Walnut Blackberry Torte With Mocha Buttercream Food

WALNUT MOCHA TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line the bottoms of two 8x1-1/2-inch round cake pans with parchment or waxed paper; grease and lightly flour pans. Set pans aside. In a medium bowl combine nuts, flour, and baking powder; set aside.
• In a blender or food processor combine eggs and sugar; cover and blend or process until smooth. Add nut mixture. Cover and blend or process until smooth. Spread batter evenly in the prepared pans.
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until cakes spring back when lightly touched (centers may dip slightly). Cool cake layers on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove cake layers from pans. Cool thoroughly on wire racks.
• Spread Mocha Frosting on each layer; stack layers. Loosely cover and chill frosted cake for 2 to 24 hours. If desired, top with chocolate curls.
• Makes 8 servings Mocha Frosting
• Mocha Frosting: In a chilled small mixing bowl dissolve instant coffee crystals in whipping cream; add sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed just until stiff peaks form (tips stand straight).

HUNGARIAN WALNUT TORTE

Steps:

• Let eggs stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. In a large bowl, beat egg yolks and sugar for 10 minutes or until light lemon-colored. Beat in vanilla. Combine cake flour and baking powder; add to egg mixture alternately with water, beating well. Fold in walnuts., In another bowl and with clean beaters, beat the egg whites on high until stiff peaks form. Fold a fourth of the egg whites into batter; fold in remaining whites. , Pour into two greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., In a small saucepan, whisk the milk and pudding mix. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat. Pour into a bowl; press a piece of waxed paper or plastic wrap over pudding. Refrigerate for 30 minutes., In a bowl, cream the butter, shortening and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla and cooled pudding. Split each cake into two layers. Place one bottom layer on a serving plate; spread with about 3/4 cup filling. Repeat layers. Garnish with chocolate curls if desired.

WALNUT-BLACKBERRY TORTE WITH MOCHA BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Make cake layers:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 15- by 10- by 1-inch baking pan and line bottom with wax or parchment paper. Butter paper.
• Pulse walnuts in a food processor until finely chopped (do not allow to become a paste) and stir together with flour in a bowl.
• Beat together butter and 1/3 cup sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until pale and fluffy. Add yolks 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in vanilla. Stir in nut mixture by hand.
• Beat egg whites with salt with cleaned beaters in another bowl at medium speed until they hold soft peaks. Add remaining 1/3 cup sugar and beat at high speed until whites just hold stiff peaks. Stir one fourth of whites into batter to lighten, then fold in remaining whites gently but thoroughly.
• Spread batter evenly in baking pan, smoothing top. Bake in middle of oven until center is set and top is pale golden, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool cake in pan on a rack. Cover cake with an inverted baking sheet, then invert cake onto it and remove paper.
• Reinvert cake onto a cutting board. Trim about 1/4 inch from each side of cake with a sharp knife, then cut cake crosswise into 4 equal rectangles (each about 9 by 3 1/2 inches). Line baking sheet with wax or parchment paper and transfer cake to baking sheet, arranging layers side by side, touching.
• Make jam filling:
• Sprinkle gelatin over water in a small bowl and let stand 1 minute to soften. Heat strained preserves in a double boiler or a metal bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water until warm, then add gelatin mixture and stir until dissolved, about 2 minutes. Remove bowl from heat and set in a larger bowl of ice water. Cool, stirring occasionally, until cold, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Spread jam evenly over cake layers and chill until set, about 1 hour.
• Assemble cake:
• Reserve the nicest-looking cake layer for top. Put 1 cake layer, jam side up, on a cake platter and spread with 1/3 cup buttercream. Top with second cake layer, jam side up, and spread with 1/3 cup buttercream. Top with third layer, jam side up, and spread with 1/3 cup buttercream. Top with reserved cake layer, jam side up. Frost sides of cake with about 1 cup buttercream. Transfer remaining buttercream to pastry bag and pipe a decorative border around top edge of cake.

MOCHA-WALNUT TORTE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Place 5 chocolate squares, 1/2 cup each corn syrup and butter and 2 Tbsp. coffee granules in large microwaveable bowl. Microwave on HIGH 2 min. or until butter is melted. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Add sugar; mix well. Blend in eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour and nuts.
• Spread into greased and floured 9-inch round cake pan.
• Bake 40 to 45 min. or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. (Do not overbake.) Cool in pan 10 min. Invert cake onto wire rack; carefully remove pan. Cool cake completely.
• Place remaining chocolate and 1 Tbsp. butter in small microwaveable bowl. Microwave on HIGH 1-1/2 min. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Add 2 Tbsp. corn syrup and 1 tsp. coffee granules; stir until well blended. Place cake on serving plate. Spread glaze evenly over top and side of cake. Let stand 1 hour or until glaze is set.

THE BEST MOCHA BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• Dissolve 1 packet of Starbucks French Roast Instant Coffee in 1 teaspoon of very hot water. Allow to cool.
• Add softened Butter to a mixer.
• Add cooled coffee mixture and vanilla to mixer.
• Mix butter, coffee and vanilla.
• Mix Cocoa Powder and Powdered Sugar.
• Add Cocoa/Powered Sugar a cup at a time and continue to mix until sugar is incorporated.

CUCUMBER AND SWEET-ONION SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, toss together cucumbers, onion, dill, oil, lemon juice, and vinegar; season with salt and pepper.
• In a large bowl, toss together cucumbers, onion, dill, oil, lemon juice, and vinegar; season with salt and pepper.