Almond Espresso Ice Box Cake Food

ALMOND ESPRESSO CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a small bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, in a food processor, combine almonds and 2 tablespoons sugar; cover and process until ground. Set aside., In a large bowl, cream butter and remaining sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the chocolate, espresso, cocoa, orange juice, espresso granules, vanilla and reserved almond mixture. , Beat reserved egg whites on high until stiff peaks form. Fold egg whites into the batter., Pour into a greased 9-in. springform pan. Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 42-48 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. , Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool completely. Garnish with confectioners' sugar, chocolate curls and coffee beans if desired.

MANGO ALMOND ICEBOX CAKE

Steps:

• For syrup, place water in a microwave-safe bowl; microwave on high 30 seconds. Stir in sugar and almond extract until sugar is dissolved; cool completely., Finely chop 1/4 cup mango chunks; place in a large bowl. Add cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and vanilla extract; beat until blended. In another bowl, beat cream until stiff peaks form; fold into mango mixture., To assemble, line bottom of a 9-in. springform pan with 11 ladyfingers; slowly drizzle with half of the syrup. Layer with half of each of the following: cream mixture, meringue cookies, remaining mango and almonds. Repeat layers, starting with remaining ladyfingers. Refrigerate, covered, 8 hours or overnight. To serve, loosen sides from pan with a knife; remove rim.

ESPRESSO AND MASCARPONE ICEBOX CAKE

Steps:

• Beat 2 cups cream with 6 tablespoons sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until it just holds soft peaks, 2 to 4 minutes.
• Reduce speed to low, then add mascarpone and mix until combined.
• Spread 1 1/4 cups mascarpone mixture evenly in bottom of a 9 1/2- to 10-inch springform pan and cover with 14 wafers, slightly overlapping if necessary.
• Spread with another 1 1/4 cups mascarpone mixture, followed by 14 more wafers arranged in the same manner.
• Spread remaining mascarpone mixture on top.
• Smooth top with a metal offset spatula, then cover pan with foil and freeze until firm, about 1 hour.
• Transfer from freezer to refrigerator and chill, covered, until a sharp knife inserted into center cuts through softened wafers easily, about 8 hours.
• Pulse remaining chocolate wafers in a food processor until finely ground.
• Beat remaining cup of cream with espresso powder and remaining 3 tablespoons sugar using electric mixer at medium speed until it just holds stiff peaks, about 3 minutes.
• Remove foil and side of pan and frost cake all over with espresso cream.
• Sprinkle edge of top lightly with wafer crumbs.
• Serve cold.
• Cake, without espresso cream, can be chilled up to 2 days.
• Cake can be frosted with espresso cream 4 hours ahead and chilled, loosely covered with foil.

ALMOND ESPRESSO BARS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar and espresso until blended. Beat in egg. Combine flour and cinnamon; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in chopped almonds. , Spread into a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 18-22 minutes or until lightly browned. , In a small bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar, water and extract until smooth; spread over warm bars. Sprinkle with slivered almonds. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars.