Black Velvet Chocolate Torte Food

VELVET CHOCOLATE TORTE

Steps:

• Line a 20cm/8in loose-bottomed or spring-form tin with cling film and oil the film.
• Break the chocolate into pieces and drop into a food processor. Blend for one minute or until just a few pieces remain in the otherwise powdery chocolate. Alternatively finely grate the chocolate.
• Measure the sugar into a small pan with 90ml/3fl oz of water and heat gently over a low heat until the sugar has dissolved, stirring occasionally. Turn up the heat and boil briskly for 3-4 minutes, or until it becomes a thin syrup. Set the processor running and pour in the hot syrup through the funnel onto the chocolate so that it melts and becomes liquid. Add just a little more boiling water if some unmelted chocolate remains. Add the egg yolks and process for a few seconds before adding the brandy. If you are not using a processor, beat the ingredients together.
• In a separate bowl, beat the cream to a soft floppy consistency, then fold in the chocolate mixture. Spread in the prepared tin, levelling the top with the back of a spoon, then cover with cling film and transfer to the freezer for a minimum of four hours to freeze.
• To serve, remove from the freezer, release from tin and transfer to a plate. Allow to soften a little and serve about 20 minutes after coming out of the freezer. Decorate with the strawberries and icing sugar and serve with a little cream.

BLACK VELVET CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Grease 3 (8- or 9-inch) round cake pans with shortening; lightly flour.
• In large bowl, mix flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt. In another large bowl, beat oil, buttermilk, eggs, food color, vinegar and vanilla with electric mixer on low speed just until blended. Gradually add flour mixture; beat 2 minutes on medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour into pans.
• Bake 23 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Brush off all loose crumbs from cake layers. Place 1 cake layer, rounded side down, on serving plate; spread with 1 cup frosting. Top with second cake layer, rounded side up. Spread with 1 cup frosting. Top with third cake layer. Spread very thin layer of frosting on side to seal in crumbs. Spread remaining frosting on side and top of cake. Cut licorice into pieces. Pile licorice on top of cake. Decorate bottom edge of cake with jelly beans.

BLACK VELVET CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray one 10-inch bundt pan or two 9-inch round pans with a nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
• Make a well in the center and pour in the eggs, coffee, milk and oil. Mix until smooth; batter will be thin.
• Pour into prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven 35 to 40 minutes for bundt pan, 25 minutes for 9-inch round pans, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool completely.
• In a large bowl, mix together melted butter and cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency.
• Add a small amount of additional milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla.
• Frost cake and garnish as desired.

BLACK VELVET CHOCOLATE CAKE RECIPE

Steps:

• NOTE: If you use a cocoa powder that is different than listed, your cake will not be as dark. You can supplement the color with 1 tsp of super black food coloring
• Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and preheat to 350ºF/176ºC.
• Grease three 8" cake pans with cake goop.
• Whisk together melted chocolate, cocoa powder, hot coffee, vanilla, and oil until combined (it will look lumpy). Then mix in the warm buttermilk and whisk until combined. Then set aside.
• Add butter to stand mixer and beat at medium-high speed until smooth and shiny, about 30 seconds. Gradually sprinkle in the sugar, beat until mixture is fluffy and almost white, about 3-5 minutes. Add the eggs 1 at a time, mixing in fully before adding the next egg.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
• With the mixer at the lowest speed, add about a third of the dry ingredients to the batter, followed immediately by about a third of the chocolate mixture, mix until ingredients are almost incorporated into the batter. Repeat the process 2 more times. When the batter appears blended, stop the mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Return the mixer to low speed, beat until the batter looks like satin, about 15 seconds longer.
• Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans. Smooth the tops with a rubber spatula. Bake cakes until they feel firm in the center and a toothpick comes out clean or with just a few crumbs on it, about 30-35 minutes.Transfer pans to a wire rack and let cool for 10 minutes. Invert cakes onto the rack and pop cakes out of pans. Cool completely before frosting.
• Cream your butter until smooth with the whisk attachment (by hand or in the stand mixer is fine)
• Add the vegetable shortening to the butter and cream until smooth
• While mixing on low, start adding in your powdered sugar one cup at a time until it's all combined with the butter mixture
• Add in your salt, vanilla and milk and whip on medium for 10-15 minutes until very light and fluffy
• If your frosting is too thick, you can add in 1-2 more Tablespoons of water or milk to thin it down to your desired consistency.
• You can now add in your desired food coloring if you prefer your frosting to be colored. I used electric pink, electric green and electric pink food coloring from americolor.com. Remember, the frosting color will deepen after 24 hours.

CHOCOLATE BAVARIAN TORTE

Steps:

• Prepare and bake cake according to package directions, using two 9-in. round baking pans. Cool in pans for 10 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely. , In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and salt until smooth. Fold in cream. , Cut each cake horizontally into 2 layers. Place bottom layer on a serving plate; top with a fourth of the cream mixture. Sprinkle with a fourth of the chocolate. Repeat layers 3 times. Cover and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.

DECADENT CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE TORTE

Steps:

• Get your equipment ready (see tips below). Break the chocolate in small pieces into a large heatproof bowl. Spoon in the syrup and pour in about a quarter of the cream. Stand the bowl over (not in) a pan of hot water over the lowest possible heat and leave until the chocolate has melted, about 15-20 minutes. Remove the bowl from the pan and stir to combine. Leave until barely warm - dip your little finger in to check.
• Get your cake tin ready. Do this while you are waiting for the chocolate to melt and cool so you're not hanging around. Cut open the plastic folder along the bottom, then cut out a disc to fit in the bottom of the tin and 3 strips to line the sides. (See step 2).
• Pour the rest of the cream into a very large bowl and tip in the coffee and cinnamon. Whip with a balloon whisk until the cream looks like step 3. When you shake the bowl the cream should wobble like a thick milkshake, and when you dribble some cream from the whisk, the trail it leaves in the cream below should disappear in 1-2 seconds.
• Fold the two together. Pour the cooled chocolate into the bowl containing the cream. With the largest metal spoon you've got, fold the cream and chocolate together in a figure-of-eight motion. Don't be nervous - keep going until they are evenly and smoothly mixed and the mixture has a soft, pillowy, downy texture - you will see and feel it thicken as you fold.
• Set the torte. Pour the chocolatey cream into the tin and level the surface with the back of the spoon. Put the tin in the fridge and leave to firm up. This can happen in under an hour, but you may need to leave it longer, depending on the coldness of your fridge (you can leave it overnight if this is more convenient).
• Unmould and serve. Unclip and remove the side of the tin, then remove the pieces of plastic around the sides. Invert a serving plate over the torte and turn the torte upside down on to it. Lift off the tin base and peel away the plastic. Dust all over with cocoa (including the plate if you wish to be fashionable) and serve in thin slices.

BLACK FOREST CHOCOLATE TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Line bottoms of 4 greased 9-in. round baking pans with parchment; grease parchment., Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in water just until blended. , In a microwave, melt unsweetened chocolate; stir until smooth. Stir in vanilla. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and baking soda; add to creamed mixture alternately with chocolate mixture, beating after each addition. Divide batter among prepared pans., Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 15-20 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks; remove paper. Cool completely., For chocolate filling, melt chocolate in a microwave; stir until smooth. Stir in butter until blended. Stir in almonds., For whipped cream, in a small bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add sugar and vanilla; beat until soft peaks form., To assemble, place 1 cake layer on a serving plate; spread with 1/3 cup chocolate filling and 1 cup whipped cream. Repeat layers twice. Top with the remaining cake and chocolate filling. , Spread remaining whipped cream over sides of cake. Press almonds onto sides. Spoon pie filling over top of cake. Refrigerate until serving.

CHOCOLATE VELVET TORTE

Steps:

• THAW pastry sheet at room temperature 40 minute Preheat oven to 425°F
• UNFOLD pastry on lightly floured surface. Roll into 12" square. Cut off corners to make a circle. Press pastry into 9-inch springform pan. Prick pastry thoroughly with fork.
• BAKE for 20 minute or until golden. Cool in pan on wire rack.
• PLACE chocolate and cream in saucepan. Heat and stir until chocolate softens. Stir until smooth. Remove from heat. Add some chocolate mixture into egg yolk and stir well. Return egg mixture to remaining chocolate mixture and stir well. Cook and stir 1 minute Pour mixture into pastry crust. Cover and refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours
• GARNISH with raspberries or strawberries.

SALTED CARAMEL CHOCOLATE TORTE

Steps:

• Line the base of a deep, round 20cm loose-bottomed cake tin with a circle of baking parchment. Line the sides with one long strip that comes just above the sides of the tin - staple or paper clip where the strip overlaps to hold it in place.
• Crush the biscuits in a plastic bag or bowl with the end of a rolling pin. Stir into the melted butter, then evenly press into the bottom of the tin. Chill for 10 mins.
• Reserve 2 tbsp of the caramel. Stir the sea salt into the remainder and spoon into the centre of the biscuit base. Gently spread so the base is evenly covered but a visible 1-2cm border of biscuit remains around the edge. Chill for 20 mins while you make the chocolate layer.
• Gently melt the chocolate in a large heatproof bowl over a pan of barely simmering water. Stir 1 tbsp of the cream into the reserved caramel, then cover and chill until ready to decorate. Once the chocolate has melted, turn off the heat but leave the bowl where it is, and gradually stir in the remaining cream until you have a smooth, shiny, thick chocolate sauce. Sift in the icing sugar and stir in with the vanilla extract. Lift off the heat and let the mixture cool for 10 mins.
• Ladle or pour the chocolate mixture around the edge of the torte first, so it fills the biscuit border, sealing the caramel in the centre. Then ladle or pour in the rest and gently shake to smooth the surface. Chill for at least 5 hrs or up to 24 hours until firm.
• Remove the torte from the tin, then carefully peel off the strip of paper and transfer to a serving plate. Dot the chocolates on top. Spoon the reserved caramel-cream mixture into a small food or freezer bag. Snip off the tiniest tip of the corner to make a very small opening, then squiggle lines of caramel over the top. Chill until ready to serve. Scatter with a pinch or two of sea salt before serving, then thinly slice. Eat with a drizzle of single cream, if you like.

BLACK VELVET CHOCOLATE TORTE

Steps:

• Prepare cake batter and bake in 2 (9-inch) round baking pans as directed on package, adding the dry pudding mix and melted unsweetened chocolate with the water, eggs and oil. Cool cakes in pans 10 min. Remove from pans to wire racks; cool completely. Cut each cake horizontally into 2 layers. (You will have 4 layers.)
• Beat next 3 ingredients in large bowl with mixer until blended. Gradually add sugar, beating until blended after each addition.
• Stack cake layers on serving plate, spreading about 3/4 cup frosting between layers and on top of cake. Sprinkle with nuts; drizzle with melted semi-sweet chocolate. Let stand until chocolate is firm.