Chocolate Hazelnut Fudge Food

CHOCOLATE-HAZELNUT FUDGE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place hazelnuts in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet; toast until golden and fragrant, about 14 minutes.
• Lightly brush a standard 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with butter; line in both directions with parchment. Melt 1 1/2 cups dark chocolate in a medium bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water. Brush loaf pan all over with half of melted chocolate; freeze 5 minutes. Brush again with remaining melted chocolate and freeze 5 minutes more.
• In a medium bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water, melt remaining 1 1/2 cups dark chocolate with milk chocolate, stirring together until smooth. Remove from heat; stir in hazelnut spread and hazelnuts. Pour into chilled chocolate shell and refrigerate until firm, at least 4 hours. Trim chocolate around top of loaf pan with a paring knife. Let temper 30 minutes before slicing crosswise into 8 pieces. Torrone can be refrigerated, covered, up to 2 weeks.

CHOCOLATE-HAZELNUT SPREAD HOT FUDGE SAUCE

Steps:

• Add the vanilla ice cream to the almost-empty jar chocolate-hazelnut spread. Microwave for 30 seconds. Add the canned whipped cream if using, then cover tightly with the lid and shake vigorously until a thick sauce forms, about 30 seconds.
• Serve over ice cream.

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT FUDGE

Steps:

• Generously butter an 8-inch square baking pan; line with plastic wrap.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the 4 tablespoons butter, sugar, cream, and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to medium-low or just low enough to keep the mixture from boiling over. Continue boiling, stirring frequently, to a temperature of 230°F This will take about 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in chocolate with a whisk until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Add 1 cup chopped hazelnuts and the liqueur and flavorings; stir to blend. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Sprinkle with a few tablespoons of chopped hazelnuts. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, about 2 to 3 hours.
• Remove the top layer of plastic wrap and flip the pan upside down on a cutting board or platter. Loosen sides if the fudge doesn't come out right away. Cut into small pieces. If the fudge is difficult to cut without breaking, let it stand at room temperature for several minutes before cutting. Makes about 3 pounds.

HAZELNUT FUDGE CAKE

Steps:

• Prepare pastry. In medium size bowl, with electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg until well mixed. Reduce mixer speed to low. Gradually beat in flour, baking powder and salt. Gather dough into a ball, flatten to a 5-inch round, and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate pastry at least 30 minutes or overnight.
• When pastry has chilled, heat oven to 400º. Between 2 sheets of floured waxed paper, roll out pastry to a 12-inch round. Remove top sheet of paper and invert pastry into a 10-inch tart pan with removable bottom, allowing excess to extend over edge. Remove remaining sheet of waxed paper. Fold excess pastry inside so that it is even around top edge with rim of pan; press pastry against the side to make an even thickness. With fork, pierce bottom of pastry crust 10-15 times to prevent shrinkage. Line crust with aluminum foil and fill with uncooked dry beans.
• Bake pastry crust 10 minutes, remove foil with beans and bake crust 5 minutes longer. Cool crust on wire rack while preparing filling. Reduce oven temperature to 350º.
• Prepare filling: In heavy 1-quart saucepan, heat chocolate, butter, sugar, half and half, and salt over low heat, stirring frequently, until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat.
• In large bowl, with wire whisk, beat eggs slightly; slowly beat warm chocolate mixture into eggs until well blended. Spread chocolate mixture into pastry crust and bake cake 25-30 minutes.
• For Topping: In double boiler melt semi-sweet chocolate squares, half and half, butter, chopped toasted hazelnuts, and hazelnut syrup, stirring constantly until smooth.
• When cake has cooled, spread over top and sides. Dust with powdered sugar and serve with ice cream.

SALTED CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT FUDGE

Steps:

• LINE 8-inch square pan with aluminum foil, extending over pan edges.
• HEAT sweetened condensed milk and chocolate hazelnut spread in heavy saucepan over medium heat until bubbly, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in chocolate chips until completely melted. Stir in hazelnuts. Spread evenly into prepared pan. Let rest 5 mintues. Sprinkle evenly with sea salt.
• CHILL 2 hours or until firm. Remove from pan by lifting foil. Cut into 64 1-inch squares.