Indulgent Chocolate Torte Food

DECADENT CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE TORTE

Steps:

• Get your equipment ready (see tips below). Break the chocolate in small pieces into a large heatproof bowl. Spoon in the syrup and pour in about a quarter of the cream. Stand the bowl over (not in) a pan of hot water over the lowest possible heat and leave until the chocolate has melted, about 15-20 minutes. Remove the bowl from the pan and stir to combine. Leave until barely warm - dip your little finger in to check.
• Get your cake tin ready. Do this while you are waiting for the chocolate to melt and cool so you're not hanging around. Cut open the plastic folder along the bottom, then cut out a disc to fit in the bottom of the tin and 3 strips to line the sides. (See step 2).
• Pour the rest of the cream into a very large bowl and tip in the coffee and cinnamon. Whip with a balloon whisk until the cream looks like step 3. When you shake the bowl the cream should wobble like a thick milkshake, and when you dribble some cream from the whisk, the trail it leaves in the cream below should disappear in 1-2 seconds.
• Fold the two together. Pour the cooled chocolate into the bowl containing the cream. With the largest metal spoon you've got, fold the cream and chocolate together in a figure-of-eight motion. Don't be nervous - keep going until they are evenly and smoothly mixed and the mixture has a soft, pillowy, downy texture - you will see and feel it thicken as you fold.
• Set the torte. Pour the chocolatey cream into the tin and level the surface with the back of the spoon. Put the tin in the fridge and leave to firm up. This can happen in under an hour, but you may need to leave it longer, depending on the coldness of your fridge (you can leave it overnight if this is more convenient).
• Unmould and serve. Unclip and remove the side of the tin, then remove the pieces of plastic around the sides. Invert a serving plate over the torte and turn the torte upside down on to it. Lift off the tin base and peel away the plastic. Dust all over with cocoa (including the plate if you wish to be fashionable) and serve in thin slices.

INDULGENT BROWNIE TORTE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 300. Line 13x9-inch pan with foil so foil extends about 2"-inches over sides of pan. Spray foil with cooking spray.
• Make brownies as directed on box for cakelike brownies in a 13x9"-inch pan. Cool completely, about 1 1/2 hours. Remove from pan by lifting foil; peel foil away. Trim sides if desired. Cut brownie crosswise into thirds; place one piece on serving plate.
• Spoon frosting into microwavable bowl. Microwave uncovered on HIGH 15-20 seconds; stir frosting until smooth.
• Pour 1/3 of the frosting over brownie piece on serving plate. Place another brownie piece on top; pour half of remaining frosting over second brownie piece. Top with remaining brownie piece; pour remaining frosting over top. Refrigerate 30 minutes to set. Garnish with chocolate curls. Store loosely covered.

INDULGENT BROWNIE TORTE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Line 13x9-inch pan with foil so foil extends about 2 inches over sides of pan. Spray foil with cooking spray.
• Make brownies as directed on box for cakelike brownies in a 13x9-inch pan. Cool completely, about 1 1/2 hours. Remove from pan by lifting foil; peel foil away. Trim sides if desired. Cut brownie crosswise into thirds; place one piece on serving plate.
• Spoon frosting into microwavable bowl. Microwave uncovered on High 15 to 20 seconds; stir frosting until smooth.
• Pour 1/3 of the frosting over brownie piece on serving plate. Place another brownie piece on top; pour half of remaining frosting over second brownie piece. Top with remaining brownie piece; pour remaining frosting over top. Refrigerate 30 minutes to set. Garnish with chocolate curls. Store loosely covered.