Viennese Chocolate Nut Cake Recipes

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.

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.

VIENNESE CHOCOLATE CREAM CAKE

Steps:

• Chocolate Cream Filling:.
• Slowly pour 1/2 cup of cream through a fine strainer into chocolate, whisking till all the cream is absorbed: continue slowly adding the rest of the cream till all absorbed.
• Refrigerate uncovered until filling is consistency of sour cream about 4 hours. If to thick it does not whip up nicely.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Prepare a 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 1 inch jelly roll pan lining with parchment paper and butter paper.
• Meanwhile make Cake:.
• Place eggs and sugar in top of a double boiler over simmering water and cook whisking until very warm to the touch 110 degrees.
• Transfer egg mixture to a mixing bowl and beat at high speed until triple the volume and cooled to the touch about 5-7 minutes. Add in vanilla.
• Add the sifted cake flour folding in gentle. Fold in the melted butter.
• Spread batter into prepared pan and bake for 12 minutes till center springs back when lightly touched.
• Cool 5 minutes, invert onto a clean damp towel. Remove pan and paper, cool to room temperature.
• Line a 8 inch round cake pan with wax paper.
• Cut a 8 inch circle from the a corner of the cooled cake and place in to pan.
• Cut 2 strips about 13x 1 1/2 long and place along sides of pan, They should fit in even with the top of the pan. So trim if needed.
• Filling:.
• In a chilled bowl beat chocolate cream filling add the liqueur at medium speed until soft and fluffy peaks form, When mixture gets pale that is when its done. So be sure not to over beat! This is quick.
• Spread filling into the pan spread evenly. Cut the remaining cake to fit over the filling will have to piece and trim the cake together to fit. Cover cake air tight and freeze until very firm about 2 hours. You can make a couple day ahead to this point.
• Invert frozen cake onto serving cake dish.
• Refrigerate.
• Beat whipping cream until soft peaks form add sugar and beat till stiff peaks form.
• Spread evenly over top and sides of cake then chill.
• Make large chocolate curls with a vegetable peeler. Arrange them over the top and sides of the cake.
• Return to refrigerator to thaw for about one-two hours.
• Serve after all the oohs and aahs then hear them again as they enjoy it!

VIENNESE CHOCOLATE-WALNUT BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375. Cover a 9" square cake pan with aluminum foil.
• Make crust: In small bowl of electric mixer, cream butter. Beat in 1/4 cup dark brown sugar. On low speed, gradually add flour and beat only until the mixture holds together.
• Place dough by large spoonfuls across the bottom of the pan. With fingertips, press dough to make a smooth layer. Bake at 375 for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.
• As crust cooks, soften apricot prserves in a bowl and set aside.
• Make filling: Grind walnuts to a fine powder and set aside.
• In small bowl of electric mixer, beat eggs at high speed for 2-3 minutes, or until they are slightly thickened. Add salt and vanilla and then, on low speed, add sugar and cocoa. Increase the speed to high again and beat for 2-3 minutes more. On low speed beat in ground walnuts, beating only until nuts are incorporated.
• Spread preserves over the hot crust, leaving a 1/2" border at the edge.
• Pour filling over the preserves and tilt pan to make sure it's level.
• Bake at 375 for 25 minutes. Cool completely, then ice.
• In top of double boiler, warm chocolate until it is melted, stirring continuously. Add corn syrup, coffee, and boiling water, and stir until smooth.
• Spread icing over cake; sprinkle with chopped walnuts and press down gently. Let stand at room temperature until icing is firm.