Chestnut And Hazelnut Cake Recipes

CHESTNUT AND HAZELNUT CAKE

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Oil pan and dust with chestnut flour, knocking out excess.
• Toast hazelnuts in a shallow baking pan until fragrant and interior of nuts are pale golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Rub nuts in a kitchen towel to remove any loose skins (some skins may not come off). Cool nuts to room temperature and chop medium-fine.
• Sift together chestnut flour, baking powder, and salt in bowl, then stir in nuts.
• Beat together egg yolks, oil, honey, and 2 tablespoons sugar with an electric mixer at high speed until thick and pale, about 5 minutes in a stand mixer or 8 minutes with a handheld. Add flour mixture and mix at low speed just until flour is moistened.
• Beat egg whites and a pinch of salt in another medium bowl with cleaned beaters at medium-high speed until they form soft peaks. Add remaining 2 tablespoons sugar a little at a time, beating, and beat until whites just hold stiff peaks. Fold one third of whites into batter to lighten it, then fold in remaining whites gently but thoroughly. Spread batter in pan and rap pan on work surface once to release any large air bubbles. Bake 30 minutes, then loosely cover with foil and bake until a wooden pick or skewer inserted in center of cake comes out clean, 10 to 15 minutes more. (Cake is naturally dark.)
• Transfer cake in pan to a rack and cool 30 minutes, then remove side of pan and cool completely. Remove cake from bottom of pan to serve if desired.

CHESTNUT-HAZELNUT TARTS

Steps:

• For the Chestnut Sauce
• Put the milk, chestnut puree, crème fraîche, and salt in a blender. Blend until very smooth.
• Scrape into a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until you're ready to serve the dessert or for up to 2 days.
• For the Tarts
• Divide the dough in half and roll each piece out into a rectangle about 9 x 14 inches and 1/16 inch thick. Place the dough on parchment-lined baking sheets and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Cut the dough into 3 1/2-inch circles and line twelve 2 1/4-inch tart rings with the dough. Set on a Silpat- or parchment-lined baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
• Heat the oven to 425°F or 400°F on convection.
• Whisk the crème fraîche, sugar, and flour together.
• Trim the excess pastry and prick the shells-bottom and sides-with a fork. Put some chopped marrons glacés and hazelnuts in each shell and spoon in the crème fraîche mixture, filling the shells no more than one-quarter full. Dust lightly with cinnamon.
• Bake the tarts until the shells are golden brown and the filling is translucent, about 14 minutes. Rotate the baking sheet halfway through baking. The filling will bubble up and probably overflow and then subside as you bake the tarts. Let cool for a few minutes, then remove the tart rings. Slide the tarts back into the oven for 1 to 2 minutes, to crisp the outside of the pastry.
• To Serve
• Spoon some chestnut sauce on each plate. Top with a tart and garnish with hazelnuts and marrons glacés.