Chocolate Polenta Pudding Torte Recipes

EASY FOUR-LAYER CHOCOLATE DESSERT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Place flour in a small bowl; cut in butter until crumbly. Stir in 1/2 cup walnuts. Press onto bottom of an ungreased 13x9-in. baking dish. Bake until light golden brown, 12-15 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack., In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until smooth; fold in 1 carton whipped topping. Spread over crust. In a large bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Gently spread over cream cheese layer. Top with remaining whipped topping. Sprinkle with chocolate chunks and remaining walnuts. Refrigerate until cold., Cut into bars. Just before serving, drizzle with chocolate syrup.

CHOCOLATE POLENTA PUDDING TORTE

Steps:

• In a 2-quart saucepan bring the milk to the boil. Meanwhile, combine the cornmeal, the 1/2 cup sugar, and the salt in a medium metal bowl. Whisk in the hot milk until smooth.
• Wash out the saucepan, fill it two thirds full of water, and bring it to a simmer. Cover the bowl with foil, set it over the water and cook 40 minutes; the polenta will be thick and stiff. Stir three or four times as it cooks and add water to the pan if necessary.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter an 8-inch springform pan. Finely chop three quarters of the chocolate and cut the rest into generous 1-inch pieces.
• When the polenta is cooked, remove the bowl (or pan) from the water. Blend in the finely chopped chocolate, the orange zest, cinnamon, pepper, yolks, almond and lavender extract. Stir the cream into it. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, whip the egg whites until frothy. Beat in the remaining 3 tablespoons sugar, and then whip to soft peaks. Fold a quarter of the whites into the non-cream chocolate-polenta mixture to lighten it. Then fold in the rest, leaving a few white streaks. Fold in the chocolate chunks with one or two strokes. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Cover with the rest of the batter. Sift the cocoa over the top, then sprinkle with the sugar.
• Bake 1 hour, or until a knife inserted at the edge of the pudding comes out with moist crumbs on it. Cool on a rack for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, if desired, make the optional garnish by whipping the cream with the sugar until just thickened. Release the sides of the pan and set the cake on a plate. Serve warm or at room temperature, dusted with powder sugar and culinary lavender. Spoon some of the optional cream beside each slice.

FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter the bottom and side of a 9-inch springform pan. Combine the chocolate and 1 1/2 sticks butter in a heatproof bowl. Place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water) and stir until melted and combined. Remove the bowl from the saucepan and let cool slightly.
• Combine the eggs, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Beat with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and thick, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Gently fold half of the melted chocolate mixture into the egg mixture until just combined, then gently fold in the rest. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until the top is no longer shiny and barely jiggles and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with only a few crumbs, 35 to 45 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool completely in the pan. Remove the springform ring and transfer to a platter; dust with cocoa powder.

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT PUDDING TORTE

Steps:

• Arrange 12 ladyfingers in an 11x7-in. dish. Spread with half of the Nutella., In a large bowl, whisk cream and pudding mix 2 minutes. Stir in whipped topping. Spread half the mixture over the Nutella. Top with remaining ladyfingers; spread with remaining Nutella and then remaining pudding mixture. Sprinkle with grated or shaved chocolate. Refrigerate, covered, 8 hours or overnight. Refrigerate leftovers.

CHOCOLATE POLENTA PUDDING

Steps:

• Whisk cornmeal and cocoa in a bowl with water.
• Microwave on high for 3 minutes stirring every minute.
• Let cool for five minutes.
• Enjoy!

POLENTA TORTA

Steps:

• Butter a 9-inch springform pan. Line the bottom and sides with parchment paper. For the tomato layer: In a 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the shallots and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove the pan from the heat and cool slightly. Stir in the tomatoes. Return the pan to the heat and add the red pepper flakes. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook until most of the liquid has evaporated and the mixture has formed a chunky sauce, 15 to 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• For the bechamel sauce: In a 1-quart saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Add the flour and whisk until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Gradually add the milk, whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Stir in the nutmeg and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Simmer over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, until the sauce is thick and smooth, about 8 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat.
• For the pesto: In a food processor, combine the basil, Parmesan, pine nuts, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Pulse until finely chopped. With the machine running, gradually add the olive oil until the mixture forms a smooth paste. Stir the pesto into the bechamel sauce until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside to cool for 15 minutes.
• For the polenta: In a large, heavy saucepan, bring 6 cups water and 1 tablespoon salt to a boil over medium-low heat. Gradually whisk in the cornmeal. Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring constantly, until thickened and the cornmeal is tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the butter. To assemble the torta: Working quickly, spread half of the warm polenta in an even layer on the bottom of the prepared pan. Add the pesto mixture and spread on top of the polenta. Spoon the remaining polenta on top and smooth with a spatula. Spread the tomato mixture on top. Cool the torta at room temperature for 30 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until the layers have set, about 4 hours. Remove the outer ring from the pan, then remove the parchment paper. Place the torta on a platter and cut into thin wedges. Serve with grilled bread. Cook's Note: To toast the pine nuts, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in a 350 degrees F oven until lightly toasted, 6 to 8 minutes. Cool completely before using.

HOLIDAY CHOCOLATE TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9x13x2-inch pan.
• In small bowl, mix crust ingredients, and press into pan.
• Bake until lightly browned (15 minutes).
• Cool completely.
• Beat ingredients for 1st layer until creamy, and spread over cooled crust.
• Combine ingredients for 2nd layer and mix thoroughly.
• Spread over cream cheese layer.
• Cover with remaining cool whip.
• Sprinkle with almonds and chocolate to garnish, and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• To serve, cut torte into bars.

HOT CHOCOLATE TORTE

Steps:

• Cut each cake layer horizontally in half.
• Beat white chocolate pudding mix and 1 cup milk in large bowl with whisk 2 min. Stir in 1 cup COOL WHIP. Repeat in separate bowl with remaining pudding mix and milk, and 1 cup of the remaining COOL WHIP.
• Place 1 cake layer on serving plate. Spoon 1/4 of each pudding mixture onto cake; swirl gently with knife while spreading to cover top of cake layer. Repeat 3 times.
• Top with remaining COOL WHIP, cocoa powder and marshmallows. Refrigerate 1 hour.

BUTTERSCOTCH PUDDING TORTE

Steps:

• Set aside 1 cup cookie crumbs for topping. In a small bowl, combine remaining cookie crumbs and butter. Press into a greased 13x9-in. dish. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Fold in 1-1/2 cups whipped topping. Spread over crust. , In a small bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes; let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. Spoon over cream cheese layer. Top with remaining whipped topping. Sprinkle with reserved crumbs. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.