Eggnog Torte Recipes

MADER'S EGGNOG TORTE

Steps:

• Cream the butter, then gradually beat in the powdered sugar. Add the egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the almonds and liquor of choice and beat into mixture. Fill a 9 inch spring form alternately with slices of cake, the butter mixture, and the macaroon crumbs. Refrigerate overnight. Frost with the sweetened whipped cream and decorate with the candied cherries. This will serve 8-10.

EGGNOG TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350, liberally butter the bottom of a 10-side springform pan or spray with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
• For the torte:.
• Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together twice and set aside.
• Cream the butter, sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer at high speed for 5 minutes, till light and fluffy.
• Reduce the mixer speed to low and beat in the eggs, one by one.
• Beat in the melted chocolate and if using, the hazelnuts.
• Add the sifted dry ingredients alternately with the milk, beginning and ending with the dry and beating by hand after each addition only enough to incorporate.
• Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
• Rap the pan several times on the counter to release any large air bubbles, then bake about 1 hour and 20 minutes, till the torte begins to pull from the sides of the pan, is springy to the touch, and a cake tester inserted in the middle comes out clean.
• Cool the torte in the upright pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes, then loosen it around the edge with a small spatula.
• Release and remove the springform pan sides and cool the torte, still on the pan bottom and cake rack, to room temperature.
• For the eggnog:.
• Blend the sugar-flour mixture with the milk in a small heavy saucepan.
• Set over moderate heat and cook, stirring constantly, about 3 minutes, till thickened and smooth.
• Whisk a little of the hot mixture into the beaten yolk, stir back into the pan, and cook and stir over moderately low heat for 2 minutes longer.
• Remove from heat, mix in the rum extract, then pour the eggnog through a fine sieve into a metal bowl.
• Set in an ice bath and chill 15 - 20 minutes, whisking often to prevent a skin from forming on the top.
• Pour the eggnog into a plastic squirt bottle and refrigerate till ready to use. (I would think you could also use a plastic baggie with a small hole cut in one corner if you don't have a squirt bottle.).
• To frost the torte:.
• set the torte, still on the springform pan bottom on a lazy susan and frost the top and sides smoothly and thinly with the whipped cream.
• Starting in the center of the torte and exerting steady but gentle pressure on the squirt bottle, apply the eggnog in a tight spiral on the top of the torte, spacing the lines about 1/2 inch apart. (I'm sure you can do this without a lazy susan - you'll just have to move the bottle instead of the torte).
• Scatter the chocolate sprinkles over the top of the torte, if you like, then transfer, still on the springform pan bottom, to a cake plate and serve.
• Store any leftovers in the refrigerator.

FROZEN EGGNOG MOUSSE TORTE

Steps:

• For crust:
• Finely chop pecans, almonds, sugar and nutmeg in processor using on/off turns, stopping once to stir mixture. Transfer to large bowl. Combine butter and vanilla in small bowl. Pour over nuts and mix thoroughly. Transfer nut mixture to 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides. Using plastic wrap as aid, press firmly up sides and then over bottom of pan, covering completely. Freeze 15 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350F. Place pan with crust on cookie sheet and bake 20 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool.
• Melt 3 ounces bittersweet chocolate in top of double boiler over barely simmering water, stirring until smooth. Spread over bottom of crust. Cover with plastic and freeze until ready to use.
• For filling:
• Melt white chocolate in top of double boiler over barely simmering water, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat. Cook sugar and water in heavy small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and boil without stirring until candy thermometer registers 238F (tilting pan slightly to submerge thermometer), about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, beat yolks in medium bowl until pale yellow and thick.
• Gradually beat hot syrup into yolks. Scrape down sides of bowl with rubber spatula. Continue beating until thick and cool, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
• In large bowl, whip 2 1/4 cups cream, brandy, vanilla and nutmeg to firm peaks. Fold barely lukewarm white chocolate into yolk mixture. Gently fold in whipped cream. Pour 1/3 of filling into crust; smooth top. Top with 1 chocolate disk. Gently pour another 1/3 of filling over; smooth top. Top with second chocolate disk. Gently pour remaining filling over. Freeze overnight. (Can be prepared 3 days ahead. Cover pan tightly with plastic wrap.)
• Place chocolate lace atop mousse. Spoon unsweetened whipped cream into pastry bag fitted with medium star tip. Pipe cream decoratively around edge of cake. Serve immediately.

EGGNOG SEMIFREDDO GENOISE CAKE WITH MERINGUE FROSTING

Steps:

• Cake: Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Spray two 12 1/2-by-17 1/2-inch rimmed baking sheets with cooking spray. Line with parchment; spray parchment, then dust with cocoa, tapping out excess. Dust 2 kitchen towels with cocoa.
• Whisk together cocoa, flour, and salt. Combine eggs, yolks, and sugar in the heatproof bowl of an electric mixer, then set over (not in) a pot of simmering water. Whisk until sugar is dissolved and mixture is warm to the touch, about 2 minutes. Transfer bowl to mixer fitted with the whisk attachment; beat on medium-high speed 2 minutes. Increase speed to high and beat until mixture is pale and thick, about 3 minutes more.
• In two additions, sift cocoa mixture over top of egg mixture, then fold in. When almost incorporated, pour melted butter down side of bowl; gently fold to combine, scraping bottom of bowl to make sure dry ingredients are fully incorporated. Divide between prepared sheets, using an offset spatula to spread evenly and smooth tops. Bake until center springs back when lightly touched, 5 to 7 minutes. One sheet will bake quicker than other, depending on which is closer to heat source; remove that sheet and run a small sharp knife around edges of cake. Invert onto a prepared towel; remove parchment. Immediately, starting at one short side, roll into a log, incorporating towel. Repeat with second cake. Let cool while preparing filling.
• Filling: Sprinkle gelatin over rum; let stand until softened, 5 minutes. Combine egg yolks and 3/4 cup sugar in a heatproof bowl set over (not in) a pot of simmering water. Whisk until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; whisk in gelatin mixture. Set bowl over pot of simmering water again and whisk until gelatin has dissolved. Transfer mixture to another bowl.
• Whisk cream with nutmeg and vanilla to medium peaks. Fold one-third of whipped cream into gelatin mixture, then fold gelatin mixture into remaining cream. In a clean mixing bowl, whisk egg whites and remaining 1/2 cup sugar on medium-high speed to stiff peaks, about 6 minutes. Fold into cream mixture.
• Unroll cooled cakes, remove towels, and transfer each to a separate rimmed baking sheet. Set aside 1 cup filling; immediately divide remaining filling among cakes, spreading it evenly over each. Freeze cakes until filling is starting to firm up but is still pliable, 20 minutes.
• Slice each cake in half length-wise to create 4 cake strips. Starting at a short end of one strip, roll up cake and place vertically in the center of a cake stand. Starting where rolled strip ends, wrap next strip around cake. Continue to wrap with remaining strips. Use reserved filling to fill in top of cake. For added stability, wrap a parchment collar around base of cake, keeping bottom of paper flush with cake stand. Freeze until firm, at least 8 hours and up to 2 days. Once frozen, trim top of cake with a serrated knife to level. Keep frozen until ready to frost.
• Frosting: Combine egg whites, sugar, and cream of tartar in mixer bowl set over (not in) a pot of simmering water. Whisk constantly until sugar has dissolved and whites are warm to the touch, about 3 minutes (test by rubbing between your fingers).
• Transfer bowl to mixer fitted with whisk attachment and beat, starting on low speed and gradually increasing to high, to stiff, glossy peaks, about 10 minutes. Add vanilla and beat until combined.
• Spread frosting evenly over top and sides of cake; apply with offset spatula, using an S motion to create a textured appearance. Freeze cake at least 30 minutes and up to 1 day. Use a kitchen torch to brown meringue; serve immediately.