Strawberry Hazelnut Gateau Food

HAZELNUT GâTEAU BRETON

Steps:

• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 325°F. Butter and flour 9-inch-diameter springform pan. Combine 2 tablespoons vanilla sugar and hazelnuts in processor; blend until nuts are finely ground but not pasty. Combine 6 egg yolks and remaining 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons vanilla sugar in large bowl; whisk until well blended and slightly thicker, about 2 minutes (do not use electric mixer). Whisk in hazelnut mixture. Gradually whisk in melted butter. Sift flour over batter; stir just until blended (batter will be thick; do not overmix or cake may be tough).
• Transfer batter to prepared pan; smooth top with offset spatula (layer will be thin). Brush top generously with egg glaze. Using back of tines of fork, deeply mark crisscross pattern atop cake, marking 3 times across in 1 direction and 3 times in opposite direction. Bake cake until deep golden on top and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Cool in pan on rack 15 minutes, then remove pan sides and cool cake completely. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Wrap in foil and store at room temperature.
• Cut cake into wedges and serve with whole strawberries or with warm strawberry jam.

STRAWBERRY HAZELNUT GATEAU

Steps:

• Beat the egg whites with salt until soft peaks form, gradually add sugar, beat until the sugar is dissolved and mixture is of meringue consistency.
• Beat in the vinegar and vanilla.
• Line bases of two 20cm springform pans with greased greaseproof paper which has been lightly dusted with cornflour.
• Spread meringue mixture evenly into tins.
• Sprinkle ground hazelnuts evenly over meringue in both tins.
• With a knife or small spatula, swirl hazelnuts lightly through meringue. Smooth over top of meringue with the back of a spoon.
• Bake in moderate oven 35 - 40 minutes or until meringue is crisp to touch; release sides of pan, cool on the base of the pan.
• Chop chocolate. Combine with water in top of double saucepan; stir over simmering water until melted; cool.
• Remove cakes from bases.
• Place a layer of meringue on a serving plate, flat side down; spread with a thin layer of chocolate. Spread whipped cream over chocolate. Reserve 4 strawberries, wash and hull the remainder, cut in half, arrange over cream.
• Spread the underside of second meringue with remaining chocolate mixture, place on top of strawberry layer, chocolate side down.
• Whip extra cream, cover sides and top of cake and if desired, pipe cream decoratively on top.
• Arrange reserved halved strawberries on top of cake. Refrigerate until ready to serve. If desired, brush strawberries used for decoration with warmed, sieved strawberry jam to give them a pretty glaze before arranging on cake. Cheers, Doreen Doreen Randal, Wanganui.
• New Zealand.

STRAWBERRY HAZELNUT TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/170 fan/gas 5. Tip the flour and ground hazelnuts into the food processor and add the butter. Process until it looks like fine crumbs, then add the sugar and mix briefly. Add the egg yolk and 1-2 tbsp cold water, then pulse to a firm dough.
• Knead the dough briefly on a lightly floured surface, then roll out and use to line a 23-24cm loose-based flan tin. Using a sharp knife, trim off the excess pastry, then chill for 15 mins. Line pastry case with a round of baking parchment and fill with baking beans. Bake for 15 mins, then remove the paper and beans and cook for a further 5-7 mins until the pastry is cooked and pale golden.
• Put the toffees and milk in a small pan and gently heat, stirring until the toffees have melted and you have a smooth glossy sauce. Set aside.
• Beat the mascarpone with the icing sugar to loosen it. Whip the cream until it just holds its shape, then fold into the mascarpone. Slice half the strawberries and mix into the cream. Remove the pastry case from the tin and set on a serving plate. Spread two-thirds of the toffee sauce over base, then spoon over the mascarpone.
• Slice the remaining strawberries and scatter over the filling. Drizzle the rest of the toffee sauce over the strawberries and sprinkle with the hazelnuts.

STRAWBERRY HAZELNUT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180 degrees.
• Grease a deep 20cm round cake tin, line bse with baking paper.
• Beat eggs and sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer until thick and creamy.
• Fold in sifted flour and hazelnuts, pour into prepared tin, bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown and firm in the centre.
• Turn onto wire rack to cool.
• Combine ricotta, jam and strawberries in a food processor or blender, blend until smooth, but with still some strawberry chunks.
• Cut cake horizontially into two, put ricotta mixture on bottom layer, place top on cake.
• Dust top of cake with icing sugar on completion.

STRAWBERRY HAZELNUT TORTE

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Trace two 8-in. circles 1/2 in. apart on the paper; set aside., Add vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and salt to egg whites; beat until soft peaks form. Add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until stiff peaks form. Spread over paper circles. Sprinkle with hazelnuts; cut through meringues with a knife to swirl nuts., Bake at 375° for 30-35 minutes or until the meringue and nuts are lightly browned. Cool on baking sheet. When completely cool, remove meringues from paper; store in an airtight container. In a microwave, melt chocolate and shortening; stir until smooth. Cool to room temperature., To assemble, place a meringue, flat side down, on a serving plate; spread with half of the melted chocolate. In a large bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners' sugar and remaining vanilla; beat until stiff peaks form. Spread half over chocolate layer. Arrange sliced strawberries over whipped cream., Spread flat side of remaining meringue with melted chocolate. Place chocolate side down over strawberries; spread with remaining whipped cream. Refrigerate for up to 4 hours before serving. Garnish with halved strawberries.

HAZELNUT, CHOCOLATE AND STRAWBERRY TORTE

Steps:

• for cake:
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Butter and flour 9-inch-diameter cake pan with 2-inch-high sides. Line bottom with parchment. Butter and flour parchment. Finely grind hazelnuts and 2 tablespoons sugar in processor. Place 2/3 cup ground-nut mixture in medium bowl; add flour and whisk to blend. Reserve remaining nut mixture for garnish.
• Using electric mixer, beat eggs and 2/3 cup sugar in large bowl until mixture is thick and slowly dissolving ribbon forms when beaters are lifted, about 8 minutes. Fold in flour mixture in 3 additions.
• Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake cake until top is golden and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 28 minutes. Transfer cake to rack. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Run small knife between pan sides and cake to loosen. Turn cake out onto rack; peel off parchment. Cool completely.
• for ganache:
• Bring cream to simmer in large saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth. Pour into 13x9x2-inch glass dish. Refrigerate until ganache thickens to spreadable consistency, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour 30 minutes (ganache will resemble thick pudding). Transfer 3/4 cup chocolate ganache to small bowl; set aside for garnish.
• Cut cake horizontally into 2 layers (layers will be thin). Place 1 cake layer, cut side up, on platter. Spread 1/2 cup chocolate ganache over. Arrange sliced strawberries in slightly overlapping concentric circles over ganache. Spread 1/2 cup ganache over cut side of second cake layer. Place cake layer atop strawberries, ganache side down, and press slightly to adhere. Spread remaining chocolate ganache over sides and top of cake. Gently press reserved ground hazelnuts onto sides of cake.
• Transfer reserved 3/4 cup ganache to pastry bag fitted with medium star tip. Pipe 8 rosettes around top edge of cake, spacing apart. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome and refrigerate. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before continuing.)
• Starting 1/3 inch from stem end of whole strawberries, thinly slice strawberries lengthwise to tip. Press slices slightly to fan. Place fanned berries between rosettes on cake. Garnish with additional toasted hazelnuts, if desired.

STRAWBERRY-HAZELNUT FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• In a microwave, melt butter with brown sugar and corn syrup; stir until brown sugar is blended. Pour into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish; top with bread., In a large bowl, whisk eggs, cream, liqueur and vanilla; pour over bread. Refrigerate, covered, overnight., Preheat oven to 350°. Remove French toast from refrigerator while oven heats. Bake, uncovered, until top is puffed, edges are golden and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 35-40 minutes. Let stand 5-10 minutes before serving. Serve with strawberries and hazelnuts.