Chocolate Double Nut Caramel Ladyfinger Torte No Bake Food

X-TREME CHOCOLATE DOUBLE-NUT CARAMEL LADYFINGER TORTE RECIPE COURTESY SOUTHERN LIVING MAGAZINE

Steps:

• Microwave chocolate morsels on high for 90 seconds or until melted, stirring at 30 second intervals; cool 5 minutes, and set aside.
• Split ladyfingers, and stand halves around edge of a 9-inch springform pan, placing rounded sides against pan; line bottom of pan with remaining halves. Reserve remaining ladyfingers for another use. Spread hazelnut spread evenly over ladyfingers on bottom of pan.
• Cook caramels and 1/3 cup whipping cream in a medium saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, just until melted. Stir in pecans until coated; spoon caramel mixture evenly over hazelnut spread.
• Beat 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar and cream cheese in a medium bowl at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add crème de cacao; beat until blended. Beat in melted morsels until blended.
• Beat remaining 2 cups whipping cream in a medium bowl at medium speed with an electric mixer until stiff; fold into cream cheese mixture, and spoon evenly over caramel layer in pan.
• Shave baking squares with a vegetable peeler evenly on top. Sprinkle evenly with 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar. Chill 1 hour before serving.

CHOCOLATE DOUBLE NUT CARAMEL LADYFINGER TORTE (NO BAKE)

Steps:

• Prepare a 9-inch springform baking pan.
• Microwave chocolate chips on HIGH until melted, stirring every 30 seconds; cool 5 minutes and set aside.
• Split the ladyfingers, then stand the halves around the edges of the 9-inch springform pan (placing the rounded sides of ladyfingers against the pan).
• Line the bottom of the pan with the remaining ladyfingers (reserving any remaining ones for other uses).
• Spread the Nutella spread evenly over the ladyfingers on the bottom of the pan.
• Cook the caramels and 1/3 cup whipping cream in a medium heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly JUST until melted; remove from heat and stir in chopped pecans until coated.
• Spoon the caramel/nut mixture evenly over the Nutella spread in the pan.
• In a medium bowl beat 1/3 cup confectioners sugar with softened cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy about 4 minutes) then add in the Creme de Cacao; beat until blended, then add in the melted chocolate chips.
• Beat the remaining 2 cups whipping cream in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until stiff; fold into the cream cheese mixture, then spoon evenly over the caramel mixture in the pan.
• Shave the baking squares using a veggie peeler evenly on top, then sprinkle with about 3 tablespoons confectioners sugar (or to taste).
• Chill for 3 hours before serving.
• Delicious!

DOUBLE NUT TORTE

Steps:

• Place nuts in a food processor and grind until finely ground.
• In a bowl beat 1/2 cup of sugar and 1/4 cup of the butter until blended. Add the egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the ground nuts, lemon juice, lemon peel and all but 2 tablespoons of the flour.
• In a deep bowl beat egg whites with a mixer on high speed until soft peeks form. Gradually beat in 1/4 cup sugar until the whites hold stiff, shiny peaks. Gently fold the whites into the yolk mixture.
• Spoon the batter into a buttered and floured 9-inch cheesecake pan with removable rim. Bake in a 350 degree oven until the torte is very lightly browned and the center feels just barely firm to the touch, about 20 to 25 minutes.
• To prepare the topping, in a medium sized pot melt remaining 1/2 cup butter over a medium heat. Add the remaining sugar, flour and nuts. Stir the mixture until bubbling. Immediately spoon the toffee topping evenly over hot torte, pushing nuts with a spoon to arrange decoratively. Return to oven and bake until nuts and topping are slightly more brown, about 15 to 20 minutes longer.
• Cool torte in the pan for 10 minutes, then run a knife inside the pan rim to release. Remove pan rim. Serve torte warm or cool.
• TIP: PAN ROASTING ALMONDS
• Spread shelled nuts in a single layer on a baking pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven, stirring often, until golden, about 15 minutes.

CHOCOLATE LADYFINGERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Sift the cake flour and cocoa powder together in a small mixing bowl and set aside. Place the egg whites in a large mixing bowl and whip until foamy with an electric mixer set on medium speed. Make a French meringue by adding the sugar 1 tablespoon at a time. When you whip egg whites, add the sugar slowly to allow the whites to gain some volume. When you have volume, add the rest of the sugar. Increase the mixer speed to medium-high and whip to stiff but not dry peaks, about 5 minutes. When the whites are slightly stiff, reduce the mixer speed to low to allow even more air to be incorporated without over whipping the egg whites. Let the egg whites continue to whip for about another 2 minutes. Stop whipping them if they begin to look dry or separated.
• Very gently, fold the egg yolks into the whipped egg whites with a rubber spatula until they are partially incorporated. Carefully fold the sifted mixture into the egg mixture. It is important to fold as gently as possible to avoid deflating the batter. Remember to fold all the way to the bottom of the bowl to fully incorporate both mixtures.
• Place the batter in a pastry bag fitted with a 3/4-inch plain tip. To pipe the ladyfingers, hold the pastry bag at a slight angle and allow the tip to touch the parchment paper as you start to pipe. Squeeze gently, applying even pressure as you pipe the desired length, then stop squeezing and lift the tip straight up, leaving a small tail on the end of each ladyfinger. Pipe evenly shaped ladyfingers about 3/4-inch wide on a parchment paper-covered sheet pan. Space them about 1/2-inch apart to allow them room to spread as they bake. Dust the tops of the ladyfingers with powdered sugar to give them a nice crust.
• Bake the ladyfingers until light and evenly browned, about 5 minutes. (The browning may be difficult to discern with the chocolate ladyfingers.) Remove from the oven and immediately move to a wire rack to prevent the heat of the pan from continuing to bake the ladyfingers. Set aside until ready to use. When cooled, the ladyfingers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the freezer, well wrapped in plastic wrap, for up to 2 weeks.

DREAMY DOUBLE CHOCOLATE TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F Butter a 10-inch springform pan and line with a round of parchment paper.
• Melt bittersweet chocolate with 2 oz milk chocolate and the butter in a large, heavy saucepan set over low heat until smooth. Remove from heat; whisk in sugar and salt, followed by eggs and vanilla. Sift cocoa powder over chocolate mixture, stir until combined.
• Scrape batter into prepared pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until top has a thin crust and the edges pull away from pan. Cool on a rack for 10 minutes. Carefully invert onto a serving plate and remove parchment paper. Cool completely.
• Meanwhile, heat 1/4 cup whipping cream in a small saucepan set over low heat. Add remaining milk chocolate; cook, stirring until melted and smooth. Cool to room temperature.
• Beat remaining whipping cream until very stiff. Gently fold chocolate mixture into whipped cream until uniformly combined. Chill for at least 30 minutes.
• Mound chocolate cream onto centre of cake just before serving. Garnish with chocolate curls or dusting of cocoa powder.

SALTED CARAMEL CHOCOLATE TORTE

Steps:

• Line the base of a deep, round 20 cm loose-bottomed cake tin with a circle of parchment paper. 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.
• Stir the crushed digestive biscuits into the melted butter, then evenly press into the bottom of the tin.
• Chill for 10 minutes.
• Reserve 2 tablespoons 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 1-2 cm border of biscuit remains around the edge.
• Chill for 20 minutes while you make the chocolate layer.
• Gently melt the chocolate in the top of a double boiler.
• Stir 1 tablespoon 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 double boiler 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 minutes.
• 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 hours 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.

CHOCOLATE AND GINGER NUT SLICE ( NO BAKE)

Steps:

• Lighty oil a 18cm/7inch sandwich tin.
• In a saucepan heat the butter 100g/4oz of chocolate and golden syrup, stir until melted.
• Remove from heat and stir in the biscuit crumbs and 3/4 of the nuts.
• Press warm mixture into tin, melt remaining chocolate, then spoon on top and sprinkle over remaining nuts.
• Chll at least an hour before serving.

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.