Chocolate Chestnut Cupcakes Food

CHOCOLATE CHESTNUT CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Melt chocolate and butter in a bowl set over boiling water until chocolate is nearly completely melted, then remove from heat and whisk mixture until smooth.
• In a mixing bowl, whisk egg yolks with half the sugar (1/4 cup/50 grams) and the salt until pale and thick. Stir in the warm chocolate and set aside.
• Put egg whites in a clean bowl with cream of tartar and beat until fluffy, then add remaining 1/4 cup/50 grams sugar and beat until whites are stiff but not dry.
• Stir chestnut flour and chopped chestnuts into the chocolate batter, then fold in 1/4 of the whites to lighten mixture. Fold in remaining whites and scrape batter into an unbuttered 8-inch springform pan, smoothing top if necessary.
• Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out almost clean. Cool on a rack. It may sink and crack a bit on top - this is fine. Run a knife around the edge of cake to free sides and remove form. Transfer to a serving platter. (Cake may be stored, covered, at room temperature for up to 3 days.)
• To serve, whip cream with 2 tablespoons sugar to a very soft consistency. Spoon over top of cake and quickly spread with a spatula. Sprinkle with chocolate curls or cocoa powder.

CHOCOLATE CHESTNUT CAKE

Steps:

• For cake: Preheat oven to 350°F Butter and flour 9x2-inch round metal baking pan. Line bottom of pan with parchment paper.
• Put chestnut spread in small bowl. Mix in 3 tablespoons sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract and 2 teaspoons cinnamon. Set aside.
• Sift flour, baking powder, and salt into medium bowl.
• Using electric mixer, beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Beat in 1 cup brown sugar, then egg yolks and vanilla extract. Beat in chestnut spread mixture, then milk. Mixture will look a bit grainy.
• Sift dry ingredients over the mixture and gently mix together by hand.
• Using clean dry beaters, beat egg whites in another large bowl until soft peaks form. Add remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar and beat until stiff but not dry. Fold egg whites into batter in 3 additions.
• Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake cake until golden and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 50 to 60 minutes. Cut around cake to loosen. Cool cake completely in pan on rack.
• For Chestnut Cream: Melt chocolate over simmering water or in microwave. Set aside to cool. Place one cup unsweetened chestnut spread in bowl of food processor (mini bowl is fine). Pulse a few times to loosen. Add powdered sugar, vanilla extract and process to combine well. Add melted chocolate and process to combine well.
• In large bowl of electric mixer (preferably chilled) whip the cream on high until until very soft peaks form. Add the chocolate chestnut mixture and beat until stiff peaks form.
• For Dark Chocolate Ganache: Place the semisweet chocolate in a 3-quart stainless steel bowl. Heat the heavy cream and the butter in a saucepan over medium high heat. Bring to a boil. Pour the boiling cream over the chocolate and allow to stand for 5 minutes. Add the vanilla, the coffee, the liquor and the salt. Stir until smooth. This may take a few minutes as the cream absorbs the chocolate. Once well combined, set aside to cool. If desired, set aside and chill about 1 1/2 cups ganache to pipe onto finished cake.
• For Chestnut Brandy Syrup: Mix all ingredients in a small bowl until sugar dissolves.
• Assemble the cake: Take the cake out of the pan and remove parchment. Split into three even layers. Arrange one of the cake layers in a 9-inch springform pan. Brush with the chestnut brandy syrup. Evenly spread half the filling over the cake and top with the second layer. (It's best to use an offset spatula to spread the filling). Brush layer with the with syrup. Remove ring from springform pan and coat sides and top with room temperature ganache. You will have some ganache left over which you can use for something else like chocolate truffles. Decorate with whole chestnuts, colored sugar and chopped chestnuts. If piping chilled ganache, place it in a pastry bag and pipe a decorative design onto cake.
• Cut cake with a serrated knife, wiping the blade clean after each slice.
• NOTES:.
• 1) If you can find sweetened chestnut cream with vanilla use one cup in cake instead of sweetening it as indicated.
• 2) If you can't find chestnut cream you can make your own with jarred chestnuts, or roast your own.
• 3) If you can't find chestnut liquor, use brandy, rum, or spiced rum.

CHOCOLATE & CHESTNUT TRUFFLE TORTE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Grease a 25cm springform tin, then line the base and sides with baking paper. Whisk eggs and sugar until pale and thick.
• Sift the flour and cocoa together onto the mixture, then gently fold in, followed by the butter. Pour into the tin, ease to the edges, then bake for 8-10 mins until risen and firm to the touch. Cool in the tin.
• Meanwhile, beat the chestnut purée and egg yolks until as smooth as possible. Melt the chocolate in a bowl over a pan of simmering water with half the cream. Remove from the heat, then beat into the chestnut mixture.
• Whisk the egg whites until stiff. In a separate bowl, whip the remaining cream until it holds its shape. Fold into the chocolate mixture, then carefully fold in the egg whites. Drizzle the brandy, if using, over the sponge base, then pour the chocolate mix on top. Level the surface and chill for 5 hrs or overnight until firm. Chill for 2 days, or freeze for 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
• To serve, carefully remove from the tin, strip off the paper and slide onto a cake stand. Dust heavily with cocoa.

CHESTNUT TRUFFLE CAKE

Steps:

• Put the chestnuts in the food processor with the sugar, then process until fairly smooth. Put the butter and chocolate in a pan with the milk, then gently heat, stirring, until they have melted to a smooth sauce. Stir in the vanilla and cognac. Add to the chestnut mix in the food processor, then whizz again until fairly smooth.
• Line a lightly buttered small loaf tin with cling film, then pour in the chestnut truffle mix. Smooth the top, then cover the tin with cling film. Chill for 24 hrs.
• To serve, turn the truffle cake out onto a flat plate or board. Peel off the cling film. Gently melt the chocolate, butter and cream for the topping, then spread over the top and sides of the cake. Return to the fridge to set. Will keep in the fridge for another 6 days. Decorate with a dusting of icing sugar. Serve cut into thin slices with a little single cream poured around (cold vanilla custard is also very good).

CHOCOLATE CHESTNUT TORTE WITH CHOCOLATE COGNAC MOUSSE

Steps:

• Make ganache:
• Bring cream and butter to a simmer in a 3- to 4-quart heavy saucepan, then reduce heat to low. Whisk in chocolate until smooth and remove from heat. Transfer ganache to a bowl and chill, covered, stirring every 30 minutes, until thickened but spreadable, about 2 hours. (If ganache becomes too stiff, let stand at room temperature until slightly softened.)
• Make cake layers while ganache chills:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter cake pans and line bottom of each with a round of parchment or wax paper. Butter paper and dust pans with flour, knocking out excess flour.
• Pulse chestnuts with flour, baking soda, and salt in a food processor until finely ground.
• Beat butter and brown sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes in a standing mixer or about 6 minutes with a handheld. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in vanilla (mixture will look a little separated). Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture and sour cream alternately in 3 batches, beginning and ending with flour and mixing until just combined.
• Divide batter evenly among pans and bake in middle of oven until pale golden and springy to the touch, about 30 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on racks, then invert onto racks and remove parchment.
• Make mousse and assemble torte:
• Melt butter and chocolate in a double boiler or a metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water, stirring until smooth, and stir in Cognac. Transfer to a bowl and chill, covered, stirring occasionally, until thickened to the consistency of softened butter, about 1 hour. (If mixture becomes too stiff, let stand at room temperature until softened.)
• Beat cream in a bowl with cleaned beaters until it just holds soft peaks, then chill, covered, while beginning to assemble torte.
• Put 1 cake layer on cardboard round on a rack set in a shallow baking pan (1 inch deep). Spread 1/2 cup ganache evenly over top of layer and sprinkle with all of chopped marrons glacés. Top marrons glacés with another 1/4 cup ganache and cover with another cake layer.
• Beat egg whites with a pinch of salt using cleaned beaters at medium-high speed until they just hold soft peaks. Add sugar and beat at high speed until whites just hold stiff peaks. Stir whipped cream into chocolate Cognac mixture, then stir in one third of whites to lighten. Fold in remaining whites gently but thoroughly. Spoon mousse immediately onto cake layer (it sets quickly), spreading evenly, then top with third cake layer. Chill torte, covered, until mousse layer is firm, about 1 hour. Keep remaining ganache at a spreadable consistency at room temperature, chilling, covered, if it becomes too soft.
• Glaze cake:
• Reserve 1 1/4 cups ganache in a metal bowl, then spread remainder over top and side of torte to seal in crumbs. Chill until firm, about 1 hour.
• Set bowl of reserved ganache over a saucepan of barely simmering water, stirring until ganache reaches a pourable consistency. Remove bowl from heat and cool 5 minutes. Pour ganache evenly over top of torte, making sure it coats all of side. Shake rack gently to smooth glaze (let excess drip into baking pan). Transfer cake on cardboard to a cake stand or plate using 2 large heavy metal spatulas and chill until set. Garnish just before serving.

CHESTNUT CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• For cake: Preheat oven to 350F.
• Butter two, 8 inch round cake pans.
• Line with parchment, cut to fit, butter and lightly flour paper.
• Melt chocolate with espresso.
• Stir until smooth.
• Stir in yolks, one at a time.
• Place over hot water over double-boiler, and warm just until yolks thicken slightly, about 1 minute.
• Remove from over water.
• Stir in butter, one piece at a time, until melted.
• Blend in Cognac.
• Beat whites in large bowl with salt and cream of tartar until soft peaks form.
• Gradually add sugar, beating until stiff but not dry.
• Beat in cornstarch.
• Stir ¼ of whites into chocolate mixture to lighten.
• Fold in remaining whites and pour into prepared pans.
• Bake until edges are firm, but inside is still slightly creamy, about 25 minutes.
• Cool in pans; cakes will deflate.
• Remove from pans and brush off crumbs.
• For ganache: Bring cream to boil in small saucepan over low heat.
• Remove from heat.
• Pour into mixing bowl.
• Add chocolate, cover, and let stand 5 minutes.
• Stir gently until chocolate is melted.
• Add Cognac.
• Refrigerate until mixture just begins to thicken.
• Beat at medium-high speed until light, increased in volume, and just beginning to form soft peaks.
• Cut out piece of cardboard slightly smaller than cake.
• Wrap in foil, set on rack.
• Top with 1 cake layer.
• Spread with ganache.
• Sprinkle with chopped chestnuts.
• Top with second layer.
• Press with baking sheet to level.
• Smooth edges.
• Refrigerate until ganache is chilled.
• (can be prepared up to 2 days ahead) For glaze: Bring cream to boil in medium saucepan.
• Remove from heat.
• Add chocolate, cover, and let stand 5 minutes.
• Stir gently until chocolate is melted.
• Blend in Cognac.
• Cool glaze until just warm to touch.
• Reserve ½ cup.
• Pour remainder over cake, tilting back and forth so glaze drops to coat sides.
• Smooth with offset spatula.
• Transfer to platter.
• Cool reserved glaze until set.
• Spoon half of reserved glaze into pastry bag fitted with small plain tip.
• Pipe crisscross pattern over top and sides of cake.
• Carefully sprinkle crumbled violets in a thick border around outer edge of cake.
• Brush off any violet crumbs that don’t make it.
• Fit bag with leaf tip; spoon in remaining glaze.
• Pipe leaves around bottom.
• Set violet in center.

NIGELLA LAWSON CHOCOLATE CHESTNUT CAKE ( GLUTEN FREE )

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C, gas mark 4. Grease a 23 cm spring form or cake tin.
• Break the chocolate into pieces and melt in the microwave or in a double boiler (au bain-marie), and set aside.
• Whisk the egg whites with a pinch of salt until stiff, but not dry.
• In another bowl, whisk butter and chestnut puree with the sugar. Gradually whisk in the egg yolks, then add the rum and chocolate.
• Stir in a dollop of the egg white, whisk well to mix everything together, then carefully fold the rest of the egg white in the chestnut mixture.
• Pour the batter into the tin and let bake for 40 to 60 minutes. You could do the toothpick test, but it should not come out completely clean. Let the cake cool in it's tin on a rack before you unmold it on to a plate.
• Decorate with whipped cream and candied chestnuts.

CHOCOLATE CHESTNUT CAKE

Steps:

• To make the chocolate genoise: Sift together the flour, cornstarch and cocoa.
• Whisk the whole eggs, yolks, sugar, and salt.
• Place over simmering water until the temperature is 100 degrees.
• Whip on high 3-4 minutes.
• Fold in the dry ingredients.
• Cover the bottom of a springform pan with wax paper and pour in batter.
• Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees, then remove from oven and let cool completely.
• Meanwhile, boil the water and sugar.
• Cool and add 1/4 cup kirsch and the vanilla.
• Beat the butter and add in chestnut spread.
• Mix the remaining 2 tbs kirsch into the chestnut mixture.
• If sweetened chestnut spread is not available, use 1 1/4 cup chestnut puree with 1/2 cup light corn syrup.
• Bring the cream to a simmer, then remove from ehat and add chocolate.
• Let stand for 5 minutes, then whisk smooth.
• Cut the cooled cake into 3 layers.
• Brush the bottom layer with 1/3 of the sugar syrup, then top with 1/4 of the chestnut mixture.
• Add the middle layer, brush with another 1/3 of the sugar mixture, and spread with 1/4 of the butter mixture.
• Add the top layer and brush with the remaining 1/3 of the sugar syrup.
• Cover the top and sides with the remaining chestnut mixture.
• Chill the cake for 1 hour.
• Cover the cake with the chocolate-cream glaze.
• If desired, garnish with chocolate shavings.
• Chill before serving.