Chocolate Walnut Torte With Rich Ganache Recipes

FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE-WALNUT TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Oil an 8-inch round cake pan. Line bottom with parchment; oil parchment and dust with cocoa.
• Melt together 1/2 cup oil and 8 ounces (1 1/3 cups) chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring, until smooth. Remove from heat and whisk in sugar until combined. Whisk in eggs, 1 at a time. Whisk in cocoa, vanilla, and salt; fold in ground walnuts. Spread batter in prepared pan.
• Bake, rotating pan halfway through, until cake is set, about 35 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cool completely, preferably overnight. Run a knife around edge to loosen; remove from pan. Transfer cake to a serving plate.
• Melt remaining 2 ounces (1/3 cup) chocolate and remaining 1 teaspoon oil in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring, until smooth. Pour over center of cake and spread to cover top. Sprinkle chopped walnuts in center. Cut into wedges; serve. (Torte can be refrigerated, covered, up to 1 day.)

CHOCOLATE GANACHE FOR THREE-NUT TORTE

Steps:

• Place chocolate in a small heatproof bowl. Bring cream just to a boil in a small saucepan, and pour over chocolate. Whisk gently until chocolate has melted and mixture is smooth. Whisk in corn syrup. Let cool and thicken slightly, about 10 minutes, before using.

CHOCOLATE WALNUT TORTE WITH RICH GANACHE

Steps:

• Tortes:.
• Place a rack in the center of the over and preheat to 375 degrees. Lightly grease the insides of 3 soup cans. Place the cans on a piece of parchment paper and trace the circumference of each. Cut out 3 rounds of parchment and line the bottom of each can with a round. Place the prepared cans on a baking sheet and set aside.
• Place the chocolate in a small bowl and microwave on medium until the chocolate begins to melt, about 1 minute. Then stir until smooth. Let cool.
• Place the walnuts and flour in a food processor and process until the walnuts are finely ground but not oily, about 10 to 15 seconds.
• Place the butter and sugar in a medium mixing bowl and beat until cramy. Add the egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla with the last yolk. Reduce the mixer speed to low and beat in the melted chocolate until blended, about 10 to 15 seconds. Using a wooden spatula, gently stir in the ground walnut mixture.
• Wash the mixer beaters and dry them thoroughly. Place the egg whites, salt and cream of tartar in a small bowl and beat on high until the whites hold stiff peaks, about 60 to 90 seconds. Fold the egg-white mixture thoroughly but gently into the chocolate mixture.
• Spoon the batter into the prepared cans, dividing it evenly among them. Bake the cakes until a toothpick inserted into the center of one comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Remove the cans from the oven and place them on a wire rack to cool.
• When the cakes have cooled, invert the cans over the wire rack to release them. Peel off the parchment paper and place the cakes upright on the racks.
• Ganache:.
• Pour the cream into a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Immediately remove the pan from the heat and add the chocolate.
• Let the mixture stand until the chocolate softens, about 1 minute, then stir with a whisk until the chocolate is melted.
• Allow the ganache to cool slightly, then pour about 3 tablespoons of lukewarm ganache over each cake, using a spatual to smooth the icing all over.
• Let the Cakes stand until the ganache is firm, about 1 hour. The Tortes will keep, covered, in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.

CHOCOLATE, WALNUT AND PRUNE FUDGE TORTE

Steps:

• For Cake:
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Butter 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides. Dust pan with cocoa powder. Tap out excess. Wrap outside of pan with heavy-duty foil.
• Place prunes in small bowl. Pour 1 cup prune juice over. Set aside to macerate 15 minutes.
• Melt margarine in heavy medium saucepan over low heat. Add chocolate and whisk until smooth. Remove from heat. Add 3/4 cup cocoa powder and whisk until smooth. Mix in walnuts and prune mixture. Cool to lukewarm.
• Using electric mixer, beat eggs, yolks, sugar and salt in large bowl at medium speed until well blended and just beginning to foam, about 1 minute. Add chocolate mixture and stir until well blended. Transfer batter to prepared springform pan. Set springform pan into large baking pan. Pour enough hot water into baking pan to come halfway up sides of springform pan. Set baking pan in oven and bake cake until top looks dry and crusty and tester inserted into center comes out with some moist crumbs attached, about 1 hour 5 minutes. Cool cake in pan on rack 30 minutes. Place in refrigerator uncovered and chill overnight.
• For Glaze:
• Bring juice and margarine to boil in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat. Add chocolate and whisk until smooth. Cool until thick but still pourable, stirring occasionally, about 45 minutes.
• Line baking sheet with foil. Dip walnuts halfway into glaze. Arrange on prepared sheet and refrigerate until chocolate is set.
• Meanwhile, using small sharp knife, cut around sides of cake to loosen. Release pan sides. Set cake on rack. Pour glaze over cake and spread to coat completely. Arrange walnuts, chocolate half at outer edge, around top cake. Refrigerate until glaze is completely set, at least 3 hours. (Can be prepared 3 days ahead. Cover loosely with foil or cake dome and keep refrigerated.) Cut cake into wedges and serve.