Bittersweet Cheesecake Torte Food

CHEESECAKE LAYERED RED VELVET CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. Line bottom of a 9-in. springform pan with parchment; grease paper., In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in sour cream, flour and vanilla. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until blended. Pour into prepared pan. Place on a baking sheet., Bake until center is set, 40-50 minutes. Cool on a wire rack 10 minutes. Loosen sides from pan with a knife. Cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate until ready to assemble, covering when completely cooled. , For cake, increase oven setting to 350°. Line bottoms of two greased 9-in. round baking pans with parchment; grease paper., In a large bowl, beat sugar, oil, buttermilk, eggs, food coloring, vinegar and vanilla until well blended. In another bowl, whisk flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into sugar mixture., Transfer to prepared pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 30-35 minutes. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks; remove parchment. Cool completely. , For frosting, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla until smooth. Gradually beat in enough confectioners' sugar to reach desired consistency. Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Spread with 1 cup frosting. Carefully place cheesecake over frosting., Spread cheesecake with another 1 cup frosting. Top with remaining cake layer. Frost top and sides of cake with remaining frosting. Refrigerate overnight before serving.

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Mix wafer crumbs, hazelnuts and melted butter; press onto bottom of an ungreased 9-in. springform pan., Beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in cooled chocolate, then sour cream, extracts and salt. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until blended. Pour over crust. Place pan on a baking sheet., Bake until center is almost set, 60-65 minutes. Cool on a wire rack 10 minutes. Loosen sides from pan with a knife; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate 3 hours. , For glaze, in a microwave, melt chocolate with cream; stir until smooth. Stir in vanilla. Spread over chilled cheesecake. Refrigerate, covered, overnight. Remove rim from pan. If desired, served with whipped cream and additional hazelnuts.

TRIPLE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE TORTE

Steps:

• Pulse cookies in a food processor until fine crumbs form. Add melted butter; pulse until combined. Press onto bottom of a greased 9-in. springform pan. Refrigerate while preparing filling., In a small saucepan, sprinkle 2 teaspoons gelatin over 1 tablespoon cold water; let stand 1 minute. Heat and stir over low heat until gelatin is completely dissolved; remove from heat., Place bittersweet chocolate and 1/2 cup cream in a metal bowl over a small saucepan of hot water; heat and stir until mixture is smooth. Stir in gelatin mixture. Transfer to a medium bowl; cool completely. Repeat twice with milk and white chocolates., In a large bowl, beat vanilla and remaining 3 cups cream until stiff peaks form. Fold 2 cups whipped cream (a third of the total whipped cream) into cooled bittersweet chocolate; spread over crust. Refrigerate until set, 25-30 minutes. Repeat twice with milk and white chocolates, keeping remaining whipped cream chilled until needed., Refrigerate torte, covered, until set, about 4 hours. To serve, loosen sides from pan with a knife. Carefully remove rim from pan.

BAKER'S ONE BOWL BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE-MINT SWIRL CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Microwave bittersweet chocolate in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1-1/2 to 2 min. or until chocolate is almost melted, stirring after 1 min. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Add peppermint extract, and half each of the cream cheese, sugar, eggs and crushed candies; whisk until blended. Pour into crust.
• Whisk remaining cream cheese, sugar and egg in same bowl until blended. Spoon over chocolate batter; swirl gently with knife.
• Bake 40 min. or until center is almost set. Cool. Refrigerate 3 hours. Top with remaining crushed candies before serving.

BITTERSWEET CHEESECAKE TORTE

Steps:

• 1. For ganache: In a small saucepan, heat whipping cream over medium-high heat just until boiling. Remove from heat. Add the 8 ounces milk chocolate (do not stir). Let stand for 5 minutes. Stir until smooth. Transfer to a large bowl. Cover and chill.
• 2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat two 9x1-1/2-inch round cake pans with nonstick spray for baking; set aside. Prepare brownie batter according to package directions. Divide batter between prepared pans. Bake about 25 minutes or until edges are set. Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove uncut brownies from pans. Transfer to a wire rack. Cool completely.
• 3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla; beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until combined. Beat in eggs just until combined. Transfer half of the mixture (about 1-1/2 cups) to a medium bowl. To one bowl, add the 3 ounces melted milk chocolate; stir until smooth. To the other bowl, add the melted white chocolate; stir until smooth.
• 4. Wrap heavy-duty foil around the bottom of an 8-inch springform pan, making sure foil comes at least 1 inch up the side. Using a sharp knife, trim edges from brownie rounds, making two 8-inch rounds.* Place one of the brownie rounds in the pan. Pour milk chocolate-cream cheese mixture on top. Place the remaining brownie round on the milk chocolate-cream cheese mixture and pour white chocolate-cream cheese mixture on top.
• 5. Place the foil-wrapped springform pan in a large roasting pan; pour enough hot water around the springform pan to come halfway up the side. Bake for 60 to 65 minutes or until cheesecake appears set when gently shaken. Carefully remove springform pan from water.
• 6. Cool in springform pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Using a small sharp knife, loosen the edge from the side of the pan; cool for 30 minutes more. Remove the side of the pan; cool completely on wire rack. Cover and chill overnight.
• 7. Remove ganache from refrigerator. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until light, fluffy, and of spreading consistency. Spoon whipped ganache into a pastry bag fitted with a medium star or round tip. Pipe stars or mounds to cover the entire top of the chilled cheesecake. Makes 12-16 servings.
• *Test Kitchen Tip: Before wrapping the springform pan in foil, place the bottom of the pan on each brownie round and use the tip of a sharp knife to trace around the pan bottom. Trim edges. This will assure the brownie rounds fit tightly in the pan.

SPICED CREAMY CARAMEL PEANUT CHEESECAKE TORTE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F Spray 10- or 9-inch springform pan with non-stick cooking spray.
• Press cookie dough on bottom and 1/4 inch up side of pan.
• Bake 16 to 23 minutes or until golden brown.
• Cool completely, about 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat cream cheese, 2/3 cup of the caramel topping, the peanut butter and powdered sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth.
• Beat in vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg.
• Fold in whipped topping until well mixed.
• Fold in 1 cup of the peanuts.
• Cover; refrigerate until crust is completely cooled.
• Spoon cream cheese mixture over cookie crust.
• Freeze at least 30 minutes until set.
• Just before serving, top cheesecake with remaining 1/4 cup peanuts and drizzle with remaining 1/3 cup caramel topping.
• For easier cutting, wipe knife after each cut.
• Cover and refrigerate any remaining cheesecake.

ORIGINAL PLUM TORTE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Cream the sugar and butter in a bowl. Add the flour, baking powder, salt and eggs and beat well.
• Spoon the batter into a springform pan of 8, 9 or 10 inches. Place the plum halves skin side up on top of the batter. Sprinkle lightly with sugar and lemon juice, depending on the sweetness of the fruit. Sprinkle with about 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, depending on how much you like cinnamon.
• Bake 1 hour, approximately. Remove and cool; refrigerate or freeze if desired. Or cool to lukewarm and serve plain or with whipped cream. (To serve a torte that was frozen, defrost and reheat it briefly at 300 degrees.)

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE WITH WHITE TRUFFLE SAUCE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 275°F. Lightly grease bottom and side of 9-inch springform pan. In medium bowl, beat cream cheese and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Gradually add sugar, beating until fluffy. Beat in flour. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Beat in chocolate. Pour into pan.
• Bake about 1 hour 15 minutes or until center is set. (Do not insert a knife because the hole could cause cheesecake to crack.) Cool at room temperature 15 minutes.
• Run knife around side of pan to loosen cheesecake. Cover and refrigerate about 3 hours or until chilled.
• In 2-quart saucepan, melt white chocolate and butter over low heat, stirring constantly (mixture will be thick and grainy); remove from heat. Stir in whipping cream until smooth. Cover and refrigerate about 2 hours or until chilled.
• Run knife around side of pan to loosen cheesecake; remove side of pan. Let cheesecake stand at room temperature 15 minutes before cutting. Serve cheesecake with sauce and berries. Store in refrigerator.

STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE TORTE

Steps:

• Line a 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan with ungreased parchment paper. Prepare cake mix according to package directions. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Bake at 350° for 24-26 minutes or until top is lightly browned. Sprinkle sugar over a waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Immediately invert cake onto baking sheet. Gently peel off parchment paper; cool completely.
• Dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Stir in jam until melted. With a fork, poke cake at 1/2-in. intervals. Brush with gelatin mixture; chill for 10 minutes.
• In a bowl, beat cream cheese, milk and lemon juice. Add whipped topping and pudding mix; whisk well. Reserve 1 cup. Place remaining pudding mixture in a pastry bag with a large star tip.
• Trim edges of cake. Cut widthwise into three equal rectangles; place one on serving plate. Spread 1/2 cup reserved pudding mixture in center. Pipe pudding mixture around top edge of cake. Repeat with second cake layer. Top with remaining cake layer. Pipe pudding mixture along top edges. Fill center with fruit. Sprinkle with lemon peel. Store in refrigerator.

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Line bottom of 9-inch-diameter cake pan with 2-inch-high sides with waxed paper. Butter sides of pan and paper. Dust pan with flour. Melt chocolate and butter in top of double boiler over simmering water, stirring until smooth. Cool slightly.
• Whisk yolks and sugar in large bowl until pale yellow. Mix in flour, then chocolate mixture. Using electric mixer, beat whites in another bowl until stiff but not dry. Fold into chocolate mixture. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake until toothpick inserted into center comes out with only a few moist crumbs attached, about 25 minutes. Cool completely in pan on rack. Run small sharp knife around sides of pan to loosen cake. Turn cake out onto platter and cool. (Can be prepared 8 hours ahead. Cover with cake dome and let stand at room temperature.) Sift powered sugar over cake and serve.

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Grease a 9-inch round cake pan and line the bottom with a circle of parchment paper. Grease the top of the paper, too.
• In a small, microwave-safe bowl, melt together chocolate and butter. Heat in 30-60 second increments and stir well after each to avoid overcooking the mixture. Cool for 5-8 minutes.
• Pour butter mixture into a large mixing bowl and add chocolate. Whisk in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract. Stir in flour, cinnamon, cayenne and salt, followed by the pecans and chocolate chips.
• Pour into prepared pan.
• Bake for 38-40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out almost clean, with a few crumbs attached. Cool for 5 minutes in the pan, then run a knife around the edge and invert onto a serving platter. Remove parchment paper and cool completely.
• Before serving, whisk together 2 tbsp cocoa powder with 1 tsp cinnamon. Sift over the top of the torte.