Chocolate Date Hazelnut Meringue Torte Food

HAZELNUT AND CHOCOLATE MERINGUE TORTE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 160°C (315°F/Gas 2-3). Line 2 large baking trays with non-stick baking paper. Draw two 10 x 25 cm (4 x 10 inch) rectangles on one lined tray, leaving a little room between for spreading, and one rectangle on the other. Turn both pieces of paper over. 2. Finely chop 115 g (4 oz/¾ cup) of the hazelnuts. Coarsely chop the remaining nuts and put in an airtight container. 3. Use an electric mixer with a whisk attachment to whisk the egg whites in a medium bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add the sugar, a little at a time, whisking well after each addition. Whisk for a further 2-3 minutes or until very thick and glossy. Add the vanilla and vinegar and whisk for 30 seconds or until combined. Use a large metal spoon or spatula to gently fold in the finely chopped hazelnuts. 4. Divide the meringue mixture among the marked rectangles and use a palette knife to spread it out evenly. Bake for 30 minutes or until dry to touch. Turn the oven off. Cool completely in the oven, with a wooden spoon keeping the door slightly ajar. 5. Spread three-quarters of the melted chocolate over the cooled meringue rectangles and leave to set. Reserve the remaining melted chocolate. 6. To make the chocolate mousse, put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Bring 100 ml (3½ fl oz) of the cream just to a simmer, then pour over the chocolate. Stand for 1 minute, then stir gently until melted and well combined. Set aside at room temperature until the mixture has cooled completely. 7. When the chocolate mixture has cooled, use an electric mixer with a whisk attachment to whisk the remaining cream until soft peaks form (do not whisk the cream past soft peaks or it will curdle later). Add the chocolate mixture and use a spatula or large metal spoon to fold together until just combined. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm. 8. Place a meringue rectangle on a serving platter. Spread with half the chocolate mousse. Continue to layer the remaining meringue rectangles and mousse, finishing with meringue. Warm the reserved chocolate until it is melted again, then drizzle over the torte and refrigerate overnight. 9. Remove from the refrigerator 1 hour before serving. Serve sprinkled with the coarsely chopped hazelnuts.

CHOCOLATE ALMOND MERINGUE TORTE

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 300°F.
• Set Ice Cream or Dairy-free frozen dessert out to soften slightly.
• Process first three ingredients until finely mixed.
• Whip egg whites and sugar to stiff peaks.
• Fold almond mix into the egg whites.
• Spread onto parchment-lined baking sheets, forming two circles, approximately 9" round and 1/4-1/2" thick.
• Bake until firm (check after 20 minutes). Cool.
• Set one meringue on a plate and spread soft ice cream over it. Top with second meringue and place in the freezer for 30 minutes.
• Heat Soy milk to a simmer, and pull off of the heat. Stir in finely chopped chocolate or chips. Stir vigorously until this mixture is thick, slightly cooled and glossy (about 5 minutes).
• Pour Chocolate sauce over frozen ice cream cake, sprinkle the edge with the almonds and place back in freezer until ready to serve.

HAZELNUT CHOCOLATE MOCHA TORTE

Steps:

• MAKE THE BAVARIAN CREME: Lightly oil a round, shallow casserole or bowl approximately 10 inches in diameter.
• Line it with a layer of plastic wrap large enough to overhang the edges.
• In a small cup, sprinkle the gelatin over 1/4 cup of the milk; set aside.
• In another small cup, stir the coffee into the cognac; set aside.
• In a saucepan, scald the remaining 1 cup milk.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar and salt until light and fluffy.
• Gradually beat in the scalded milk.
• Return the mixture to the saucepan and stir constantly over moderate heat until thick enough to coat the back of the clean spoon. DO NOT ALLOW TO BOIL.
• Transfer custard to a large bowl and whisk in the reserved gelatin and coffee mixtures, beating to thoroughly dissolve the gelatin.
• Cool to room temperature, whisking vigorously every couple of minutes to prevent lumping.
• When the custard is cool but not set, whip the cream until almost stiff.
• Whisk a large spoonful of the cream into the custard, then gently fold in the remaining cream.
• Carefully pour the bavarian cream into the prepared plastic lined bowl.
• Refrigerate, covered until firm. (This may be made one day ahead.).
• MAKE THE HAZELNUT JAPONAISE: Preheat the oven to 250.
• Butter and flour a baking sheet, preferably nonstick, and trace a 10 inch circle onto it, using a cake pan or pot lid as a guide.
• Blend together the hazelnuts, 1/2 cup of the superfine sugar and the cornstarch; set aside.
• Beat the egg whites until foamy, then add the cream of tartar and continue beating until the whites form soft peaks.
• Beating constantly, gradually add the remaining 2 T. superfine sugar and continue to beat until the meringue is stiff and glossy.
• Lightly fold the hazelnut mixture into the meringue.
• Spread the meringue onto the 10 inch circle on the baking sheet.
• Bake for 45 minutes, or until the meringue is set but still somewhat soft and just beginning to brown lightly.
• Using a thin metal spatula, loosen the baked meringue layer from the baking sheet. ( the meringue may tear slightly, but it will not show.).
• If it is too fragile to remove from the sheet, cool it on its baking sheet set on a wire rack, and then loosen from the sheet.
• MEANWHILE, PREPARE THE CHOCOLATE GENOISE: Preheat a second oven, of you have one to 350; otherwise, when the meringue is done, raise the heat to 350.
• Lightly butter a round, flat pan at least 12 inches in diameter.
• Line the bottom of the pan with a circle of waxed paper or parchment.
• Lightly butter and flour the paper and sides of the pan.
• In a small saucepan, melt the butter over low heat.
• Skim off the foam carefully.
• Cool slightly.
• Into a small bowl, sift the flour and cocoa together.
• In a large bowl, beat the eggs and the granulated sugar until very light, foamy and almost tripled in volume.
• Add vanilla, then lightly but rapidly fold the flour-cocoa mixture into the eggs.
• When the ingredients are almost but not quite homogeneous, fold in the melted butter.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 10 to 14 minutes, or until the cake springs back when toughed gently.
• Remove from the oven and cool briefly in the pan.
• Invert a pie plate with slanted sides onto a cooling rack, then cover the pie plate with a kitchen towel.
• Lightly sprinkle the towel with confectioners sugar and invert the genoise onto the towel.
• Gently peel off the paper and allow the cake to cool.
• ASSEMBLE THE TORTE: Carefully transfer the japonaise to a serving platter.
• Equally carefully, invert the bavarian creme over the japonaise.
• Peel the plastic wrap off the bavarian and trim any ragged meringue edges off the japonaise.
• Top the bavarian with the genoise, pressing it into a dome shape if necessary.
• MAKE THE FROSTING: Whip the cream until thick but not stiff, then add the confectioners sugar, cocoa and vanilla.
• Whip unti quite stiff.
• Spread over the torte, flattening the top slightly.
• TO DECORATE THE CAKE: Using a swivel-bladed peeler, scrape the chocolate into long shavings.
• Lightly sprinkle the shavings over the torte and chill for a t least 2 hours.
• At serving time, dust lightly with confetioners sugar sprinkled through a small sieve.