Christmas Cranberry Pear And Walnut Torte With Cream Cheese Orange Frosting Food

CHRISTMAS CRANBERRY, PEAR AND WALNUT TORTE WITH CREAM CHEESE-ORANGE FROSTING

Steps:

• Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 375°F. Butter two 9-inch-diameter cake pans. Line bottom of pans with waxed paper. Butter and flour waxed paper; tap out excess flour.
• Blend 2 cups walnuts and flour in processor until walnuts are finely ground. Add breadcrumbs, orange peel, spices and salt. Using on/off turns, process just until blended.
• Using electric mixer, beat eggs in large bowl until frothy. Gradually beat in 1 cup sugar and brown sugar. Continue beating until mixture is thick and triples in volume, about 6 minutes.
• Fold flour mixture and melted lukewarm butter alternately into egg mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture (do not overmix or batter will deflate). Divide batter between prepared cake pans; smooth tops. Bake cakes until golden and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Transfer pans to racks; cool 5 minutes. Invert cakes onto racks; cool completely. Remove waxed paper.
• Toss cranberries with remaining 1/2 cup sugar in small bowl to coat. Transfer berries to plate. Cover and freeze. (Can be prepared ahead. Wrap each cake layer separately in plastic. Freeze cake layers and sugarcoated cranberries up to 1 week.)
• Place 1 cake layer on platter. Spread with 1 cup frosting. Top with second cake layer. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of torte. Press remaining 3/4 cup walnuts onto torte sides. Arrange poached pears in concentric circles atop torte. (Torte can be frosted 1 day ahead. Cover torte; chill. Let torte stand 30 minutes at room temperature before serving.)
• Rewarm cranberry puree in small saucepan over medium heat. Brush some puree over pears. Transfer remaining puree to bowl.
• Garnish torte with frozen sugarcoated cranberries. Serve torte with puree.

ORANGE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Blend the cream cheese, butter, orange juice, orange zest, and vanilla in a large bowl, using an electric mixer set at medium speed, until smooth.
• Add the sugar and continue to beat until light and creamy -- about 3 more minutes.
• Add the food coloring and gently stir until the color is uniform.
• Chill the frosting until ready to ice the cupcakes or cake.

RASPBERRY WALNUT TORTE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• In a small bowl, beat cream until stiff peaks form; set aside. In a large bowl, beat the eggs, sugar and vanilla until thick and lemon-colored. Combine flour, walnuts, baking powder and salt; fold into egg mixture alternately with whipped cream., Pour into two greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., In a small bowl, beat cream until stiff peaks form; set aside. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar and salt until fluffy. Beat in vanilla. Fold in whipped cream., Cut each cake horizontally into two layers. Place bottom layer on serving plate; spread with about 1/2 cup frosting. Top with second cake layer; spread with half of the raspberry preserves. Repeat layers. Frost sides of cake with frosting., Cut a small hole in the corner of a pastry or plastic bag; insert ribbon tip #47. Fill bag with remaining frosting; pipe a lattice design on top of cake. Using star tip #32, pipe stars around top and bottom edges of cake. Store in the refrigerator.

ORANGE CRANBERRY TORTE

Steps:

• Coat a 10-in. fluted tube pan with cooking spray and sprinkle with flour; set aside., In a large bowl, beat the sugar, buttermilk, applesauce, oil and eggs until well blended. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into sugar mixture until blended. Stir in the walnuts, cranberries, dates and orange zest., Pour into prepared pan. Bake at 350° for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Combine glaze ingredients; drizzle over cake.

STRAWBERRY CREAM CHEESE TORTE

Steps:

• Heat milk to boiling in small saucepan. Add butter. Set aside.
• In large bowl blend sugar, vanilla and eggs. Beat at high speed for 3 minutes until thick and lemon colored.
• Add flour, baking powder and salt. Beat 1 minute at low speed. Add milk-butter mixture. Beat 1 more minute at low speed.
• Pour into well-buttered and floured 10-inch springform pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 to 65 minutes. or until a tester in center come out clean. Cool thoroughly. Remove from pan.
• Whip room temperature cream cheese until smooth. Beat in powdered sugar and whipping cream until mixture is very light and fluffy.
• Split cooled cake into 3 layers. Fill between layers with about 3/4 cup filing.
• placing sliced strawberries on top of filling before stacking cake.
• Frost stacked cake with Cream Cheese filling. Press about 1 cup through pastry bag to decorate top. Garnish with more berries. Chill until ready to serve.
• Tips: Cake can be made several hours before serving or the day before, but should be covered and refrigerated so it will not absorb odors from other foods.

ORANGE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Beat cream cheese, butter or margarine, orange peel, and orange juice until creamy. Beat in confectioner's sugar until blended and smooth.
• Spread about 1 1/2 teaspoons on each cooled cookie. Sprinkle with walnuts.
• Let icing set 1 to 2 hours. Refrigerate in an airtight container with waxed paper between layers up to 1 week.

CRANBERRY BREAD WITH CREAM CHEESE

Steps:

• Blend together cream cheese, butter, granulated sugar, and vanilla until light. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually add 2 cups of the flour sifted with baking powder. Toss remaining 1/4 cup flour with cranberries and nuts, and fold into batter. Pour into 2 well greased 9-inch loaf pans and bake in preheated 350°F oven for 1 hour and 20 minutes.
• Combine confectioners' sugar and milk, and drizzle over bread while still warm. Yield: Two 9-inch loaves.
• The Harrowsmith Country Life.

BEST CHRISTMAS CRANBERRY TORTE

Steps:

• Combine graham cracker crumbs, pecans, sugar, and butter in a mixing bowl for crust. Press into the bottom and up the sides of an 8-inch springform pan. Chill.
• Meanwhile, combine cranberries and sugar for filling in a large mixing bowl. Let stand for 5 minutes. Add egg whites, orange juice, vanilla extract, and salt. Beat using an electric mixer on low speed until frothy. Beat on high until stiff peaks form (when the tips stand straight), 6 to 8 minutes.
• Whip cream in a small mixing bowl until soft peaks (or until the tips curl over); fold into cranberry mixture. Turn into crust and freeze until firm, 8 hours to overnight.
• Stir sugar and cornstarch for glaze together in a saucepan. Stir in cranberries and water. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until bubbly, about 5 minutes. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, just until cranberry skins pop, about 5 minutes. Let cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes; do not chill.
• Remove torte from the pan. Place on a serving plate. Spoon cranberry glaze in the center; place orange slices around the outside.

CRANBERRY TORTE

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the cracker crumbs, pecans, 1/4 cup sugar and butter. Press onto the bottom and 1 in. up the sides of a 9-in. springform pan. , Bake at 375° for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. In a bowl, combine the cranberries, orange juice concentrate, vanilla, salt and remaining sugar. , In a bowl, beat cream until soft peaks form. Fold into the cranberry mixture. Pour into the crust. Freeze until firm. , For topping, combine sugar and cornstarch in a saucepan. Stir in cranberries and water until blended. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook and stir until berries pop and mixture is thickened, about 5 minutes; cool. Let torte stand at room temperature for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with topping.