Raspberry Bread Torte With Bittersweet Chocolate Ganache Recipes

BEST CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY TORTE

Steps:

• Line three 9-in. round baking pans with waxed paper; grease and flour the pans and paper. Set aside., In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt and baking powder; add to the creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition., Transfer to prepared pans. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For frosting, in a small heavy saucepan, melt chips and butter over low heat. Transfer to a large bowl; cool for 5 minutes. Stir in sour cream. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until smooth., For filling, in a small bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add the preserves, sugar and liqueur; beat until stiff peaks form., Cut each cake horizontally into two layers. Place bottom layer on a serving plate; spread with 1/2 cup filling. Top with another cake layer and spread with 1/2 cup frosting. Repeat layers. Top with another cake layer, 1/2 cup filling and remaining cake layer. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake., For drizzle, place chips and butter in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chocolate; whisk until smooth. Place mixture in a heavy-duty resealable plastic bag; cut a small hole in a corner of bag. Pipe a lattice design over top of cake, allowing some drizzle to drape down the sides. Decorate with chocolate curls and raspberries as desired. Refrigerate leftovers.

RASPBERRY BREAD TORTE WITH BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Make cake:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line bottom of a buttered 15- by 10- by 1/2- to 1-inch baking pan with wax or parchment paper. Butter paper, then dust with flour, knocking out excess.
• Arrange bread slices in 1 layer on a baking sheet and bake in middle of oven, turning over once, until dry and pale golden, about 15 minutes. Cool, then break into pieces. Pulse bread in a food processor until finely ground, then add flour and salt and process until very finely ground.
• Beat together eggs, brown sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer at high speed until pale, very thick, and tripled in volume (about 5 minutes with a standing mixer or 10 minutes with a handheld). Gently fold in crumbs in 4 batches. Spoon 1 cup batter into a small bowl. Stir in butter, then fold back into remaining batter.
• Spread batter evenly in baking pan and rap pan twice on work surface to eliminate air bubbles. Bake in middle of oven until top is dry to the touch and pale golden around edges, 10 to 13 minutes. Transfer pan to a rack and loosen sides of cake with a knife, then cool 15 minutes. Place rack over cake and invert cake onto rack. Discard wax paper and cool.
• Make ganache while cake bakes:
• Heat cream and chocolate in a small heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring, until chocolate is melted and smooth, about 5 minutes (do not boil). Chill ganache, stirring occasionally, until thick enough to spread, about 1 hour.
• Assemble torte:
• Invert cake onto a cutting board and cut crosswise into 5 equal strips. Put 1 strip on a platter and spread top with one fourth of jam. Repeat with 3 more layers of cake and jam. Top with remaining cake layer, smooth side up.
• Frost top and sides of cake with ganache and chill cake until ganache is firm, at least 15 minutes.