Texas Pecan Torte Recipes

CHOCOLATE PECAN MERINGUE TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Draw two 8-inch circles on a sheet of parchment paper and place it on a sheet pan, pencil side down.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites, cream of tartar, and salt on high speed for one minute, until frothy. With the mixer on high, slowly add the 2/3 cups sugar and 1 teaspoon of the vanilla and beat on high for 2 minutes, until it makes firm, glossy peaks.
• Divide the meringue between the two circles and spread into two flat 8-inch disks with a rubber spatula. Bake the meringues for one hour, turn the heat off, and leave the meringues in the oven for 2 hours. Remove them from the oven and allow to cool completely to room temperature on the sheet pan.
• With a large flat spatula, carefully transfer one disk, rounded side up, to a totally flat serving plate. (It's okay if the top cracks a little.) Spread the chocolate pecan filling evenly on top. Place the second meringue, rounded side up, on top.
• Combine the heavy cream, the 2 tablespoons sugar, and the remaining 1 teaspoon of vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat on high speed until it forms firm peaks. Spread the whipped cream on top of the torte. Decorate with the shaved chocolate and refrigerate for 2 hours or for up to a day and serve cold.
• In the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade, process the pecans until finely ground. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl set over a pan of simmering water, whisk the eggs, sugar, and cornstarch together, making sure the bottom of the bowl doesn't touch the water. Whisk the mixture almost constantly, until it is 130 to 140 degrees and thickened like custard. Set aside to cool to room temperature, whisking occasionally.
• Set another bowl over the pan of simmering water, making sure the bottom of the bowl doesn't touch the water. Put the chocolate and espresso in the bowl and heat just until the chocolate melts, stirring occasionally. Stir in the Kahlua and vanilla and set aside to cool to room temperature. Whisk the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture, then whisk in the butter, one tablespoon at a time, whisking until smooth. Stir in the pecans. The filling can sit at room temperature for up to 4 hours.

PECAN TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put egg yolks, granulated sugar, zest, vanilla, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until pale and thickened, about 4 minutes. Fold in pecans.
• Beat whites in a clean mixing bowl until stiff peaks form; fold into yolk mixture. Pour into a 10-inch springform pan.
• Bake until golden brown, about 1 hour (if top browns too quickly, tent with foil). Let cool on a wire rack 30 minutes. Remove sides of pan. Let cool completely. Dust with confectioners' sugar. Serve with curd and berries; garnish with zest.

TEXAS PECAN TORTE

Steps:

• Chop pecans very finely in a blender, 1 cup at a time. Beat egg yolks until light and beat in sugar, flour, salt, 2 tablespoons rum, and nuts. Set aside. Beat egg whites until stiff and fold into the nut mixture. Pour into 3 (8-inch) or 2 (10-inch) layer cake pans, buttered and lined with waxed paper. Bake for 25 minutes in 350° oven. Allow to cool. (May be kept overnight.) A few hours before serving time, whip cream with powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon of rum. Spread filling between layers. Melt chocolate chips, fold in sour cream, and spread over the cake for icing.

TEXAS PECAN PIE

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the flour and salt; cut in shortening until crumbly. Gradually add cold water, tossing with a fork until a ball forms. , Roll out dough to fit a 9-in. pie plate. Transfer crust to pie plate. Trim crust to 1/2 in. beyond edge of plate; flute edges. Sprinkle with pecans; set aside., In a small bowl, beat the corn syrup, eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt until well blended. Pour over pecans. , Bake at 350° for 45-50 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes our clean. Cool on a wire rack.

BUTTER PECAN ICE CREAM TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large saucepan, combine brown sugar, cream, butter and salt. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Cool completely., Meanwhile, for the crust, cream butter, brown sugar and vanilla. Gradually add flour. Stir in chopped pecans. Press onto bottom and 1/2 in. up sides of a greased 9-in. springform pan. Place pan on a baking sheet., Bake until lightly browned, 10-12 minutes. Cool slightly. Spread with 1/2 cup caramel sauce. Cool on a wire rack., Spread ice cream over caramel layer. Freeze 15 minutes. Top with additional chopped pecans or pecan halves. Freeze, covered, several hours or overnight. Cover and refrigerate remaining caramel sauce., Loosen sides from pan with a knife; remove rim from pan. Heat caramel sauce and serve with torte.

BANANA PECAN TORTE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in bananas and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt;; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk. Stir in pecans. , Pour into 3 greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350° until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, for 30-35 minutes. Cool in pans 10 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. , For the frosting, beat cream cheese, butter and sugar in a small bowl. Add vanilla. Spread between layers and over top of cake. Sprinkle with pecans. Store in the refrigerator.

TEXAS TORTE

Steps:

• Stir together first 4 ingredients; stir in chilies and cheeses. Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 11 x 17 inch baking dish.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until set. Cool and cut into squares.