Praline Torte With Chocolate Truffle Filling 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.

CHOCOLATE PRALINE TORTE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine brown sugar, butter and cream. Stir over low heat until butter is melted. Pour into two greased 9-in. round baking pans. Sprinkle with pecans; set aside. , Prepare cake mix according to package directions. Carefully pour batter over pecans. Bake at 325° for 35-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes; invert onto wire racks to cool completely. , For topping, beat cream in a bowl until soft peaks form. Add sugar and vanilla; beat until stiff. , Place one cake layer, pecan side up, on a serving plate. Spread with half of the topping. Top with second cake layer and remaining topping. Sprinkle with chocolate curls if desired. Store in the refrigerator.

PRALINE CHOCOLATE DESSERT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a small bowl, combine cookie crumbs and butter. Press onto bottom of a greased 9-in. springform pan. Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Sprinkle with pecans., In a large saucepan over medium heat, bring butter and brown sugar to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 10 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Pour over pecans. Refrigerate 1-2 hours or until set., In a large bowl, beat filling ingredients until smooth. Spread over praline layer. Refrigerate 1-2 hours or until set., For ganache, place chocolate chips in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chocolate; whisk until smooth. Spread over filling. Refrigerate 1-2 hours or until set., Loosen sides of pan with a knife. Remove rim from pan. Sprinkle with pecans. Refrigerate leftovers. ,

CHOCOLATE & HAZELNUT PRALINE TART

Steps:

• Make the pastry. Cream together the butter and sugar, then add flour and almonds. Bring everything together with the egg. If the pastry is very soft, chill for 20 mins. If not, roll out to fit a deepish 23cm fluted flan tin; if the pastry breaks, press scraps of pastry into the gaps, leaving a slight overhang. Chill for 20 mins.
• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Line the case with baking parchment and baking beans, then bake for 10 mins. Remove beans and cook for another 10 mins until golden.
• Meanwhile, toast the nuts in a dry pan until starting to brown. Scatter over 4 tbsp of sugar, cook until it caramelises, then tip nuts onto a baking tray lined with parchment. Leave to cool, then roughly chop. Over a pan of barely simmering water, melt the chocolate, butter and alcohol together, then set aside to cool slightly. Over the same pan, beat the egg, yolks and remaining sugar until pale and fluffy. Take off the heat, then fold in the chocolate mix.
• When case is cooked, remove from oven and turn the heat down to 160C/fan 140C/gas 3. Scatter most of the hazelnuts over the base, then tip in the chocolate mix, pressing it down slightly. Cook the tart for 15-20 mins until the chocolate has almost set. Leave to cool, then serve scattered with the remaining nuts. Can be made up to 1 day ahead.

CHOCOLATE PRALINE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350; buttter a 10x15 jelly roll pan; set aside.
• Stir together pecans, brown sugar and 4 T. whipping cream; spread in prepared pan; bake for 20 minutes (coating will be slightly crystallized); stir one time; remove from oven; stir the whole works (should be of "chopped nuts texture/consistence"--will be used for rolling the truffle/chocolate in later on) and cool.
• Microwave the chocolate chips and remaining cream in a large bowl--about 3-4 minutes; whisk several times until smooth (microwave at 15-second intervals to prevent burning); whisk in the butter pieces and the almond liqueur; let stand 20 minutes.
• Beat the chocolate mixture with an electric mixer for 4 minutes or until SOFT PEAKS form (do not overbeat!); cover and chill at least four hours.
• Shape chocolate into one-inch balls, roll in pecan-sugar; cover and chill up to one week (who are we kidding? these will NOT last for one week!) or freeze for up to a month (seriously!?).

PRALINE TORTE WITH CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE FILLING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Grease and flour three 8- or 9-inch round cake pans.* In medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt set aside. In small bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form set aside.In large bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups sugar, 1 1/2 cups butter and egg yolks beat until light and fluffy. Add flour mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. Fold in beaten egg whites. Pour batter into greased and floured pans.Bake at 375°F. for 15 to 20 minutes or "until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes remove from pans. Cool completely.In small heavy saucepan over very low heat, melt chocolate, stirring constantly until smooth. Remove from heat stir in 1 tablespoon butter and 1/3 cup whipping cream. If necessary, refrigerate until thickened and of desired spreading consistency, 15 to 30 minutes.Line cookie sheet with foil. In small skillet over low heat, cook almonds and 1/4 cup sugar, stirring constantly, until sugar is melted and almonds are coated. Place on foil-lined cookie sheet cool. Place coated almonds in plastic bag coarsely crush with wooden mallet or rolling pin. Set aside.Assemble torte 2 to 3 hours before serving. Place 1 cake layer on serving plate spread with half of filling. Repeat with second cake layer and remaining filling. Top with remaining cake layer.In small bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups whipping cream, 1 tablespoon sugar, instant coffee granules and almond extract beat just until stiff peaks form. DO NOT OVERBEAT. Reserve 2 tablespoons crushed almonds for garnish fold in remaining crushed almonds. Frost top and sides of cake. Before serving, garnish with reserved crushed almonds. Cover store in refrigerator.*TIP: Layers can be baked 1 at a time if 3 pans are not available.HIGH ALTITUDE - Above 3,500 feet: Increase flour to 2 cups decrease sugar in torte to 1 1/4 cups. Bake as directed above.Nutrition Per Serving: Calories 640 Protein 7g Carbohydrate 53g Fat 47g Sodium 380mgFrom "Pillsbury Best of the Bake-Off® Cookbook." Copyright 2004 General Mills. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

PRALINE PUMPKIN TORTE

Steps:

• In a heavy saucepan, combine the brown sugar, butter and cream. Cook and stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved. Pour into two well-greased 9-in. round baking pans. Sprinkle with pecans; cool. , For cake, in a large bowl, beat the eggs, sugar and oil. Add pumpkin and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, pie spice, baking soda and salt; gradually add to pumpkin mixture just until blended. , Carefully spoon batter over brown sugar mixture. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For topping, in a small bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners' sugar and vanilla; beat until stiff peaks form. , Place one cake layer, praline side up, on a serving plate. Spread two-thirds of the whipped cream mixture over cake. Top with second cake layer and remaining whipped cream. Sprinkle with additional pecans if desired. Store in the refrigerator.

PRALINE TORTE WITH CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE FILLING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375. Grease and flour three 8 or 9 inch round cake pans. In medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt; set aside. In small bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form; set aside.
• In large bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups sugar, 1 1/2 cups butter and egg yolks; beat until light and fluffy. Add flour mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. Fold in egg whites. Pour batter into greased and floured pans.
• Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes; remove from pans. Cool completely.
• In small heavy saucepan over very low heat, melt chocolate, stirring constantly until smooth. Remove from heat; stir in 1 T. butter and 1/3 cup of whipping cream. If necessary, refrigerate until thickened and of desired spreading consistency, 15 to 30 minutes.
• Line cookie sheet with foil. In small skillet over low heat, cook almonds and 1/4 cup of sugar, stirring constantly, until sugar is melted and almonds are coated. Place on foil-lined cookie sheet; cool. Place coated almonds in plastic bag; coarsely crush with wooden mallet or rolling pin. Set aside.
• Assemble torte 2 to 3 hours before serving. Place 1 cake layer on serving plate; spread with half of filling. Repeat with second cake layer and remaining filling. Top with remaining cake layer. In small bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups whipping cream, 1 T. sugar, instant coffee granules and almond extract; beat just until stiff peaks form. DO NOT OVERBEAT.
• Reserve 2 T. crushed almonds for garnish; fold in remaining crushed almonds. Frost top and sides of cake. Before serving, garnish with reserved crushed almonds. Cover; store in refrigerator.