Hazelnut Mocha Dacquoise Food

MOCHA-HAZELNUT BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then beat in the vanilla. Reduce the mixer speed to low; add the flour mixture and beat until just incorporated, then beat in the hazelnuts.
• Divide the dough in half and put on the prepared baking sheet. Lightly dust your hands and the dough with flour, then shape each piece into an 11-by-2-inch log, about 5 inches apart. Freeze until firm, about 10 minutes.
• Transfer to the oven and bake until puffed and set, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer the logs to a cutting board. Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
• Slice the logs crosswise 1/2 inch thick. Arrange the slices cut-side down on the baking sheet. Return to the oven and bake, turning the cookies halfway through, until dry, about 40 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely (they will harden as they cool).

HAZELNUT-MOCHA MACARONS

Steps:

• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Grind 1 cup of the confectioners' sugar, the hazelnuts, and cocoa in a food processor until powdery, about 3 minutes. Sift mixture through a medium mesh strainer onto a piece of parchment paper, then discard any large pieces of nuts that didn't come through the strainer.
• With an electric mixer, beat the egg whites and salt until they hold firm but not dry peaks, about 2 minutes. Gradually add the remaining 1 cup confectioners' sugar, a tablespoon at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed; this can take up to 3 minutes. Beat for an extra 30 seconds until the peaks are firm and shiny but still not dry. Fold the nut mixture gently into the egg whites with a large rubber spatula. Transfer mixture into a large piping bag fitted with a 1/2-inch plain piping tip. Pipe 32 2-inch by about 1/3-inch thick rounds, evenly spaced, on each of the prepared pans. Set aside to air dry for 30 minutes before baking.
• Meanwhile make the filling: Put chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream, with espresso powder mixed in, to a boil. Pour cream over chocolate and shake bowl gently so cream settles around the chocolate. Set mixture aside until the chocolate is soft, about 5 minutes. Whisk gently until smooth, taking care not to incorporate too many air bubbles. Cool at room temperature until set up.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Bake macaroons until set and puffed, about 18 to 20 minutes. Take care not to overcook the macaroons or they'll crack. Cool cookies for 5 minutes then gently peel from paper. Let cool completely.
• Spread 1 teaspoon of mocha filling on a cookie and sandwich 2 cookies together.

MOCHA HAZELNUT CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Butter and line the base of a 20cm round cake tin. To make the cake, break up the chocolate and put in a small bowl with the coffee over a pan of water. Heat gently, stirring a little, until the chocolate has melted and you have a smooth sauce. Set aside.
• Beat together the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl, using an electric hand whisk or wooden spoon, until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, a little at a time. Don't worry if the mixture curdles, it won't affect the finished cake. Fold in the chocolate, then the hazelnuts, then sift in the flour and baking powder.
• Pour the mixture into the cake tin and bake for 45-55 mins, until firm to the touch. Cool in the tin for 5 mins, then turn out and cool on a wire rack.
• To make the filling, put the chocolate, butter, coffee and cream in a small pan and heat gently, stirring until dissolved and smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the icing sugar. Leave to cool, then put in the fridge, stirring occasionally until it is spreadable. This will take 1-2 hrs.
• Slice the cake in two horizontally and put the base on a serving plate. Spread over half of the filling and scatter over half the hazelnuts. Cover with the top of the cake and spread the remaining filling over the top. Scatter the remaining hazelnuts around the top edge of the cake.