All American Peppermint Stick Torte With Fudge Topping Food

FROZEN PEPPERMINT DELIGHT

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine cookie crumbs and butter. Press into an ungreased 13x9-in. dish. Spread ice cream over crust; top with whipped topping. Cover and freeze until solid. May be frozen for up to 2 months. , Just before serving, drizzle with hot fudge topping and sprinkle with peppermint candy.

PEPPERMINT STICK ICE CREAM WITH HOT FUDGE SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine milk, cream, and 1/2 cup sugar for ice cream in a medium pot over medium heat; bring to a simmer.
• Meanwhile, stir together egg yolks, remaining 1/4 cup sugar, and salt in a small bowl.
• Pour some of the hot milk-cream mixture into the egg yolk mixture, whisking quickly to avoid scrambling the eggs. Pour the mixture back into the saucepan. Whisk and cook until custard coats the back of a spoon and does not flow when you run a finger through it, about 3 minutes.
• Transfer custard to a clean bowl and refrigerate until cold, at least 2 hours but preferably overnight.
• Remove custard from the refrigerator and stir in peppermint extract and food coloring. Pour mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer's instructions, about 20 minutes; add crushed candy canes at the end of the churning time, or right before. Transfer to an airtight container and freeze until firm, about 4 hours.
• Combine cream, corn syrup, and sugar for hot fudge sauce in a medium saucepan. Sift in cocoa powder, stir, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add chocolate, reduce heat to medium. Simmer, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until completely melted. Remove from the heat and stir in butter, vanilla, and salt.
• Place a scoop of peppermint ice cream into a bowl, dribble on some hot fudge sauce, and sprinkle with additional crushed candy canes.

ALL-AMERICAN PEPPERMINT STICK TORTE WITH FUDGE TOPPING

Steps:

• For crust:
• Finely grind cookies and sugar in processor. Add butter and blend until crumbs begin to stick together. Press crumbs firmly onto bottom and up sides of 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides. Place in freezer.
• For filling:
• Grind candies in processor, leaving some small pieces. Whisk yolks, sugar and water in medium metal bowl to blend. Set bowl over saucepan of rapidly simmering water (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water). Whisk constantly until candy thermometer inserted into mixture registers 170°F, about 6 minutes. Remove bowl from over water. Add half of ground candies and whisk until melted. Let mixture stand until cool, whisking occasionally, about 5 minutes. Mix in remaining candy and peppermint extract.
• Using electric mixer, beat cream in large bowl to stiff peaks. Fold cream into yolk mixture. Spoon mixture into crust; smooth top. Cover and freeze until firm, at least 6 hours or overnight.
• For sauce:
• Bring 1 cup cream and corn syrup to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chocolate and whisk until smooth. Cool until barely lukewarm and slightly thickened, whisking occasionally, about 30 minutes.
• Spoon 1 cup sauce over frozen filling, spreading to edges. Freeze until firm, at least 2 hours. (Can be prepared 1 week ahead. Cover and keep torte frozen. Cover remaining sauce and refrigerate.)
• Rewarm sauce over low heat, stirring frequently. Run sharp knife around pan sides to loosen torte. Release pan sides. Transfer torte to platter.
• Beat remaining 1 cup cream in large bowl until stiff peaks form. Spoon into pastry bag fitted with star tip. Pipe rosettes of cream around top edge of torte. Place candies between rosettes. Serve with warm sauce.

PEPPERMINT FUDGE

Steps:

• Line the bottom and sides of an 8x4-in. loaf pan with foil. Grease foil with 1-1/2 teaspoons butter; set aside. , In a small bowl, beat cream cheese until creamy. Gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar, cocoa, milk and vanilla until smooth. Stir in nuts. Spread into prepared pan. Chill until firm, about 1 hour. , For peppermint layer, beat cream cheese in a small bowl until creamy. Gradually beat in the confectioners' sugar, milk and extract until smooth. Stir in peppermint candy. Spread evenly over chocolate layer. Chill until firm, about 1 hour. , Using foil, lift fudge from pan. Gently peel off foil. Cut into squares.