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.

FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE-ALMOND CAKE (TORTA CAPRESE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325ºF and set a rack on the lower or middle level. Butter a 9-inch springform pan. Line the bottom of the pan with a circle of parchment paper.
• Grind the almonds in a food processor with 1/3 cup of the sugar. (Post grinding, your almond-sugar mixture will be about 3 cups).
• In a bowl over simmering water or in the top of a double boiler or in the microwave, melt the chocolate and butter together. Set aside.
• Beat the egg yolks in a large bowl with an electric mixer until lemon-colored, about 5 minutes. Gradually beat in 2/3 cup of the sugar. Add the chocolate mixture, stirring to mix well. Add the ground almonds and stir to incorporate. Add the salt, and the 2 tablespoons of Grand Marnier, if using, and stir to combine.
• In a clean bowl, beat the egg whites with the remaining 1/4 cup sugar until they form firm peaks. In two additions, fold the egg whites into the chocolate mixture.
• Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth the top. Bake for 55 minutes to an hour or longer - a toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean or if you have an instant-read thermometer, it should register 205ºF or above.
• Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes before removing the sides of the springform pan, then let cool completely.
• When the cake has cooled, transfer it to a serving platter. Just before serving, sift confectioners' sugar over the top.
• Optional: beat 1/2 cup heavy cream with a few tablespoons of confectioners sugar and a pinch of flaky sea salt until soft peaks form - I do this with my flat-bottomed whisk (which I love: it's the Xlarge Whipper). Taste. Add more sugar and/or salt to taste, and beat lightly again - I love whipped cream that's still soft and billowy in texture and not too sweet. Serve each slice with a dollop of whipped cream and some fresh berries, if you have them.

LEMON TORTA CAPRESE

Steps:

• Place the butter and chocolate in a heatproof bowl fitted over a saucepan with some simmering water and melt until smooth. Cool slightly until just warm to the touch.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the inside of a 9-inch springform pan.
• Place the egg whites in a medium bowl with the salt. Place the yolks in a slightly larger bowl with the granulated sugar. Using a handheld mixer, beat the whites on medium speed until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes. Transfer the mixer to the bowl with the yolks and beat on medium speed until light, pale and fluffy, about 1 1/2 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, stir the chocolate mixture, almond flour and lemon zest and juice into the yolk mixture. In 2 batches, fold the whipped whites into the chocolate mixture. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until puffed, golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs, about 45 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.
• Run a thin knife around the edge of the pan to release the cake. Remove the outside ring and dust the top with confectioners' sugar. Serve with soft whipped cream, if desired.

WHITE CHOCOLATE CRANBERRY ALMOND TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Place almonds and sugar in a food processor; pulse until almonds are ground. Add flour and salt; pulse until blended. Transfer mixture to a small bowl; stir in melted butter and cream. Press onto bottom and up sides of an ungreased 9-in. fluted tart pan with removable bottom., Bake 15-18 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven; sprinkle baking chips evenly over bottom. Cool on a wire rack., In a saucepan, combine filling ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer, uncovered, 10-15 minutes or until slightly thickened, stirring occasionally. Pour over baking chips., Bake 20-25 minutes or until filling is bubbly and crust is golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Refrigerate 2 hours or until cold. , In a microwave, melt baking chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Drizzle over tart. Sprinkle with almonds.

WHITE CHOCOLATE ALMOND COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Place coconut flakes on 1 baking sheet; leave the second baking sheet for the cookies.
• Bake coconut in the preheated oven until slightly brown, about 6 minutes. Leave the oven on.
• Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl. Cream brown sugar, butter, white sugar, and almond extract together in a separate bowl. Add egg yolk and milk and mix. Pour in flour mixture and combine until almost fully incorporated. Add chocolate, almonds, and toasted coconut; mix well.
• Drop 1 1/2-inch balls of dough on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden on the edges and soft in the centers, 8 to 10 minutes.

CHOCOLATE-ALMOND SOUFFLé TORTE

Steps:

• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Butter and flour 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides. Shake out excess flour. Line bottom of pan with parchment paper; butter paper.
• Combine 1/2 cup whole almonds and 2 tablespoons sugar in processor. Using on/off turns, grind nuts finely. Transfer mixture to large bowl. Combine remaining 1/2 cup whole almonds and vegetable oil in processor. Process until mixture is thick and pasty (consistency will be similar to that of peanut butter), scraping bowl frequently, about 3 minutes.
• Stir butter and 1/2 cup whipping cream in heavy large saucepan over medium heat until butter melts and mixture simmers. Remove from heat. Add chocolate and whisk until smooth. Stir in both almond mixtures. Cool slightly.
• Using electric mixer, beat egg whites in large bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add 1/3 cup sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Beat egg yolks in another large bowl until very pale and thick, about 5 minutes. Gradually beat chocolate mixture into egg yolks. Fold in egg whites in 3 additions.
• Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake cake until sides crack and puff and tester inserted into center comes out with moist batter attached, about 35 minutes. Transfer cake to rack. Cool cake to room temperature, about 2 hours (center will fall slightly as cake cools.) (Can be prepared 4 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Beat chilled cream, amaretto and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar in large bowl until soft peaks form.
• Run small sharp knife around pan sides to loosen cake. Release pan sides. Dust cake with powdered sugar. Sprinkle toasted almond slices around top edge of cake. Serve chilled or at room temperature with whipped cream.

ALMOND CHOCOLATE TORTE

Steps:

• Set aside 1 tablespoon almonds for garnish. Chop remaining almonds; sprinkle into a greased 9-in. springform pan. In a microwave, melt chocolate; stir until smooth. Cool slightly. , In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, sprinkle gelatin over cold water; let stand for 1 minute. Cook and stir over low heat until gelatin is completely dissolved. Beat into cream cheese mixture. Beat in melted chocolate until smooth. Fold in whipped cream. , Pour into prepared pan. Sprinkle with reserved almonds. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

WHITE CHOCOLATE TORTE

Steps:

• Line three greased 9-in. round baking pans with waxed paper and grease the paper; set aside. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in chocolate. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine flour and baking soda; gradually add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk and water, beating well after each addition. Fold in pecans. Pour batter into prepared pans. , Bake at 350° for 23-27 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks; discard waxed paper., For frosting, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Beat in chocolate and vanilla. Gradually add confectioners' sugar until smooth. Spread frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake. Garnish with chocolate curls. Store in the refrigerator.