Italian Chocolate Almond Torte Recipes

TORTA CAPRESE - THE BEST CHOCOLATE ALMOND CAKE EVER

Steps:

• Melt chocolate using a double-boiler or bain-marie method. Place a heat resistant glass bowl or a metal bowl with chocolate broken into small pieces over a pan (pot) with a boiling water in a way that the bottom of the top bowl with chocolate doesn't touch the water in the bottom pan.
• Water should continue to boil on a low heat. Occasionally stir the melting chocolate. When chocolate is completely melted - set aside.
• If you are using whole almonds, blanch almonds for 60 seconds first boiling than in cold water. Peel off the skin, quickly dry in the oven. Process in a food processor into fine grind flour.
• Ready-to-use almond flour definitely saves you some time and you can find it without a hustle at a grocery store or order online.
• NOTE: If you are using a store-bought almond flour make sure you read the ingredients. Very important. Occasionally you can come across and almond flour mix that usually has 50% almond flour 50% powdered sugar. And you can still use it for this recipe if you not need any additional powdered sugar in this case, except for 2 tbsp to beat the egg whites.
• Separate egg yolks from the egg whites. Make sure there are not egg yolk bits in the egg whites! This is the reason why I recommend separating one egg at a time over a spare bowl, so that even if one egg yolk gets broken it doesn't damage the rest of the egg whites in the bowl.
• Beat egg yolks with half of the powdered sugar until fluffy. At this stage add rum or Grand Marnier if you have it.
• In the meantime your melted chocolate has cooled down a bit and it's a perfect time to add softened butter, grated orange zest and dark (bitter) cocoa powder. Mix everything well.
• Fold in the egg yolk mix into the chocolate mix. Stir in the almond flour.
• Beat the eggs whites with remaining powdered sugar until soft peaks form (about 5 minutes starting low and slowly increasing the speed).
• If you are using a standing mixer it's a perfect time to grease your cake mold and preheat the oven to 350F.
• To prevent our cake from sticking deadly to the mold we are first greasing it with butter, then covering with some flour. Just regular all purpose flour. BUT if you are making this for someone with gluten intolerance make sure you use corn flour or other gluten-free flour instead.
• I like to use a springform baking pan but any pan with removable bottom will do.
• Now that your egg whites have a perfect soft peak consistency start gently folding them into the chocolate almond dough. One or two scoops at a time. This is very important. If you throw in all eggs white at the same time or mix to intensely they will loose their fluffy and soft consistency and make your cake.
• Carefully pour in our chocolate almond cake into prearranged pan. With a spatula level all the bumps on the surface of the cake until smooth top. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes.
• At a 30-minute mark do a toothpick test.
• Stick in a toothpick in the middle of the cake if it comes out dry or with a few breadcrumbs - the cake is ready. And it's important to not overcook this cake so that it retains its wonderful moist texture on the inside and crusty top on the outside.
• Let the cake cool for 20-30 minutes still in the baking pan before removing it. If removed too fast there is a risk to break it.
• Dust the top with confectioners/ powdered sugar or cocoa powder.

INSTANT POT® TORTA CAPRESE (ITALIAN FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE-ALMOND CAKE)

Steps:

• Pour 2 cups water inside a 7-quart multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot®) and insert a trivet. Generously butter an 8-inch round cake pan.
• Combine chocolate and butter in a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on 800 watts for 2 minutes. Whisk and microwave for another 2 minutes. Continue whisking and cooking until chocolate and butter are completely melted. Add sugar and vigorously whisk until combined. Mix in almond flour until combined. Add egg yolks and stir until incorporated.
• Beat egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer until soft peaks form. Fold into the chocolate mixture. Pour batter into the prepared cake pan and cover with aluminum foil. Set the pan on top of the trivet in the cooker.
• Close and lock the lid. Select high pressure according to manufacturer's instructions; set timer for 30 minutes. Allow 10 to 15 minutes for pressure to build.
• Release pressure using the natural-release method according to manufacturer's instructions, about 15 minutes. Open the lid and allow the cake to cool. Remove the cake pan with tongs and let cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Remove cake from the pan by placing a plate on top and flipping it over. Flip it again using another plate to set it right-side up.
• Dust with powdered sugar and cocoa powder and serve.

ITALIAN CHOCOLATE ALMOND TORTE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees. Grease the sides of the springform pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
• Combine the almonds, chocolate, 1/2 cup of the sugar, and the salt in a food processor and pulse until the almonds and chocolate are very finely chopped but not completely pulverized. Set aside.
• Use a mixer and large bowl to beat the egg whites with cream of tartar until soft, moist peaks are formed. Gradually add the remaining 1/2 cup sugar and continue to beat until egg whites are stiff but not dry. Add one third of the nut mixture to the egg whites and fold in with a large rubber spatula until nearly incorporated. Fold in half of the remaining nuts, then fold in the rest of the nuts.
• Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly. Bake until the torte has risen and is golden brown on top and a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, or with just a little melted chocolate, approx 25-30 minutes.
• Set the pan on a rack to cool for 10 minutes. Remove the sides of the pan and invert the cake onto the rack. Remove the bottom of the pan and then the parchment liner. Turn the cake right side up and cool completely. Cover or wrap tightly, and store for up to 3 days at room temperature.
• To serve, transfer cake to a serving plate. Dust with powdered sugar or cocoa powder and serve slices with a dollop of whipped cream, if desired.

CHOCOLATE ALMOND TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 10-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides. Combine almonds and 1/3 cup sugar in processor. Blend until almonds are very finely ground. Transfer almond mixture to medium bowl; do not clean processor. Add chocolate and 1/3 cup sugar to processor. Blend until chocolate is finely ground but not beginning to clump, about 45 seconds; stir into almond mixture. Using electric mixer, beat egg yolks and remaining 1/3 cup sugar in large bowl until mixture falls in heavy ribbon when beaters are lifted, about 5 minutes. Beat in almond extract and lemon peel. Fold in chocolate-almond mixture, then butter.
• Using clean dry beaters, beat egg whites and salt in another large bowl until stiff but not dry. Fold whites into chocolate batter in three additions. Transfer batter to prepared pan.
• Bake cake until tester inserted into center comes out with moist crumbs attached, about 40 minutes. Cool cake completely in pan on rack. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; store at room temperature.) Cut around pan sides to loosen; release sides. Sift powdered sugar over cake.