Chocolate Hazelnut Praline Torte With Frangelico Whipped Cream Food

CHOCOLATE & HAZELNUT PRALINE TART

Steps:

• Make the pastry. Cream together the butter and sugar, then add flour and almonds. Bring everything together with the egg. If the pastry is very soft, chill for 20 mins. If not, roll out to fit a deepish 23cm fluted flan tin; if the pastry breaks, press scraps of pastry into the gaps, leaving a slight overhang. Chill for 20 mins.
• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Line the case with baking parchment and baking beans, then bake for 10 mins. Remove beans and cook for another 10 mins until golden.
• Meanwhile, toast the nuts in a dry pan until starting to brown. Scatter over 4 tbsp of sugar, cook until it caramelises, then tip nuts onto a baking tray lined with parchment. Leave to cool, then roughly chop. Over a pan of barely simmering water, melt the chocolate, butter and alcohol together, then set aside to cool slightly. Over the same pan, beat the egg, yolks and remaining sugar until pale and fluffy. Take off the heat, then fold in the chocolate mix.
• When case is cooked, remove from oven and turn the heat down to 160C/fan 140C/gas 3. Scatter most of the hazelnuts over the base, then tip in the chocolate mix, pressing it down slightly. Cook the tart for 15-20 mins until the chocolate has almost set. Leave to cool, then serve scattered with the remaining nuts. Can be made up to 1 day ahead.

HAZELNUT AND CHOCOLATE PIE WITH VANILLA WHIPPED CREAM

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the lower 1/3 of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
• Put 1/2 of the chocolate chips, hazelnuts, and flour in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the hazelnuts are coarsely chopped. Pour the hazelnut mixture into a small bowl and set aside. Combine remaining chocolate chips and sugar in the food processor. Blend until the mixture is finely ground. With the machine running, gradually add the hot water until the chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Add the eggs, butter, vanilla and cinnamon. Pulse until mixture is blended. Return the hazelnut mixture to the food processor and pulse to incorporate. Pour the mixture into a buttered and floured 9-inch pie dish. Bake for 35 minutes. Place the pie on a cooling rack and cool for 1 hour. (Top may crack during cooling.) Refrigerate for 2 hours. (Pie can be made 1 day in advance and stored in the refrigerator). Allow the pie to return to room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream until it forms soft peaks. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon. Continue to beat until cream holds stiff peaks.
• To serve: Cut the pie into slices and dollop with the Vanilla Cream.

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT PRALINE TORTE WITH FRANGELICO WHIPPED CREAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter an 8 1/2-inch springform pan (2 inches deep) or other cake pan with same dimensions and line bottom with a round of wax paper. Butter paper and dust pan with flour, knocking out excess flour.
• In a food processor pulse praline until ground fine. Reserve 1/4 cup ground praline and transfer remaining praline to a bowl. In food processor pulse chocolate until finely ground and add to bowl of praline.
• In a bowl with an electric mixer cream together butter, salt, and 1/4 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in yolks, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, and beat in vanilla. Stir in praline chocolate mixture (mixture will be very thick).
• In another bowl with cleaned beaters beat whites until foamy and add a pinch salt and remaining 1/4 cup sugar in a steam, beating until meringue just holds stiff peaks. Fold one third meringue into yolk mixture to lighten and fold in remaining meringue gently but thoroughly. Pour batter into pan and smooth top.
• Bake tort in middle of oven 45 to 55 minutes, or until it begins to pull away from side of pan. Cool torte in pan on a rack (torte will fall slightly and continue to set as it cooks) and remove from pan. Torte may be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Bring torte to room temperature before serving.
• In a bowl with an electric mixer beat cream until it just holds soft peaks. Stir in Frangelico and half of reserved praline.
• Top torte with whipped cream and sprinkle with remaining reserves praline. Serve torte immediately.

'FLOURLESS' CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT TORTE WITH FRANGELICO

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly spray an 8-inch cake pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
• Bake hazelnuts in preheated 350 degrees F oven until golden brown (approx. 5-7 minutes). Set aside.
• Make cake. Melt chocolate in a small pan over low heat. Set aside. Place hazelnuts and remaining cake ingredients in a medium mixing bowl. Stir until well blended. Add chocolate and mix well. Pour into prepared 8-inch cake pan. Bake 15-20 minutes. Cake will seem slightly underbaked.
• Remove cake from pan. Cool on a wire rack.
• Place cool cake on a serving plate.
• Make glaze. Place chocolate and Frangelico* in a small saucepan. Heat over low heat while stirring constantly. Pour melted chocolate glaze over torte. Refrigerate torte until ready to serve.

HAZELNUT-PRALINE TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two 10-by-15-inch rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper, allowing 2 inches to hang over each short side; set aside.
• Whisk nuts and confectioners' sugar in a bowl; reserve 1/2 cup, and set aside. Put yolks and remaining nut mixture into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until pale, about 3 minutes; transfer to a large bowl.
• Put egg whites and salt into the clean bowl of the electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, and beat on medium speed until foamy. Raise speed to medium-high. Gradually add granulated sugar, and beat until stiff peaks form. Beat in the vanilla.
• Fold egg whites into yolk mixture in two additions. Whisk flour and remaining nut mixture in a small bowl; fold into egg mixture in two additions.
• Transfer half the batter to a pastry bag fitted with a 5/8-inch plain tip (such as Ateco #808). Starting in one corner of a prepared baking sheet, pipe batter in diagonal lines, filling sheet. Repeat with remaining batter in second baking sheet. Bake until pale golden, about 15 minutes. Lift parchment onto wire racks, and let cakes cool completely.
• Using a serrated knife, trim edges of cakes to be straight. Halve cakes crosswise. Place one half on a serving plate. Brush with 1/4 cup hazelnut syrup. Spread 1 1/2 cups caramel cream over top. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup praline. Repeat to make two more layers of each. Top with remaining cake half. Refrigerate 2 hours (or overnight). Dust with confectioners' sugar, and garnish with praline.

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 375°F.
• Lightly butter and flour a 9-inch round springform cake pan.
• To make the torte, spread the 1/2 cup hazelnuts on a baking sheet and toast in the oven until lightly browned and fragrant, 5 to 7 minutes.
• While the nuts are still warm, place them in a kitchen towel and rub with the towel to remove the skins.
• Do not worry if bits of skin remain.
• Set aside.
• Place the chocolate and butter in a large heatproof bowl set over but not touching gently simmering water in a saucepan.
• Stir often until the chocolate melts, then remove from the heat.
• In a food processor fitted with the metal blade or in a blender, combine the skinned nuts with the 2/3 cup sugar.
• Pulse until finely ground.
• Add to the chocolate mixture and stir until blended.
• Let cool; then add the egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• In a bowl, sift together the flour and cocoa.
• Stir into the chocolate mixture.
• In another bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form.
• Add the 2 Tbs sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.
• Using a rubber spatula, fold one-fourth of the whites into the chocolate mixture to lighten it.
• Then fold in the remaining whites just until no white streaks remain.
• Pour into the prepared pan.
• Bake until a skewer inserted into the center comes out almost clean, 35 to 40 minutes.
• Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool.
• To make the glaze, combine the chocolate, butter and corn syrup in a heatproof bowl set over but not touching gently simmering water in a saucepan.
• Stir often until the chocolate melts, then remove from the heat and stir until smooth.
• Let cool, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes; the glaze will thicken slightly.
• Set the rack over a baking sheet, invert the torte onto the rack and lift off the pan.
• Pour on the glaze, tilting the torte to coat the top and sides completely.
• When the glaze stops dripping, place the 12 hazelnuts around the top of the cake.
• Transfer to a serving plate and serve.
• Makes one 9-inch torte.

CHOCOLATE PRALINE TORTE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine brown sugar, butter and cream. Stir over low heat until butter is melted. Pour into two greased 9-in. round baking pans. Sprinkle with pecans; set aside. , Prepare cake mix according to package directions. Carefully pour batter over pecans. Bake at 325° for 35-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes; invert onto wire racks to cool completely. , For topping, beat cream in a bowl until soft peaks form. Add sugar and vanilla; beat until stiff. , Place one cake layer, pecan side up, on a serving plate. Spread with half of the topping. Top with second cake layer and remaining topping. Sprinkle with chocolate curls if desired. Store in the refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT TORTE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in egg and vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream and coffee. Beat just until combined., Pour into 2 greased and floured 6-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For frosting, in a small saucepan, melt chocolate with cream and sugar over low heat; stir until smooth. Remove from the heat; whisk in Nutella. Transfer to a small bowl; cover and refrigerate until frosting reaches spreading consistency, stirring occasionally. , Spread frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake. Garnish with chocolate curls and hazelnuts if desired.

HAZELNUT PRALINE

Steps:

• Lightly oil a baking sheet.
• In a dry heavy saucepan cook sugar over moderate heat, stirring with a fork, until melted and cook, without stirring, swirling pan, just until a golden caramel. Add hazelnuts, stirring until coated well. Immediately pour mixture onto baking sheet and cool completely, about 30 minutes. Remove praline from baking sheet and break into pieces.
• Praline may be eaten as candy or ground in a food processor and used as a dessert topping.

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE WITH HAZELNUT PRALINE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the hazelnuts on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until toasted, about 10 minutes.
• Add the egg, egg yolks, vanilla extract, 1/3 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon water to a medium heatproof bowl and whisk to combine. Set the bowl over a medium saucepan of gently simmering water (do not allow the bowl to touch the water). Cook, whisking constantly and scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally, until the mixture is pale, hot to the touch and has almost doubled in volume, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove from the heat and continue to whisk until the egg mixture has cooled, about 2 minutes.
• Put the bittersweet and semisweet chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl and set it over the saucepan of gently simmering water (do not allow the bowl to touch the water). Stir occasionally with a rubber spatula until the chocolate is melted and smooth.
• Meanwhile, whip the cream in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes. Set aside.
• Once melted, remove the chocolate from the heat and gently stir for about 3 minutes to cool slightly. (If it is too warm it won't combine with the egg mixture or the whipped cream without seizing up.)
• Very slowly stream in and whisk the chocolate into the egg mixture until combined. (The mixture may get very thick.) Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture in 3 additions until it is fully incorporated. Chill, covered, until firm, 4 hours and up to overnight.
• Meanwhile, line a rimmed baking sheet with a silicone baking mat. Add the remaining cup sugar to a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Melt the sugar, swirling the pan and stirring frequently, until it becomes a deep amber color, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove from the heat and fold in the hazelnuts. Pour onto the prepared baking sheet and quickly spread very thin. Let sit at room temperature until hardened, about 1 hour. Once hardened, transfer to a cutting board and finely chop.
• To serve, place the serving plates in the freezer until very cold, about 10 minutes.
• If using melted chocolate and whipped cream for serving, prepare them: Put the semisweet chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl and set it over the saucepan of gently simmering water (do not allow the bowl to touch the water). Stir occasionally with a rubber spatula until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Whip the cream in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes.
• Decorate the plates as desired with cocoa powder, melted chocolate or whipped cream. Place two spoons with deep bowls in a cup of boiling water. Remove the mousse from the refrigerator and spoon two quenelles onto each plate using the hot spoons (be sure to dry your spoons before forming the quenelles). Top with the hazelnut praline.

GLAZED HAZELNUT CHOCOLATE TORTE

Steps:

• ---Forthe Torte---.
• Place buttered and floured parchment paper (or waxed) on the bottom and sides of a round 9" cake pan; shake out any excess flour.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Melt 3 oz chocolate in the water over low heat, stirring& cool.
• Beat 5 eggs until very frothy and light, gradually add the cup of sugar, beating all the while until the mixture is very thick.
• Slowly stir (not beat) in half of the flour, then the chocolate and then the remaining flour, hazelnuts,& vanilla extract.
• Pour into the prepared pan and bake for approx 40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the middle of the cake.
• Cool for a few minutes and turn out onto a rack, gently remove the paper.
• When fully cooled cut the torte through the center so you have two layers.
• ---Forthe Buttercream Filling---.
• In your blender or food processor blend the 2 egg yolks, add 2 tbsp sugar, two tsp Frangelica and blend until very smooth.
• Gradually add small bits of butter and blend until the butter is totally incorporated.
• Chill the butter cream until it has a consistency that will spread easily (about 1 hour).
• ---Forthe Glaze---.
• You must time making the glaze so it coincides with the chilling of the cake because you want to put on the glaze while it is hot.
• Mix together the cocoa, cream, butter,& confectioner's sugar in a saucepan; use low heat and stir until chocolate is melted and everything is combined; remove from heat (apprx 7 minutes), then stir in the liqueur.
• ---Assemblingthe Torte---.
• Spread the butter cream on the bottom layer, place on the top layer cover and chill for 1 hour in the fridge.
• When the torte has chilled, using an oiled spatula spread the hot glaze over the top and sides of the torte.