Hazelnut Dacquoise Food

HAZELNUT-MOCHA DACQUOISE

Steps:

• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Spread the hazelnuts on a baking sheet and bake until toasted, 12 to 15 minutes; let cool completely. Combine 1 cup each hazelnuts and sugar and the potato starch in a blender or food processor and pulse until very finely ground. Transfer to a large bowl.
• Reduce the oven temperature to 275 degrees F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a bowl as a guide, draw three 7-inch circles on the parchment with a pencil (2 circles on 1 piece and 1 circle on the other); flip the parchment so the markings face down.
• Put the egg whites, 1/2 cup sugar and the salt in a large heatproof bowl. Set over a saucepan of simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water) and whisk until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is warm, 2 to 5 minutes. Remove the bowl from the saucepan and beat with a mixer on medium-high speed until stiff and shiny but not dry, about 2 minutes.
• Fold the milk and one-quarter of the egg white mixture into the nut mixture with a rubber spatula until smooth, then fold in the remaining egg whites until just combined. Divide the batter among the 3 circles on the parchment and spread evenly with an offset spatula to fill the circles. Bake 1 hour, 30 minutes, then switch the position of the pans and continue baking until firm, dry and golden, 1 to 2 more hours. (The layers are done when they easily peel off the parchment.) Let cool slightly on the baking sheets; peel off the parchment and transfer to a rack to cool completely.
• Meanwhile, make the ganache: Put 1 cup cream in a microwave-safe bowl; microwave until very hot, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the chocolate and espresso powder until smooth. Let cool to room temperature, then cover and refrigerate until cold, thick and spreadable, at least 30 minutes. Make the whipped cream: Combine the remaining 4 cups cream and 1/3 cup sugar in a large bowl and beat with a mixer on medium speed until it barely holds soft peaks, 1 to 2 minutes. Finish beating the cream by hand with a whisk until soft peaks form; do not overbeat.
• Put 2 meringue layers on a baking sheet; spread half of the ganache on each, to the edge. Refrigerate until set, 15 minutes. (If the ganache is too firm to spread, microwave in 20-second intervals to soften.) Place one of the ganache-topped meringues on a platter. Spread with 1 cup whipped cream. Stack the other ganache-topped meringue on top; spread with another layer of whipped cream. Top with the last meringue, then cover the top and side of the cake with the remaining whipped cream. Chop the remaining 1/3 cup hazelnuts and sprinkle on top of the cake along with the shaved chocolate. Refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight before serving.

FROZEN WHITE CHOCOLATE AND HAZELNUT DACQUOISE

Steps:

• Make meringue:
• Preheat oven to 300°F. Line large baking sheet with parchment paper. Draw three 9 x 5-inch rectangles on parchment. Turn paper over. Finely grind 1 cup nuts with 1/4 cup sugar in processor. Coarsely chop 1/4 cup nuts; set aside.
• Beat whites and cream of tartar in large bowl until foamy. Gradually add 1/2 cup sugar, beating until stiff and glossy. Fold ground hazelnut mixture into whites in 2 additions. Divide meringue among traced rectangles on parchment, spreading to edges. Bake meringues until crisp and light golden, about 1 hour 30 minutes. Turn oven off; cool meringues in oven 1 hour. Remove from oven.
• Make ganaches:
• Bring 1 1/2 cups cream and 3 tablespoons corn syrup to simmer in medium saucepan. Remove from heat. Add semisweet chocolate; stir until smooth. Chill until slightly thickened but still spreadable, about 1 hour.
• Line 9 x 5 x 2 1/2-inch metal loaf pan with plastic wrap, leaving 3-inch overhang on all sides. Run thin knife under meringues to loosen from parchment. Gently transfer meringues to work surface. Using serrated knife and gentle sawing motion, trim each to 8 x 4-inch rectangle.
• Spread 1/3 cup chocolate ganache over each of 2 meringues. Place on baking sheet. Freeze until ganache is set, 10 minutes. Place third meringue, smooth side down, in prepared loaf pan. Spread half of White Chocolate Mousse over. Sprinkle with reserved 1/4 cup chopped hazelnuts. Top with 1 meringue, ganache side down. Spread remaining mousse over. Top with remaining meringue, ganache side down. Fold plastic overhang over cake; freeze overnight. Chill remaining semisweet chocolate ganache.
• Bring remaining 1/2 cup cream and 1 tablespoon syrup to simmer in small saucepan. Remove from heat. Add white chocolate; stir until smooth. Cover and chill until thick enough to spread.
• Invert cake onto small baking sheet; remove plastic. Working quickly, spread white chocolate ganache thinly over top and sides of cake. Place 24 hazelnuts around top edge of cake. Freeze cake until frosting is firm, about 30 minutes. (Can be made 1 week ahead. Cover cake tightly and keep frozen. Keep semisweet chocolate ganache chilled. Before serving, rewarm ganache over low heat, stirring just until liquid.) Serve cake, passing remaining semisweet ganache as sauce.

HAZELNUT DACQUOISE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line 2 large cookie sheets with foil. Using 8 inch round cake pan as a guide, with toothpick, outline 2 circles on foil on each sheet. In food processor with knife blade attached or in blender, blend hazelnuts, cornstarch, and 3/4 cup confectioners sugar until nuts are ground.
• 2. Use a large bowl and beat egg whites and cream of tartar at high speed until they form soft peaks. Sprinkle 3/4 cup confectioners sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time, into egg whites, beating well after each addition. Beat until sugar dissolves and whites stands in stiff, glossy peaks.
• 3. With rubber spatula, fold hazelnut mixture into egg whites. With metal spatula, spread one fourth of meringue mixture inside each circle on cookie sheets. Bake meringues 45 minutes. Turn oven off and leave in oven 1 hour to dry.
• 4. Transfer meringues with foil to wire racks and cool completely. With metal spatula, carefully loosen and remove meringues from foil.
• 5. Prepare chocolate cream: In small bowl, with mixer at medium speed, beat 1 1/2 cups heavy cream, 1 tablespoon confectioners sugar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla just to soft peaks. With rubber spatula, fold half of whipped cream into slightly warm melted chocolate just until combined. Fold in remaining whipped cream. Reserve 1/4 cup chocolate cream.
• 6. Prepare coffee cream: In cup, dissolve espresso in 2 tablespoons heavy cream. In small bowl, beat remaining heavy cream and 3 tablespoons confectioners sugar until soft peaks form. Add espresso mixture; beat until stiff peaks form.
• 7. On cake stand or plate, place 1 meringue layer; spread with half of the chocolate cream. Top with another meringue layer and half of the coffee cream. Repeat layering, ending with coffee cream. Spoon reserved 1/4 cup chocolate cream on top. Refrigerate dacquoise at least 5 hours, or overnight, for easier cutting. Prepare chocolate curls or strawberry slices just before serving!

HAZELNUT DACQUOIS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Prepare a sheet pan or two 9" round cake pans by lining them with parchment paper.
• Do not grease them!
• In your food processor, pulverize the toasted nuts with the flour until a fine meal forms.
• Add 2/3 cup of the sugar and pulse just to mix.
• Set aside.
• In a large, clean, dry mixing bowl, combine the egg whites and cream of tartar.
• Beat at medium speed until soft peaks form, then turn the speed to high and gradually beat in the remaining sugar; beat until stiff, but not dry.
• Fold the nut mixture gently into the meringue.
• Spread the dacquoise into the prepared pans.
• Bake for about 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown and springy to the touch.
• Cool the dacquoise in the pan on a rack.
• The dacquoise may be made, left in the pan, covered well and stored at room temperature for up to 2 days before adding a filling or buttercream.