Double Chocolate Diamonds Recipes

ORANGE-PISTACHIO PHYLLO DIAMONDS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the bottom and sides of a 9-inch square baking dish. Combine the almond paste, whole eggs, egg yolks, melted butter and 1/4 cup sugar in a food processor. Pulse until combined with a few small lumps of almond paste. Add 1 tablespoon orange blossom water, the baking powder, salt and vanilla; pulse to combine. Add the phyllo pieces and pulse until finely chopped. Spread the mixture evenly in the prepared pan. Bake until golden brown and firm on top, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the syrup: Heat the orange juice, honey, lemon juice, the remaining 3/4 cup sugar and the remaining 1 tablespoon orange blossom water in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring, until dissolved, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and cover to keep warm.
• Remove the baking dish from the oven and immediately pour half of the syrup over the cake; let soak in, 15 minutes. Add the pistachios to the remaining syrup and pour over the cake, spreading the pistachios with a rubber spatula. Transfer to a rack and let cool completely in the pan, about 3 hours, tipping the pan occasionally to distribute the syrup. Cut diagonally into small diamonds.

CHOCOLATE DIAMONDS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Using a stand mixer, combine the butter, sugar and 1/3 of the vanilla bean's seeds. Divide the mixture in half and remove one half from the mixing bowl. To the remaining half, add the cocoa powder, scant 3 cups of the cake flour and another 1/3 of the vanilla bean's seeds while mixer is on. Mix and remove from the bowl. Place the other half back in the mixing bowl and add the remaining 3 cups cake flour, the remaining 1/3 vanilla bean's seeds and the cinnamon. Place both doughs in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
• Remove the 2 doughs from the refrigerator. It may be necessary to beat the dough with a rolling pin to soften the butter and make the dough more pliable. Roll the chocolate dough into a rope about 3/4-inch in diameter. Roll the white dough about 2 inches in diameter and the same length as the chocolate rope. Trim one side of the dough to create a straight edge. Using a pastry brush, spread a little water on top of the white dough. The moisture will help the dough stick together. Place the chocolate rope on top and roll the white dough around it. Trim a straight edge where the doughs meet. Close the seam with a little more water. If the dough is too soft, place in the refrigerator or freezer until firm.
• Barely wet the surface of the rolled dough and roll it in granulated sugar. Using a sharp chef's knife, make 1/2-inch slices. Place the slices on a parchment-lined sheet pan and bake at 375 degrees F for 15 minutes.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE DIAMONDS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line bottom and sides of 15 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 1-inch jelly roll pan with foil. Coat with no-stick cooking spray.
• Beat shortening, peanut butter and brown sugar in large bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until creamy. Beat in eggs and almond extract until smooth. Add flour, baking powder and salt. Mix at low speed just until combined. Spread evenly in prepared pan.
• Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack while preparing chocolate layer.
• Place chocolate chips in large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH 1 minute. Stir. Microwave in 15 seconds intervals until melted and smooth. Stir in hot fudge topping. Microwave on HIGH 15 seconds. Spread over warm baked bars. Sprinkle with walnuts. Chill 1 hour or until chocolate layer is firm.
• Lift bars from pan with foil and place on cutting board. Cut into diamonds by cutting on the diagonal from corner to corner both directions forming a large "X". Beginning at one center cut, make 1 1/2-inch parallel diagonal cuts on both sides. Repeat with other center cut to form diamonds. Store in refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE DIAMONDS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F Line a 9x9 baking dish with parchment paper.
• Toast nuts if desired. In food processor, finely grind 1 1/2 cups nuts with sugar. Combine melted butter; press firmly on bottom of prepared dish.
• Bake in preheated oven 18 minutes or until edges are golden.
• Meanwhile bring sweetened condensed milk and remaining 2 tablespoons butter to a boil over medium-low heat, stirring constantly for 5 minutes or until mixture thickens. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla Spoon over hot crust. Bake 12 minutes or until golden.
• Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle with chocolate chunks. Let stand 2 minutes; spread chocolate evenly over top. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup chopped nuts. Cool on wire rack; refrigerate until set, at least 4 hours. Cut into diamonds or squares. Refrigerate or freeze in airtight containers.