White Chocolate Almond Torte Food

CHOCOLATE-ALMOND TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Toast the almonds on a baking sheet until lightly golden, 6 to 7 minutes. Cool slightly, then pulse in a food processor until finely ground, but not pasty.
• Melt 12 tablespoons butter and the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water). Stir until the chocolate is smooth, then remove from the heat and cool slightly. Grease the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan with butter and coat with the breadcrumbs, tapping out the excess.
• Set aside 2 tablespoons granulated sugar. Combine the 6 egg yolks and the remaining sugar in a stand mixer and beat with the paddle attachment on medium-high until thick and pale, about 3 minutes. Add the orange zest, rum and salt, then beat in the melted chocolate until smooth. Mix in the ground almonds until just combined.
• In a clean bowl, beat the 3 egg whites with a mixer until foamy. Gradually beat in the reserved 2 tablespoons granulated sugar on high speed until almost stiff. Stir one-third of the whites into the chocolate batter, then gently fold in the rest. Spread the batter in the prepared pan and bake until the top is firm and cracked (a toothpick inserted into the cake will be fudgy), 35 to 40 minutes. Cool on a rack 10 minutes, then run a knife around the edge of the pan and remove the ring. Serve warm or at room temperature. Garnish with confectioners' sugar and whipped cream, if desired.

WHITE CHOCOLATE-ALMOND CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350F and grease bottom of a 9 inch springform pan, line with wax paper.
• Melt chocolate in microwave on medium power or a bowl set over a pan of simmering water.
• (white chocolate won't melt to a smoothness of dark. once it's lost its shape it's melted enough) Beat butter in a large bowl on high speed till creamy.
• Beat in 3 T sugar then add yolks, one at a time.
• Scrape in cooled chocolate and beat till well blended.
• Add almonds and extract and beat till combined.
• Using clean beaters, beat egg whites on high speed till peaks begin to form.
• Slowly add 3 T sugar and beat till white and gloosy and firm.
• Add a big dollop to cake batter and stir well then fold in remaining whites.
• Pour into prepared pan and bake 45 to 50 minutes or till batter starts to pull away from sides of pan.
• Check after 30 minutes since you probably need to cover it loosely with foil to stop it burning.
• Some bronzing on top is okay.
• When done, a cake tester won't come out exactly clean, but no cooking batter should be clinging to it.
• Cool in pan on wire rack 20 minutes.
• Cake sinks while cooling.
• Run a knife around edge, invert cake on rack, remove paper, invert again and cool completely.
• Can serve with chopped mango and raspberries.

WHITE CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY TORTE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350. Lightly grease and flour bottom and sides of 9 or 10 inch springform pan.
• In medium saucepan over low heat, melt 8 oz. of the white baking bars and butter, stirring constantly until smooth. Cool slightly.
• In large bowl, beat eggs on high speed until light lemon colored, about 3 minutes. Gradually add sugar, beating until thickened and very light yellow. By hand, fold in flour, salt, almond extract, melted white chocolate and remaining 8 oz. of chopped white baking bars. Fold in raspberries. Spread in greased and floured pan. Sprinkle with almonds; press lightly.
• Bake at 350 for 55-65 minutes or until top is golden brown and springs back when touched lightly in center. Cool 30 minutes. Remove sides of pan; cool completely.
• Melt chocolate chips in small saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, until smooth. Using wire whisk, beat in powdered sugar until smooth. Drizzle glaze over top of torte; allow to set. Serve at room temperature. Store in refrigerator.

WHITE CHOCOLATE CHRISTMAS TORTE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine butter, water and white chocolate; cook and stir over low heat until melted. Remove from the heat; stir in the buttermilk, eggs and extracts.
• In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup flour and pecans. In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar, baking soda and remaining flour. Gradually beat in the butter mixture. Stir in the flour mixture.
• Pour into three greased and floured 9-in round baking pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from the pans to wire racks to cool completely.
• For frosting, in a small saucepan, melt white chocolate over very low heat. Cool for 10 minutes, stirring occasionaly. In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and butter. Gradually beat in melted chocolate and extracts. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until smooth.
• To assemble, spread 2 tablespoons of jam over one cake layer; spread with 1/2 cup frosting. Repeat layers twice. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of torte. Warm remaining jam; drizzle over dessert plates. Top with a slice of torte.

WHITE CHOCOLATE-ALMOND TORTE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F. Grease bottom and side of 9- or 10-inch springform pan with shortening; lightly flour. Place almonds on ungreased cookie sheet; bake 4 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned. Reserve 2 tablespoons almonds for garnish. Place remaining almonds in food processor or blender. Cover; process until almonds are ground; set aside.
• In small bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt; set aside. In large bowl, beat 1/2 cup butter and the granulated sugar with electric mixer on medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally, until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating on high speed after each addition until smooth and blended. Add milk, liqueur, 1 teaspoon vanilla, the flour mixture and ground almonds; beat on medium speed until smooth. Stir in 6 ounces white chocolate. Spread batter in pan.
• Bake 50 to 55 minutes or until center springs back when lightly touched and top is evenly browned. Cool 15 minutes; remove side of pan. Cool completely, about 1 hour 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, heat 4 ounces white chocolate and boiling water over low heat, stirring constantly, just until chocolate is melted. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla; cool to room temperature. In large bowl, beat 3/4 cup butter on medium speed until fluffy. Gradually beat in cooled white chocolate mixture and powdered sugar until smooth.
• Run long knife under cake to loosen from pan bottom; transfer to serving plate. Spread frosting over side and top of torte. Garnish with reserved toasted almonds.