Berry Topped Chocolate Torte Recipes

BERRY-TOPPED CHOCOLATE TORTE

Steps:

• Grease a 9" springform pan and line with parchment paper. In small bowl, combine almonds, flour and salt. Set aside.
• Melt butter in saucepan and stir in cocoa and sugar.
• In large bowl, beat egg yolks until thick; gradually blend in cocoa mixture. Stir in almond mixture.
• In separate bowl, beat egg whites until stiff. Gradually add sugar. Fold whites into chocolate mixture. Pour into prepared pan and bake at 375F for 25-30 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes. Run a knife around edges of torte and remove sides of springform pan. TORTE WILL FALL IN MIDDLE. Don't worry, you can fill it with whipped cream.
• Drizzle 3 tablespoons Grand Marnier over cake. Cool completely and wrap with plastic wrap. This can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 days.
• Whip cream and fold in Grand Marnier. Spread on torte and decorate with berries and chocolate curls. To make chocolate curls, choose good quality chocolate, store at room temperature and shave with a vegetable peeler.

BERRY BLITZ TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350º. Lightly grease 2 8" round pans.
• In a medium mixing bowl, cream the butter, sugar, salt, and egg yolks together.
• Beat in vanilla, milk, baking powder, and flour.
• Spread the mixture in the prepared pans. The batter will barely cover the bottom of the pans; that's OK.
• Beat the egg whites until light; gradually add the 3/4 cup sugar and continue to beat until the meringue is smooth, glossy and somewhat stiff. Do NOT beat until there are stiff points.
• Spread the meringue on the batter in the pans and sprinkle with the almonds, cinnamon and sugar.
• Bake for 30 minutes, until lightly browned.
• Remove from oven and cool in pans for 15 minutes. Loosen edges and gently turn them out onto racks with the meringue on top. If some of the almonds fall off, just sprinkle them back on top.
• Mix pudding, vanilla, and cream together until thick.
• Place one of the cake layers, meringue side up, on a serving plate.
• Spread with all the pastry cream.
• Add a layer of berries.
• Top with second layer, meringue side up.
• Decorate top with berries if desired.
• Serve immediately or refrigerate until serving time.

CHOCOLATE TORTE

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar.
• Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Beat in vanilla.
• Whisk cocoa and water until smooth.
• Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with cocoa mixture. Beat until smooth.
• Pour into three greased and floured 9" round baking pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
• Cool for 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks.
• FILLING:.
• In a mixing bowl, beat cream, confectioner's sugar and vanilla on high speed until soft peaks form.
• Chill until firm.
• FROSTING:.
• In a saucepan, melt chips and butter over medium heat; stir in cream.
• Remove from the heat; stir in confectioner's sugar.
• Chill for at least 1 hour or until completely cooled.
• Beat with electric mixer to achieve spreading consistency.
• PREP:.
• Spread half of the filling over one cake layer; top with second layer and remaining filling.
• Top with third layer; frost top and sides of cake.
• Chill for 2 hours before cutting.
• Yield: 12 servings.