Double Chocolate Layered Torte Recipes

DOUBLE-CHOCOLATE FANTASY TORTE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. Grease bottoms and sides of two 8-inch round cake pans; sprinkle with cocoa. In small bowl, beat granulated sugar and 1 cup butter with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Beat in liqueur, eggs and melted semisweet chocolate. Stir in flour. Pour into pans.
• Bake about 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely.
• Place raspberries in blender or food processor. Cover and blend on high speed, stopping blender occasionally to scrape sides, until almost smooth; strain.
• To make filling, in small bowl, beat 1/2 cup butter and the powdered sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in 4 ounces white chocolate and the vanilla until smooth.
• Place 1 cake layer on serving plate; spread with filling. Make about 1/4-inch deep ring in filling 1 inch from edge of cake, using tip of spoon. Make another 1/4-inch-deep ring 1 inch inside outer ring. Fill each ring with about 5 tablespoons raspberry puree. Place second cake layer on filling. Drizzle melted white chocolate over top of cake.
• Refrigerate uncovered about 10 minutes or until white chocolate is set. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 3 hours until filling is firm. Serve with remaining raspberry puree and fudge sauce. Store in refrigerator.

DOUBLE-CHOCOLATE LAYERED TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350ºF. Lightly grease two 9-inch round baking pans. Prepare cake batter as directed on package. Stir in chocolate. Pour evenly into prepared pans.
• Bake 30 to 35 min. or until wooden toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire rack 10 min. Loosen cakes from sides of pans. Invert cakes onto racks; gently remove pans. Cool cakes completely.
• Cut cakes horizontally in half with serrated knife. Place one of the bottom cake layers on serving plate; spread with about 2 Tbsp. of the jam. Top with layers of 1/2 cup of the strawberries and 1 cup of the whipped topping. Repeat layers two times. Top with remaining cake layer. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Store in refrigerator.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE TORTE

Steps:

• For the cake, preheat the oven to 325°F.
• Lightly grease a 9- or 10-inch springform pan; dust with sugar (optional).
• Combine the chocolate and butter in a saucepan or in a microwave-safe bowl. Melt over low heat (on the stovetop) or on 50% power in the microwave at 1-minute increments, stirring in between.
• Cool the mixture to lukewarm. Whisk in the sugar to combine.
• Add the eggs one at a time, blending well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla and salt. Add the flour and mix until just combined.
• Pour the batter into the springform pan. Bake until the cake just rises in center (a tester inserted into center will not come out clean) and springs back lightly to the touch, 30-35 minutes.
• Cool completely in the pan (the center of the cake may fall slightly). Cover and chill while making mousse.
• For the mousse, whisk together the cocoa powder and hot water in a small bowl; set aside.
• Melt the chocolate and butter together in a microwave-safe bowl on 50% power, stirring often, until smooth (don't overheat!). Whisk the cocoa/water mixture into the melted chocolate until smooth (if there are little lumps, you can press the mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a clean bowl). Let it cool to room temperature (just slightly lukewarm is fine, too, as long as it isn't warm or hot).
• In a medium bowl with an electric mixer, whip the cream, granulated sugar, vanilla, and salt at medium speed until the mixture begins to thicken, about 30 seconds. Increase the speed to high and whip until soft peaks form when beaters are lifted (I often use my Blendtec blender to whip cream - only takes a few seconds).
• Using a rubber spatula, fold 1/3 of the whipped cream into chocolate mixture to lighten. Fold in the remaining whipped cream until no white streaks remain.
• Spoon the mousse over the cooled cake. Cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or up to 1 day.
• Run a sharp knife around the edge of the pan to loosen the torte if it hasn't pulled away from the sides of the pan while cooling.
• Release the springform pan sides. Transfer the torte to a platter, if desired (often, I just leave it on the base of the springform pan).
• For the whipped cream topping, using an electric mixer, beat the cream and powdered sugar in a medium bowl until soft peaks form. Spread the whipped cream over the torte. Dust with grated chocolate, if desired.
• Top with raspberries. Chill for up to an hour or serve immediately.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE CHERRY TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325° F. and butter and flour a 9-inch springform pan, knocking out excess flour.
• In a bowl stir together cherries, 1/4 cup sugar, and kirsch and macerate 15 minutes.
• Cut butter into pieces and separate eggs. Coarsely chop bittersweet chocolate and in a double boiler or a metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water melt chocolate with butter, stirring occasionally. Remove top of double boiler or bowl from heat and cool mixture slightly. Stir in yolks, flour, and salt until combined well. Gently stir in cherries and chocolate chips until just combined.
• In a bowl with an electric mixer beat whites until they hold soft peaks and gradually add remaining 1/2 cup sugar, beating until whites just hold stiff glossy peaks. Stir half of whites into chocolate mixture to lighten and fold in remaining whites gently but thoroughly. Pour batter into pan and smooth top. Bake torte in middle of oven 50 minutes to 1 hour, or until a tester comes out with crumbs adhering.
• Cool torte in pan on a rack (top will fall slightly and crack). Run a thin knife around edge of torte and remove side of pan. Torte may be made 1 day ahead and kept, loosely covered with plastic wrap, at cool room temperature.
• Serve torte with whipped cream.

DOBOSH TORTE (SEVEN LAYER TORTE)

Steps:

• To prepare for baking seven layers (the usual number): Tear off seven piece of aluminum foil, or baking pan liner paper (NOTE 1), each about 11-inches long.
• Spread softened butter lightly over a 10-inch square area in the center of each piece of foil or paper.
• Sprinkle with flour.
• Shake and tilt the foil or paper to make sure the buttered area is thoroughly floured and shake off any excess.
• On the floured area trace a 9-inch circle.
• (Use any 9-inch circular object as a pattern: the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan, an inverted 9-inch cake tin, or a 9-inch pot cover.) Repeat with remaining pieces of foil or paper.
• Set aside.
• Place rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees.
• In the large bowl of an electric mixer at high speed, beat the 10 egg yolks for a few minutes til they are pale and lemon-colored.
• Reduce speed and gradually add sugar.
• Increase speed to high again and beat for 5 minutes or until very thick.
• Reduce speed and gradually add the flour, then again increase it to high and beat for 5 minutes more (mixture will be almost stiff), scraping the bowl occasionally with a rubber spatula.
• Mix in the lemon juice and remove from the mixer.
• (The mixture will be very thick-use your fingers to get it all off the beaters.) Beat the seven whites with the salt until they hold a point- stiff, but not dry.
• Since the yolk mixture is very thick, actually stir a few spoonfuls of the whites in to lighten it a bit.
• Then fold in a few large spoonfuls three or four times til the mixture lightens.
• Gently fold in the remaining whites.
• With a large serving spoon, place two or three large spoonfuls of the batter on one of the pieces of prepared foil or paper.
• Using the back of the spoon, spread the batter thin, slowly rotaing the paper with your left hand as you spread the batter with your right hand.
• Make it thin, but do not leave any holes in it.
• A 1/4- inch thickness should give you seven layers.
• Do not make the edges too thin.
• Follow the lines closely, but don't worry, the edges can be trimmed later.
• Slide a cookie sheet under the foil or paper and bake for 5 to 7 minutes or until the top is golden brown with dark brown spots.
• If the layers are thicker than mine are, they will take longer to bake.
• If they are not baked long enough they will stick to the foil or paper.
• Repeat with remaining layers.
• If you bake more than one layer at a time, rotate the positions of the pans during baking to insure even browning.
• When a layer is baked and out of the oven, lift the corners of the foil or paper and invert onto a rack.
• Peel off the paper and immediately invert the layer onto another rack to cool, right side up.
• (Letting the layer cool upside down will make it stick to the rack.) When you run out of racks, layers may cool on smooth toweling that has been dusted with confectioner's sugar.
• When you run out of room, cooled layers may be stacked if you sprinkle the tops lightly with confectioner's sugar and place wax paper between them.
• Cooled layers may be trimmed to even the edges.
• Working on a board, place an 8-1/2 inch or 9-inch pot cover or cake pan on the layer.
• Cut around with a small sharp knife and then cut with scissors.
• FILLING AND ICING: Melt the chocolate in the top of a double boiler over hot water on moderate heat.
• Remove from heat, stir until smooth, and set aside to cool completely.
• In small bowl of electric mixer cream the butter.
• Add vanilla and egg yolks and beat well.
• Add sugar and cooled chocolate.
• Beat until thoroughly mixed, scraping the bowl with a rubber spatula.
• Place four strips of wax paper around the outer edges of a cake plate.
• Place one cake layer on the plate and with a long, narrow metal spatula spread with a thin layer of the chocolate filling.
• If you have made more than seven layers, the filling must be spread very thin, in order to have enough for all.
• Place another layer on top, adjusting it carefully so that the edges are lined up evenly.
• Continue icing the layers, stacking them as evenly as possible.
• Spread the remaining chocolate smoothly around the sides first and then over the top.
• Remove wax paper strips by pulling each one out by a narrow end and refrigerate cake for at least several hours to set the icing.
• Store in refrigerator and serve cold.
• NOTES:If you use baking pan liner paper it must be buttered and flourd for this recipe or the layers will stick to it.
• This is a very firm cake; use a sharp heavy knife for serving.
• Dobosh Torte may be made a day ahead, or it may be frozen.
• For a variation you can put cherry, raspberry or strawberry jam or preserves between one or two layers instead of the chocolate filling.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE-CHERRY TORTE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. Spray 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray. In 3-quart saucepan, melt semisweet chocolate and butter over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until smooth. Cool 30 minutes.
• In medium bowl, beat eggs with electric mixer on high speed about 5 minutes or until about triple in volume. Using rubber spatula, fold eggs into cooled chocolate mixture. Pour into springform pan.
• Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until edge is set but center is still soft and jiggles slightly when moved. Cool completely in pan, about 1 hour 30 minutes. Then cover and refrigerate 1 hour 30 minutes.
• In medium microwavable bowl, place white chocolate and 2 tablespoons of the whipping cream. Microwave uncovered on High 20 to 40 seconds, stirring after 20 seconds, until chocolate is melted. Stir until well blended. In medium bowl, beat cream cheese on medium speed until smooth. Gradually beat in white chocolate mixture until smooth. Add 1 cup of the pie filling; beat on medium speed until well blended and cherries are broken up.
• In chilled medium bowl, beat remaining whipping cream and almond extract on high speed until stiff peaks form. Fold in cherry-chocolate mixture until well blended. Spread over semisweet chocolate layer. Refrigerate at least 2 hours but no longer than 48 hours.
• In small bowl, stir remaining pie filling and liqueur until well blended. Remove side of pan. Cut torte into wedges; place on individual dessert plates. Top individual servings with cherry sauce.