White Chocolate Christmas Torte Food

WHITE CHOCOLATE CHRISTMAS TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. 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 bowl, combine the sugar, baking soda and remaining flour. Gradually beat in butter mixture. Stir in pecan mixture. , Pour into three greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 25-30 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. , For frosting, in a microwave, melt white chocolate; stir until smooth. Cool for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. , In a large 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 MOUSSE TORTE

Steps:

• Line the base of a 23cm (9 in) round spring form tin with greaseproof paper.
• Melt the butter and stir in the biscuit crumbs. Press into prepared tin and chill for 15 minutes.
• Break chocolate into small pieces and place in saucepan with half the cream. Heat very gently, stirring occasionally until almost smooth - be careful not to overheat as it will solidify again.
• Pour into a bowl and cool for 15 mins or until just beginning to thicken. Stir occasionally.
• Whip the remainder of the cream until it forms soft peaks. Fold into the cool chocolate mixture.
• Pour over the biscuit base and chill for at least 3 hrs, preferably overnight. Sprinkle with icing sugar/cocoa powder, cut into squares and press a raspberry into the centre of each square.

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.

FROZEN WHITE CHOCOLATE AND RASPBERRY MOUSSE TORTE

Steps:

• For crust:
• Finely grind cookie pieces in processor. Add butter; blend until crumbs are moist. Press mixture onto bottom and halfway up sides of 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides. Freeze while preparing mousse.
• For mousse:
• Place liqueur in heavy medium saucepan. Sprinkle gelatin over liqueur; let stand until gelatin softens, about 20 minutes.
• Press raspberries firmly through sieve into large measuring cup. Add enough reserved juices to puree in cup to measure 1 2/3 cups berry mixture. Add berry mixture and 1/2 cup sugar to gelatin mixture. Stir over medium-low heat just until sugar and gelatin dissolve, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Add white chocolate; stir until melted. Transfer raspberry mixture to large bowl. Chill until thick but not set, stirring often, about 2 hours.
• Beat cream, powdered sugar and vanilla in bowl until stiff peaks form. Fold cream into raspberry mixture in 3 additions. Transfer mousse to crust; smooth top. Freeze until firm, at least 6 hours. (Can be made 4 days ahead. Cover; freeze.)
• Cut around pan sides; release pan sides. Place torte on platter. Arrange raspberries around top edge of torte. Decorate with Chocolate Leaves.