Chockablock Chocolate Cakes With Warm Macadamia Nut Goo Recipes

WARM CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH MIXED BERRY COULIS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Butter and flour 4 (4-ounce) ramekins. Combine chocolate and butter in a double boiler and melt. Stir in cocoa powder. In a bowl beat egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form. Increase speed to high and gradually add sugar. Beat whites until stiff and glossy, but not dry. Whisk 1/4 of egg white mixture into chocolate, to temper. Fold in remaining whites. Fill ramekins 2/3 full and bake until top is slightly firm but still soft in the very center, about 6 to 8 minutes.
• Combine raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, sugar and lemon juice in a saucepan and heat until fruit is softened. Remove from heat and puree in food processor until smooth. Strain through a sieve and stir in liqueur or orange juice. Chill.
• Yield: 4 servings

FRANKLIN NUT CAKE

Steps:

• Cream butter and sugar. Add beaten eggs and 3 cups flour with baking powder and salt added. Mix remaining 1 cup of flour with chopped nuts and chopped candied fruits. Mix into batter and add vanilla. Grease, flour, and line a large tube pan. Pour mixture into pan. Bake at 250 for 3 hours. Let cool for an hour. Remove from pan and place in a covered container with a glass of sherry, so the cake and wine "get to know each other". Let sit for 4 days until the sherry flavor permeates the cake. Slice thin.

LOWER EAST SIDE NUT CAKE

Steps:

• Cake: Set a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
• Lightly coat 2 (9-inch) square cake pans with nonstick vegetable spray. Line the bottoms with baking parchment. In a large mixing bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 cup of the sugar together 3 times. Stir in the matzo meal and chopped hazelnuts. Form a well in the center and add the oil, egg yolks, cream, hazelnut liqueur, and butter. Mix until just blended.
• In a clean, dry mixing bowl, whisk the egg whites with the pinches of salt and cream of tartar until creamy, foamy and barely able to hold peaks. While sprinkling on the remaining cup of sugar whisk until the consistency of stiff shaving cream.
• Fold 1/3 of the egg whites into the yolk mixture, then fold in the remainder of the whites. Spread the batter in the prepared pans and bake for 20 minutes or lightly tanned, the center springs back when lightly pressed and a cake tester comes out clean. Set the pans on a rack to cool. This cake is very delicate. Remove from the pans, and trim even. Place the cake onto a plate, parchment side up, and spread a layer of raspberry jam on the cut side of one layer. Flip the other layer on top and spread more jam on top.
• Ganache Frosting: Put the chocolate in a small bowl. Over medium heat, bring the cream to a scald. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate. Working from the center out, gently stir with a whisk to melt and blend. Continue stirring until smooth. Let cool for 30 minutes until spreadable
• Frost the cake and comb the top decoratively.

CHOCOLATE MACADAMIA MELTAWAYS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Gradually add flour and mix well. Stir in nuts (dough will be stiff); set aside. , For filling, in a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips; stir until smooth. Stir in nuts; cool slightly. Drop by 1/2 teaspoonfuls onto a waxed paper-lined baking sheet; cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. , Shape 1 teaspoon of dough around each piece of chocolate-nut mixture so it is completely covered. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. , Bake at 375° until lightly browned, 12-14 minutes. Roll warm cookies in confectioners' sugar; cool on wire racks.

WARM CHOCOLATE & MACADAMIA NUT TARTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Roll out the pastry to the thickness of a £1 coin and line 4 tartlet cases (about 10 x 3cm). Trim the excess off by rolling a rolling pin over the top of the cases to make a neat edge. Firm up in the freezer for 30 mins. Line with greaseproof paper and baking beans, then cook on a baking sheet for 15 mins. Remove the beans and paper, then cook for 3-5 mins more until the pastry is pale golden and biscuity.
• While the pastry is cooking, melt the chocolate, cream and alcohol, if using, in a heatproof bowl over a pan of barely simmering water. Meanwhile, whisk the eggs, yolk and sugar until light and frothy. Briefly whisk the melted chocolate into the eggs and fold through most of the chopped macadamia nuts.
• Divide the chocolate mixture between the cases and scatter with the remaining nuts. Uncooked tarts can now be frozen. Bake for 12 mins or 20 mins from frozen. The tops of the tarts will soufflé up and they should still be soft in the middle. Serve sprinkled with icing sugar.