French Silk Hazelnut Cake Food

FRENCH SILK LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Spray bottoms and sides of 3 (8-inch) round cake pans with cooking spray.
• In large bowl, beat Cake ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour 1 2/3 cups batter in each pan. Spread evenly.
• Bake 18 to 22 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• In medium glass or metal bowl, beat egg whites and sugar with whisk until blended. Set over pan of simmering water 16 to 20 minutes, beating occasionally with whisk, until sugar has dissolved and egg mixture reaches 160°F. Remove from heat; pour into bowl of electric stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment. Beat on high speed 2 to 3 minutes or until glossy peaks form and bowl has cooled to feel slightly warm. Still on high speed, slowly add 1 1/2 cups softened butter, one piece at a time, scraping side of bowl occasionally, until mixture is smooth, thick and shiny, 12 to 14 minutes. Beat in vanilla. If mixture separates, beat until smooth.
• Fit decorating bag with 1/2-inch round piping tip; fill with 1 1/4 cups vanilla frosting, and set aside.
• In small microwavable bowl, microwave 2 oz chopped chocolate uncovered on High 60 seconds, stirring halfway through microwave time. Continue to microwave in 10-second increments until chocolate can be stirred smooth. Let stand 10 minutes. Beat cooled melted chocolate into remaining frosting until smooth.
• Place one cake layer on serving plate. Spread 2/3 cup chocolate frosting on top. Top with second cake layer; spread 2/3 cup chocolate frosting on top. Place third cake layer on top. Frost side and top of cake with remaining chocolate frosting. Using decorating bag, pipe frosting mounds on top of cake with vanilla frosting (use photo as guide).
• Sprinkle 1 tablespoon chocolate shavings over frosting mounds. Refrigerate 1 hour. Store loosely covered in refrigerator.

FRENCH SILK PIE

Steps:

• Cut pie crust in half. Repackage and refrigerate 1 half for another use. On a lightly floured surface, roll out remaining half into an 8-in. circle. Transfer to a 7-in. pie plate; flute edge., Line shell with a double thickness of heavy-duty foil. Bake at 450° for 4 minutes. Remove foil; bake until crust is golden brown, about 2 minutes longer. Cool on a wire rack., In a small saucepan, combine sugar and eggs until well blended. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture reaches 160° and coats the back of a metal spoon. Remove from the heat. Stir in chocolate and vanilla until smooth. Cool to lukewarm (90°), stirring occasionally. , In a small bowl, cream butter until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add cooled chocolate mixture; beat on high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. , In another large bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners' sugar; beat until stiff peaks form. Fold into chocolate mixture. , Pour into crust. Chill for at least 6 hours before serving. Garnish with whipped cream and chocolate curls if desired. Refrigerate leftovers.

HAZELNUT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 275°F.
• In a large bowl beat the egg yolks and the whole egg together with a wire whisk, or rotary or electric beater, continuing to beat until the mixture is thick and light yellow in color. Gradually beat in ½ cup of the sugar, then the nuts and the bread crumbs. Continue to beat until the mixture forms a dense, moist mass.
• In another bowl, beat the egg whites with the wire whisk or electric beater until the foam, then add ¼ cup of the sugar, 1 tbs at a time. Continue to beat until the whites form stiff, unwavering peaks. With a spatula mix about ¼ of the whites into the hazelnut mixture, then sprinkle the flour over it and gently fold in the rest of the whites. Continue to fold until no trace of the whites remains. Do not overfold.
• Butter and flour a 10-in springform pan. Turn the pan over and strike it to remove any excess flour. Pour batter into the pan, smooth the top and bake in the middle of the oven for 35-40 minutes, or until it shrinks away slightly from the sides of the pan. Remove the upper part of the pan as soon as you take it out of the oven and let the cake cool. Slice into 2 equal layers.
• Whip the chilled cream until it begins to thicken, add the sugar and vanilla adn continue to whip until the cream holds its shape. Fill the cake with the cream and cover as well. Sprinkle leftover chopped nuts over the cake. Serve at once.

HAZELNUT TORTE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat egg yolks and sugar until thick and lemon-colored. Stir in nuts. In another bowl, beat egg whites and salt until stiff peaks form. Fold a small amount into batter until no streaks of white remain; add remaining egg whites. , Pour into an ungreased 9-in. springform pan. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until top springs back when lightly touched. Invert pan; cool completely. , Just before serving, remove sides of pan. If desired, drizzle with icing, sprinkle with nuts and garnish with mint.

MOONSTRUCK'S HAZELNUT FRENCH SILK PIE

Steps:

• Prepare the pan:.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Lightly spray a 9 inch spring form pan with pan spray.
• Line the bottom of the inside of the pan with a 9 inch round piece of parchment paper or aluminum foil.
• Wrap a piece of aluminum foil around the outside base of the pan so that the foil comes up the sides of the pan about one inch.
• Place the prepared pan in a large roasting pan or baking pan that is at least one inch deep.
• Set the pan aside.
• The crust:.
• Place the hazelnuts, oatmeal, and brown sugar in the bowl of a food processor.
• Pulse the processor a few times then turn it on.
• Grind until the nuts are fine but not oil.
• Add the melted butter and mix just to combine all of the ingredients in the processor bowl.
• Press the crust mixture evenly into the bottom of the pan.
• Set aside.
• The filling:.
• Break or cut the Moonstruck dark chocolate into small pieces and place into the top of a double boiler along with the 1 1/4 cup butter.
• Fill the bottom of the double boiler with about one inch of water.
• Bring to a boil then remove from the heat.
• Place the top of the double boiler over the steaming water.
• Stir until the chocolate and butter mixture have melted.
• Add the hazelnut butter, brewed espresso beverage, and the Grand Marnier.
• Stir to thoroughly combine.
• Whisk the eggs and the 3/4 cup of brown sugar until foamy.
• Add the chocolate mixture and stir to thoroughly combine.
• Pour the batter into the prepared spring form pan with the crust in the bottom.
• Place the roasting or baking pan holding the filled spring form pan on the middle rack of the oven.
• Add about one inch of boiling water to the roasting or baking pan.
• Carefully slide the rack into the oven.
• Bake for approximately 45 minutes until the filling has set but the center is still shiny.
• Remove the spring form pan from the oven and place on a cooling rack.
• Cool completely in the spring form pan.
• Place the cooled cake into the refrigerator and chill for at least six hours. Overnight is better.
• Glaze:.
• Chop the chocolate and place in a stainless steel or glass bowl.
• Place one inch of water in a small heavy saucepan.
• Place the saucepan on the stove and bring the water to a simmer.
• Remove the saucepan from the stove.
• Place the bowl containing the chopped chocolate on top of the pan of simmering water.
• Stir the chocolate until it is completely melted.
• Remove the bowl from the top of the pan and dump the water out.
• Place the cream and light corn syrup into the sauce pan and bring to a boil.
• Pour the hot liquid over the melted chocolate.
• Whisk the hot liquid and the chocolate together to completely combine.
• Set the chocolate mixture aside and allow the Ganache to cool for five minutes.
• Whisk the softened butter into the chocolate mixture.
• Finish and serve:.
• Remove the sides of the spring form pan.
• Place a piece of plastic wrap or foil over the top of the cake.
• Invert the cake onto a flat dish.
• Peel the paper or foil off of the bottom crust.
• Invert the cake onto a 9 inch cardboard cake round.
• Place the cake on a cooling rack over a cookie sheet.
• Pour the Ganache over the cake, using a small icing spatula to coax the Ganache over the sides of the cake. If necessary, use the spatula to spread the Ganache on the sides of the cake. The cake should be completely covered with Ganache.
• Allow the Ganache to set up until it is firm.
• If you are not serving right away, return to the refrigerator.
• Cut into servings using a knife dipped in hot water and wiped dry each time you make a slice.
• Place on a serving plate and garnish with whipped cream and fresh berries.