Ukrainian Viennese Orange Torte Recipes

AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN HAZELNUT CREAM TORTE RECIPE

Steps:

• Grease and lightly flour an 8-inch round springform cake pan. Toast the hazelnuts , let them cool completely and grind them finely (to a sawdust consistency). Set aside.
• To make the batter: Heat the oven to 375 F/190 C. In a small bowl, mix the breadcrumbs with the flour and set aside. In a separate large bowl, whisk the egg yolks with 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons of the confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Wash the beaters thoroughly.
• In a third medium bowl, beat the egg whites to stiff peaks, beating in the remaining confectioners' sugar. Alternately fold the egg whites, ground hazelnuts, and flour-breadcrumb mixture into the sugar-egg yolk mixture.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared cake pan and bake for 45 to 50 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the pan. Once cooled, remove the cake from the pan.
• To make the cream filling: To make the nut cream filling, start by toasting the almonds . When cooled, coarsely chop the toasted nuts and set aside.
• Melt 1/3 cup granulated sugar in a heavy saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring all the while until it caramelizes. Remove the pan from the heat immediately and stir in the nuts. Promptly spread onto a lightly oiled baking sheet or a silicone mat to cool. Once cooled, break into chunks, then pound coarsely (or more finely, depending on your preference) in a mortar. Reserve 4 tablespoons for the topping.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter, 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar and 1 pasteurized egg until light and fluffy, then stir in the caramelized almonds and the rum until well incorporated.
• To assemble the torte: Slice the cake in half horizontally and spread two-thirds of the filling between the two layers. Spread the remaining filling over the top and sides of the cake. Sprinkle the top with the reserved caramelized almonds. Source: Adapted from " The Viennese Kitchen: Tante Hertha's Book of Family Recipes " by Monica Meehan and Maria von Baich (Interlink Books, 2011).

VIENNESE TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line three 9-inch round cake pans with waxed paper, then grease the waxed paper.
• Sift flour with cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
• In a small mixing bowl, combine 3/4 cup butter, 3/4 cup sugar and 6 egg yolks. On high speed of an electric mixer, beat until light and fluffy. Stir in 1 tablespoon vanilla.
• Add flour mixture alternately with milk, beginning and ending with flour. Spread batter into the prepared pans, dividing evenly; set aside.
• In a clean bowl with clean beaters, beat 6 egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in remaining 1 cup sugar; beat until stiff but not dry. Dividing evenly, spread meringue over the batter in each pan.
• Bake for 30-35 minutes or until cake is done and meringue is lightly browned. Let cool in pans 10 minutes. Carefully remove from pans; peel off paper. Cool layers completely on wire racks, meringue side up.
• Meanwhile, prepare orange curd: In the top of a double boiler, stir together 1/2 cup sugar and cornstarch. Stir in water, orange juice and orange zest. Blend in 4 beaten egg yolks.
• Cook over hot (not boiling) water, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in 2 teaspoons vanilla. Cover with waxed paper; let cool completely.
• To assemble: Place a cake layer, meringue side up, on a cake plate. Spread a third of the orange curd over the meringue. Repeat twice, using remaining layers and curd. Garnish with whipped cream and sliced almonds, if desired.
• Note: If desired, replace 1 tablespoon of orange juice with 1 tablespoon orange liqueur.

UKRAINIAN KYIVSKY TORTE

Steps:

• Beat the 12 egg Yolks until light and beat in the sugar gradually (a tablespoon at a time).
• Beat until lemon colored, light and fluffy.
• Fold in the bread crumbs and the nuts.
• Beat the 12 egg whites until stiff.
• Lighten the nut mixture with a bit of the egg whites and then genly fold into the mixture the rest of the whites.
• Butter 2 deep layer pans 9 or 10 inch springform pans (shallow pans may cause the batter to run over in the oven) with soft butter and sprinkle with fine bread crumbs.
• Regular pans can be used, in this case use parchment paper for the bottom of pan and grease the paper also.
• Bake in a 325 F.
• oven for about 30--35 minutes.
• Test cake with a toothpick in the centre of the cake, if it comes out clean the cake is done.
• Cool for 10 minutes and gently with a knife go around the cake to loosen and gently invert and place on a cake rack.
• Fill and frost the cake with the filling.
• If you wish more layers cut each cake in half and fill so that you will have 4 layers.
• FOR THE BUTTERCREAM FILLING AND ICING: Over simmering water in a double boiler add 1 cup HOT strong coffee and add the chocolate, mixing well to melt.
• In a separate bowl-- Beat the 5 egg yolks until light and set aside.
• Blend 2 1/2 Tablespoons of the flour in the remaining 1/2 cup COLD coffee and blend well until smooth and free of any lumps.
• Add the flour mixture to the whipped egg yolks and mix well.
• Add this mixture whisking quickly to the melted chocolate (in the double boiler) and cook until thickens stirring frequently for about 10 minutes.
• When mixture has thickened set it aside to COOL.
• Beat 1 cup unsalted butter with the 1 cup of sugar until light and fluffy and gradually beat in the cold chocolate pudding mixture little at a time into the butter and beat until fluffy.

UKRAINIAN-VIENNESE ORANGE TORTE

Steps:

• CAKE BATTER: Mix sugar, orange rind, and orange juice. Cook over low heat for several minutes, until thick. Let cool. Preheat oven to 325-350F degrees (see below). Beat egg yolks until light and fluffy, and add ground almonds and the above orange syrup to yolks gradually; mix well. Add breadcrumbs and mix. Whip egg whites well (until soft peaks form), and fold them thoroughly into above mixture. Butter and lightly breadcrumb two 25 cm. (10") round cake pans. (Use the spring-form type with removable sides.) Pour half the batter into each pan. Bake in pre-heated 350F oven until done, perhaps 30 minutes (or use 325F oven for up to 45 minutes). Let cool to room temperature, and remove from pans. FILLING/ICING: Mix milk, egg yolks, and flour together. Cook over double boiler (or very carefully over low heat, stirring constantly for the first five minutes and frequently thereafter--it burns easily, so do not walk away and leave it!) until mixture is like very thick cream. (This may take 30 to 40 minutes.) Let cool to room temperature (to speed up cooling, you can stir it). Mix butter and icing sugar together until light and fluffy. Combine the two above mixtures together with remaining filling ingredients. Mix well. ASSEMBLY: Take one of the cake layers and spread with 1/3 to ½ of the filling/icing mixture. Place second cake layer on top. Ice the cake (top and sides) with the remaining filling. (If wish, can decorate top with whole almonds.) Refrigerate. Wait a day or two before serving, to let the taste develop fully. It will keep well for at least a week, but may get a bit soggier over time.

UKRAINIAN-VIENNESE ORANGE TORTE

Steps:

• CAKE BATTER: Mix sugar, orange rind, and orange juice. Cook over low heat for several minutes, until thick. Let cool. Preheat oven to 325-350F degrees (see below). Beat egg yolks until light and fluffy, and add ground almonds and the above orange syrup to yolks gradually; mix well. Add breadcrumbs and mix. Whip egg whites well (until soft peaks form), and fold them thoroughly into above mixture. Butter and lightly breadcrumb two 25 cm. (10") round cake pans. (Use the spring-form type with removable sides.) Pour half the batter into each pan. Bake in pre-heated 350F oven until done, perhaps 30 minutes (or use 325F oven for up to 45 minutes). Let cool to room temperature, and remove from pans. FILLING/ICING: Mix milk, egg yolks, and flour together. Cook over double boiler (or very carefully over low heat, stirring constantly for the first five minutes and frequently thereafter--it burns easily, so do not walk away and leave it!) until mixture is like very thick cream. (This may take 30 to 40 minutes.) Let cool to room temperature (to speed up cooling, you can stir it). Mix butter and icing sugar together until light and fluffy. Combine the two above mixtures together with remaining filling ingredients. Mix well. ASSEMBLY: Take one of the cake layers and spread with 1/3 to ½ of the filling/icing mixture. Place second cake layer on top. Ice the cake (top and sides) with the remaining filling. (If wish, can decorate top with whole almonds.) Refrigerate. Wait a day or two before serving, to let the taste develop fully. It will keep well for at least a week, but may get a bit soggier over time.