Strawberry Hazelnut Gateau Recipes

STRAWBERRY HAZELNUT GATEAU

Steps:

• Beat the egg whites with salt until soft peaks form, gradually add sugar, beat until the sugar is dissolved and mixture is of meringue consistency.
• Beat in the vinegar and vanilla.
• Line bases of two 20cm springform pans with greased greaseproof paper which has been lightly dusted with cornflour.
• Spread meringue mixture evenly into tins.
• Sprinkle ground hazelnuts evenly over meringue in both tins.
• With a knife or small spatula, swirl hazelnuts lightly through meringue. Smooth over top of meringue with the back of a spoon.
• Bake in moderate oven 35 - 40 minutes or until meringue is crisp to touch; release sides of pan, cool on the base of the pan.
• Chop chocolate. Combine with water in top of double saucepan; stir over simmering water until melted; cool.
• Remove cakes from bases.
• Place a layer of meringue on a serving plate, flat side down; spread with a thin layer of chocolate. Spread whipped cream over chocolate. Reserve 4 strawberries, wash and hull the remainder, cut in half, arrange over cream.
• Spread the underside of second meringue with remaining chocolate mixture, place on top of strawberry layer, chocolate side down.
• Whip extra cream, cover sides and top of cake and if desired, pipe cream decoratively on top.
• Arrange reserved halved strawberries on top of cake. Refrigerate until ready to serve. If desired, brush strawberries used for decoration with warmed, sieved strawberry jam to give them a pretty glaze before arranging on cake. Cheers, Doreen Doreen Randal, Wanganui.
• New Zealand.

HAZELNUT, CHOCOLATE AND STRAWBERRY TORTE

Steps:

• for cake:
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Butter and flour 9-inch-diameter cake pan with 2-inch-high sides. Line bottom with parchment. Butter and flour parchment. Finely grind hazelnuts and 2 tablespoons sugar in processor. Place 2/3 cup ground-nut mixture in medium bowl; add flour and whisk to blend. Reserve remaining nut mixture for garnish.
• Using electric mixer, beat eggs and 2/3 cup sugar in large bowl until mixture is thick and slowly dissolving ribbon forms when beaters are lifted, about 8 minutes. Fold in flour mixture in 3 additions.
• Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake cake until top is golden and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 28 minutes. Transfer cake to rack. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Run small knife between pan sides and cake to loosen. Turn cake out onto rack; peel off parchment. Cool completely.
• for ganache:
• Bring cream to simmer in large saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth. Pour into 13x9x2-inch glass dish. Refrigerate until ganache thickens to spreadable consistency, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour 30 minutes (ganache will resemble thick pudding). Transfer 3/4 cup chocolate ganache to small bowl; set aside for garnish.
• Cut cake horizontally into 2 layers (layers will be thin). Place 1 cake layer, cut side up, on platter. Spread 1/2 cup chocolate ganache over. Arrange sliced strawberries in slightly overlapping concentric circles over ganache. Spread 1/2 cup ganache over cut side of second cake layer. Place cake layer atop strawberries, ganache side down, and press slightly to adhere. Spread remaining chocolate ganache over sides and top of cake. Gently press reserved ground hazelnuts onto sides of cake.
• Transfer reserved 3/4 cup ganache to pastry bag fitted with medium star tip. Pipe 8 rosettes around top edge of cake, spacing apart. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome and refrigerate. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before continuing.)
• Starting 1/3 inch from stem end of whole strawberries, thinly slice strawberries lengthwise to tip. Press slices slightly to fan. Place fanned berries between rosettes on cake. Garnish with additional toasted hazelnuts, if desired.

STRAWBERRY HAZELNUT TORTE

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Trace two 8-in. circles 1/2 in. apart on the paper; set aside., Add vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and salt to egg whites; beat until soft peaks form. Add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until stiff peaks form. Spread over paper circles. Sprinkle with hazelnuts; cut through meringues with a knife to swirl nuts., Bake at 375° for 30-35 minutes or until the meringue and nuts are lightly browned. Cool on baking sheet. When completely cool, remove meringues from paper; store in an airtight container. In a microwave, melt chocolate and shortening; stir until smooth. Cool to room temperature., To assemble, place a meringue, flat side down, on a serving plate; spread with half of the melted chocolate. In a large bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners' sugar and remaining vanilla; beat until stiff peaks form. Spread half over chocolate layer. Arrange sliced strawberries over whipped cream., Spread flat side of remaining meringue with melted chocolate. Place chocolate side down over strawberries; spread with remaining whipped cream. Refrigerate for up to 4 hours before serving. Garnish with halved strawberries.

STRAWBERRY HAZELNUT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180 degrees.
• Grease a deep 20cm round cake tin, line bse with baking paper.
• Beat eggs and sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer until thick and creamy.
• Fold in sifted flour and hazelnuts, pour into prepared tin, bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown and firm in the centre.
• Turn onto wire rack to cool.
• Combine ricotta, jam and strawberries in a food processor or blender, blend until smooth, but with still some strawberry chunks.
• Cut cake horizontially into two, put ricotta mixture on bottom layer, place top on cake.
• Dust top of cake with icing sugar on completion.

STRAWBERRY-HAZELNUT MERINGUE SHORTCAKES

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a small bowl; let stand at room temperature 30 minutes., Preheat oven to 250°. Beat egg whites on medium speed until foamy. Gradually add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high after each addition until sugar is dissolved. Continue beating until stiff glossy peaks form., Using a measuring cup and spatula or an ice cream scoop, drop meringue into 8 even mounds on a parchment-lined baking sheet. With the back of a spoon, shape into 3-in. cups. Sprinkle with hazelnuts. Bake 45-50 minutes or until set and dry. Turn off oven (do not open oven door); leave meringues in oven 1 hour. Remove from oven; cool completely on baking sheets. Remove meringues from paper., Place 3 cups strawberries in a large bowl; mash slightly. Stir in remaining strawberries. Just before serving, top meringues with frozen yogurt and strawberries.