Hungarian Chestnut Cake Food

HUNGARIAN CHESTNUT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line the bottom of a greased 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper. Then grease the parchment paper.
• Separate the eggs.
• In a food processor puree the chestnuts with the butter and the rum, scraping down the sides, until the mixture is smooth. Add the melted bittersweet chocolate and blend the mixture until it is combined well. With the motor running, add the yolks, 1 at a time, and transfer the mixture to a large bowl.
• In a bowl with an electric mixer beat the whites with the salt until they hold soft peaks, add the sugar, a little at a time, beating, and beat the meringue until it holds stiff peaks.
• Whisk about one fourth of the meringue into the chocolate mixture to lighten it and fold in the remaining meringue gently but thoroughly. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
• Bake the cake in the middle of a 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a tester comes out with crumbs adhering to it and the top is cracked. Let the cake cool in the pan on a rack for 5 minutes, remove the side of the pan, and invert the cake onto another rack. Remove the bottom of the pan, invert the torte onto a rack, and let it cool completely. (The cake will fall as it cools.)
• To Make Glaze: Put 6 ounces of the finely chopped chocolate in a small bowl, in a saucepan bring 1/2 cup of the cream to a boil, and pour it over the chocolate. Stir the mixture until the chocolate is melted and the glaze is smooth and stir in 1 tablespoon of the rum. Dip each candied chestnut halfway into the glaze to coat it partially, transfer the chestnuts to a foil-covered tray, and let them set.
• Invert the cake onto a rack set on wax paper, pour the glaze over it, smoothing the glaze with a spatula and letting the excess drip down the side, and let the cake stand for 2 hours, or until the glaze is set. Transfer the cake carefully to a serving plate and garnish it with the coated chestnuts.
• Make the whipped cream just before serving the cake: In a chilled bowl with chilled beaters beat the 1 cup heavy cream until it holds soft peaks, beat in the 2 tablespoons sugar and the1 tablespoon rum, and beat the mixture until it holds stiff peaks. Fold in the chopped candied chestnuts. Serve the cake with the whipped cream.

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to 385F.
• In a small bowl, melt the butter in the microwave (20 seconds increments).
• In a large bowl, pour the wet ingredients: eggs, melted butter, chestnut spread and milk (and sugar if you choose to add some). Mix well until smooth.
• Add progressively the flour and the baking powder, mix until smooth.
• Pour the batter in an oven mold,previously greased if necessary.
• Bake for 30 minutes or when the tip of your knife comes out dry when you pick your cake in the middle.

HUNGARIAN CHESTNUT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line the bottom of a greased 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper. Then grease the parchment paper.
• Separate the eggs.
• In a food processor puree the chestnuts with the butter and the rum, scraping down the sides, until the mixture is smooth. Add the melted bittersweet chocolate and blend the mixture until it is combined well. With the motor running, add the yolks, 1 at a time, and transfer the mixture to a large bowl.
• In a bowl with an electric mixer beat the whites with the salt until they hold soft peaks, add the sugar, a little at a time, beating, and beat the meringue until it holds stiff peaks.
• Whisk about one fourth of the meringue into the chocolate mixture to lighten it and fold in the remaining meringue gently but thoroughly. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
• Bake the cake in the middle of a 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a tester comes out with crumbs adhering to it and the top is cracked. Let the cake cool in the pan on a rack for 5 minutes, remove the side of the pan, and invert the cake onto another rack. Remove the bottom of the pan, invert the torte onto a rack, and let it cool completely. (The cake will fall as it cools.)
• To Make Glaze: Put 6 ounces of the finely chopped chocolate in a small bowl, in a saucepan bring 1/2 cup of the cream to a boil, and pour it over the chocolate. Stir the mixture until the chocolate is melted and the glaze is smooth and stir in 1 tablespoon of the rum. Dip each candied chestnut halfway into the glaze to coat it partially, transfer the chestnuts to a foil-covered tray, and let them set.
• Invert the cake onto a rack set on wax paper, pour the glaze over it, smoothing the glaze with a spatula and letting the excess drip down the side, and let the cake stand for 2 hours, or until the glaze is set. Transfer the cake carefully to a serving plate and garnish it with the coated chestnuts.
• Make the whipped cream just before serving the cake: In a chilled bowl with chilled beaters beat the 1 cup heavy cream until it holds soft peaks, beat in the 2 tablespoons sugar and the1 tablespoon rum, and beat the mixture until it holds stiff peaks. Fold in the chopped candied chestnuts. Serve the cake with the whipped cream.

HUNGARIAN CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Sift together the flour and baking powder, set aside.
• Cream the butter in a large mixing bowl, then add the egg yolks, salt, and lemon juice, mixing well.
• Add the dry mixture, then using your fingers, work the dough into a smooth consistency. Add the cold water as necessary to work the dough.
• Roll the dough out on a flat surface to a thickness of 1/4-inch. Cut the dough to fit the greased bottom of a 9-inch springform pan and place the dough in the bottom. Use the excess to line the sides of the pan.
• Chill.
• CHEESECAKE: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Press the cottage cheese through a sieve.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat 3 eggs and the sugar until well blended. Add the cottage cheese and beat, then stir in the lemon rind and the sour cream.
• Separate the remaining egg, saving the yolk for another recipe. Remove crust from refrigerator and brush with the egg white.
• Combine the pineapple and raisins in a bowl, then spread the mixture evenly on the prepared crust.
• Pour the cheese mixture on the top of the fruit mixture.
• Bake for 10 minutes at 450 degrees Fahrenheit, then reduce the oven to 350 degrees and bake for about another 35 minutes.
• Cool to room temperature, then chill. Serve chilled.

HUNGARIAN CHOCOLATE CHESTNUT TORTE (GESZTENYE TORTA)

Steps:

• Force chestnut purée through a potato ricer to make the purée fluffy, and set aside.
• Grate the chocolate using a food processor or the grater attachment of your mixer if you have one.
• Mix the almonds and breadcrumbs together.
• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Prepare 2 9-inch springform pans for baking by brushing the bottom and sides of the pan with melted butter, dusting with flour, and shaking out the excess.
• Beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until stiff, but not dry.
• Using an electric mixer, beat the egg yolks, gradually adding the sugar until well mixed (3-4 minutes: the mixture will be light yellow and very thick and creamy).
• Fold in the chestnut purée, then the grated chocolate.
• Carefully fold in the nut and bread crumb mixture.
• Stir 1 tablespoon of the egg whites into the batter, then fold the rest in 1/4 at a time.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pans, spread evenly, and bake in the center of the oven until the tops turn light brown (30-50 minutes).
• Remove from oven and let it cool a little in the pan.
• Remove the sides of the pan and allow to cool thoroughly before filling it.
• For filling, melt chocolate in a double boiler over very low heat.
• Cream the butter with the powdered sugar; add the melted chocolate, and beat until fluffy.
• Fold in the nuts.
• Refrigerate until ready to use.
• When the layers are completely cooled, take the better of the two for the top layer.
• Spread the bottom layer with the filling, and set the top layer on top.
• In a cold bowl, with a cold beater, whip the cream.
• Gradually sift in the powdered sugar, and continue beating until stiff peaks form.
• Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Mash the chestnut purée with a fork, then work in the powdered sugar.
• Beat in the rum, and taste for flavoring.
• When ready to serve the cake, top with whipped cream, then force the chestnut topping through a potato ricer directly on top of the whipped cream.