin, stiff blade to loosen the cake from the pan by running the knife carefully and closely along the sides of the pan. Invert the cake onto a serving plate.

JAMIE OLIVER'S TWO-NUTS CHOCOLATE TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 190c/375f/Gas 5.
• Line the bottom of a 20 or 25cm/8 or 10" tin with a piece of greaseproof paper before buttering the bottom and sides, then dusting with flour.
• Place the nuts into a food processor and whizz up until finely ground.
• Add the chocolate and cocoa, and whizz for 30 seconds to break up the chocolate.
• Put to one side in a separate bowl.
• Add the butter and sugar to the food processor and beat until pale and fluffy.
• At this point, add the egg yolks one at a time, then mix together with the chocolate and nuts.
• In another bowl beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt, until they form stiff peaks.
• Gently fold the egg whites into the chocolate, butter and nut mix.
• Pour all the mixture into the tin.
• Bake in the preheated oven for around an hour.
• To test if the torte is cooked, insert a cocktail stick or the tip of a knife for five seconds.
• When removed, it should be reasonably clean.
• Serve with whipped cream, ice-cream or creme fraiche.

CARAMEL NUT TORTE

Steps:

• Line two 6-in. round baking pans with parchment; coat with cooking spray. In a small bowl, lightly beat egg yolks. Set aside 1 tablespoon. Add cider, vanilla, baking powder, cinnamon and 1/2 cup sugar to remaining yolks. , In another bowl, beat egg whites on medium until soft peaks form. Beat in remaining sugar, about 1 tablespoon at a time, on high until stiff peaks form and sugar is dissolved. Fold a fourth of the whites into batter; then fold in remaining whites. Fold in crumbs and almonds., Gently spoon into prepared pans. Bake at 325° for 20-25 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Cool for 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely., In a saucepan, combine the brown sugar, cornstarch, butter and 2 tablespoons cider. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir a small amount into reserved yolk; return all to pan. Bring to a gentle boil, stirring constantly. Cool., In a small bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Beat in 2 tablespoons caramel sauce until smooth. Spread over 1 cake; top with remaining cake. Add remaining cider to remaining caramel sauce to achieve drizzling consistency., Beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add sugar and vanilla; beat until soft peaks form. Frost top and sides of cake. Drizzle with caramel sauce.

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.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE FOR THREE-NUT TORTE

Steps:

• Place chocolate in a small heatproof bowl. Bring cream just to a boil in a small saucepan, and pour over chocolate. Whisk gently until chocolate has melted and mixture is smooth. Whisk in corn syrup. Let cool and thicken slightly, about 10 minutes, before using.