Walnut Date Torte Recipe Epicuriouscom Recipes

APPLE WALNUT TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
• Butter pan and fit a round of parchment paper in bottom. Butter parchment, then flour pan.
• Spread 1/2 stick butter thickly on bottom of a 12-inch heavy skillet and sprinkle 1/2 cup sugar evenly over butter. Arrange apples, cut sides down, over sugar and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook over medium heat, turning apples occasionally, until sugar is caramelized and apples are tender and golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Arrange apples, cut sides down, in concentric circles in bottom of cake pan, then pour over any caramel from skillet.
• Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt.
• Pulse walnuts with remaining cup sugar in a food processor until finely ground.
• Beat remaining 1 1/2 sticks butter in a bowl with an electric mixer until creamy, about 3 minutes. Add walnut sugar and beat until just combined. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in extracts. At low speed, mix in flour mixture until just combined (batter will be thick).
• Dollop batter over apples and spread evenly. Bake until torte just begins to pull away from side of pan and a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool torte in pan on a rack 30 minutes. Put rack over torte, then invert torte onto rack.
• Melt apple jelly in a small heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring. Brush apples generously with jelly, then cool torte completely, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

HUNGARIAN CHOCOLATE-WALNUT TORTE

Steps:

• Have all ingredients at room temperature.
• Line the bottom of an 8-inch square cake pan or a 9-inch springform pan with parchment or wax paper.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• In a heavy-bottomed 2-or 3-quart saucepan, combine 1/2 cup of the sugar and 1/2 cup water and bring to a boil, stirring constantly over medium heat. Continue boiling and stirring until all the grains of sugar have completely dissolved and the mixture forms a simple syrup. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the chocolate until melted and smooth. Set aside to cool.
• In a large bowl, beat the egg yolks with an electric mixer until light and thickened, about 4 minutes. Grind the walnuts with the remaining sugar and the matzoh meal in a food processor using the pulse motion and stir into the egg yolks. Add the cooled chocolate mixture and combine thoroughly.
• Using clean beaters, beat the egg whites in another bowl until they hold stiff peaks. Gradually fold the whites into the chocolate-walnut mixture, incorporating them gently but thoroughly so that no whites are visible. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until puffed and almost set but still a little gooey in the center. A wooden toothpick inserted 1 inch from the edge should come out clean.
• Remove the pan from the oven and let cool on a rack. When completely cool, unmold the cake by running a thin-bladed knife around the edges of the cake to release it from the pan (or release the springform); invert onto a platter. Peel off the parchment paper. Serve the torte at room temperature.
• If desired, lightly dust with Passover confectioners' sugar. For a lovely, simple presentation, place a doily or a stencil-handmade by you or, even better, your children-over the torte, then sprinkle with the sugar. Carefully remove the doily or stencil.
• Or glaze with the chocolate icing. Lay long strips of wax paper or foil on a cake plate or serving platter and place the cake on top. Pour the glaze over the top of the cake, letting it drip down the sides. Using a spatula, evenly spread the glaze over the top and sides. Now, pull out and discard the paper strips or foil strips--the plate will be clean and ready for serving. If you'd like, garnish with a few walnut halves attractively placed in the center of the cake. Refrigerate the cake for about an hour to set the glaze, but bring it to room temperature before serving.
• The plain or frosted torte is heavenly with generous dollops of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
• Passover Confectioners’ Sugar:
• In a blender, mini-food processor, or clean coffee grinder, whirl 1 cup minus 1/2 tablespoon regular granulated sugar until it is powdery. Place in a small bowl and stir in 1/2 teaspoon potato starch. Sift before using. (Recently commercial Passover confectioners' sugar, made without cornstarch, has appeared in some stores with large kosher-for-Passover sections. If available, by all means use it here.)
• Chocolate Icing:
• Melt the butter or margarine slowly in a heavy saucepan over very low heat. When half is melted, gradually whisk in the chocolate, stirring well as it melts. After all the chocolate has been added, stir in 2 tablespoons water and beat well until the glaze is completely smooth. Let the mixture cool about 5 minutes to thicken slightly.

MAPLE-WALNUT ESPRESSO TORTE

Steps:

• Bring all ingredients to boil in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Boil until syrup thickens slightly and is reduced to 1 generous cup, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Lightly oil inside of 8-inch springform pan. Line bottom with parchment paper. Blend 2 cups walnuts and matzo meal in processor until nuts are finely ground. Using electric mixer, beat eggs, maple syrup, sugar, and salt in large bowl at high speed 5 minutes. Add espresso, lemon peel, and cardamom and beat until beginning to thicken, about 5 minutes longer. Gently fold in nut mixture in 4 additions. Pour batter into prepared pan.
• Bake torte until brown on top and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Transfer torte to rack. Spoon 4 tablespoons syrup over hot torte. Decorate top with walnut halves. Cool completely in pan on rack. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover remaining syrup and torte separately and let stand at room temperature.)
• Cut around pan sides to loosen torte. Remove pan sides. Cut torte into wedges. Serve with remaining syrup and whipped topping, if desired.
• *Kosher-for-Passover nondairy topping mix is usually available in the frozen foods section of kosher markets and some supermarkets. Prepare it according to directions on the label.

DATE NUT TORTE

Steps:

• In a bowl, beat eggs. Gradually add sugars and beat until well mixed. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to egg mixture and stir until moistened. Stir in nuts and dates. Pour into a greased 8-in. square baking pan., Bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Torte top will be crusty and the inside chewy. Cool. Cut into squares and serve with a dollop of whipped cream.

ENGLISH WALNUT DATE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch tube pan.
• In a large bowl, combine dates, walnuts, sugar, baking powder and flour. Stir in egg yolks. In a large glass or metal mixing bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold the whites into the fruit/nut mixture until no streaks remain. Spoon into prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 90 minutes. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.

WALNUT TWEED TORTE

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F.
• Insert bottom of springform pan upside down (so that turned-up edge faces down for easier removal of cake).
• Pulse walnuts with 3 tablespoons matzo cake meal in a food processor until nuts are finely chopped (be careful not to pulse to a paste). Add remaining 5 tablespoons matzo cake meal and pulse until mixture resembles a grainy flour.
• Beat egg whites with a pinch of salt in a bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until they form soft peaks. Add 2/3 cup sugar a little at a time, beating until whites just hold stiff peaks.
• Beat together yolks and remaining 2/3 cup sugar with 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl at medium-high speed until thick and pale, about 3 minutes in a standing mixer or about 5 minutes with a handheld. Fold in nut flour, then zest, juice, and vanilla. Fold grated chocolate into batter gently but thoroughly. Fold in one third of whites to lighten batter, then fold in remaining whites gently but thoroughly.
• Pour batter into ungreased springform pan, smoothing top, and bake until a wooden pick or skewer inserted in center comes out clean, 50 minutes to 1 hour. Cool in pan on a rack 15 minutes, then run a thin sharp knife between cake and side of pan. Remove side of pan and cool cake completely. Invert cake onto rack and run knife between cake and bottom of pan to remove bottom, then flip onto a plate.

DATE-NUT TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Butter the bottom and sides of an 8-inch (20-cm) square cake pan, dust it with flour, and tap out any excess.
• In a small bowl, use your fingers to toss together the dates, walnuts, and 1 tablespoon of the flour, breaking up the sticky date pieces.
• In another small bowl, whisk together the remaining flour, the baking powder, and salt. Crush the aniseed in a mortar and pestle or seal them inside a sturdy plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin. Add the crushed seeds to the flour mixture and stir to combine.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, granulated sugar, orange juice, and vanilla. Stir in the flour mixture, then the date-nut mixture just until combined.
• Scrape the batter into the prepared cake pan and bake until the top is light golden brown and the cake feels just barely firm in the center, about 40 minutes.
• Heavily dust the warm or room-temperature cake with powdered sugar. Cut into squares right in the cake pan.
• Storage
• The cake will keep for up to 3 days at room temperature.

WALNUT TORTE WITH COFFEE WHIPPED CREAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Using coarse grating disc (with large holes), grate walnuts in processor. Remove grating disc, leaving walnuts in processor bowl. Fit processor with metal blade. Using on/off turns, grind walnuts until finely ground but not pasty. Set aside 2 tablespoons ground walnuts for garnish.
• Butter bottom (not sides) of 9-inch-diameter springform pan. Using electric mixer, beat egg yolks in large bowl until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Gradually add 1/2 cup sugar, beating until well blended. Stir remaining ground walnuts into yolk mixture. Using clean dry beaters, beat egg whites in another large bowl until stiff but not dry. Fold whites into nut mixture in 2 additions. Transfer batter to prepared pan.
• Bake cake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool 5 minutes. Run knife between cake and pan sides to loosen; remove pan sides. Cool cake completely on rack (cake will fall in center). (Cake can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and store at room temperature.)
• Using electric mixer, beat cream, powdered sugar, coffee mixture, and vanilla in large bowl until peaks form. Spread coffee whipped cream onto top of cake. Sprinkle top with reserved ground walnuts; arrange walnut halves in center of cake. Cut cake into wedges.

WALNUT TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400. Mix together walnuts and three-fourths cup sugar. Beat egg whites until stiff and fold in walnut mixture. Divide into three round eight- or nine-inch cake tins that have been well buttered and floured. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, until delicately browned. Cool in tins.
• Mix egg yolks, coffee and one-half cup sugar and heat over low flame, stirring briskly until thick and creamy. (Do not boil.) Cool.
• Stir chopped walnuts and remaining one tablespoon sugar over low heat until browned. Add to coffee and egg mixture. Spread filling between layers.
• Sprinkle top with confectioners' sugar.

WALNUT TORTE

Steps:

• Let eggs stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Line three greased 9-in. round baking pans with waxed paper; grease the paper and set aside. , In a large bowl, beat egg yolks until slightly thickened. Gradually add sugar, beating until thick and pale yellow. Beat in the water, zests and vanilla. Combine the walnuts, bread crumbs, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves and salt; add to batter. Beat until smooth., In another bowl and with clean beaters, beat egg whites and cream of tartar on medium speed until stiff peaks form. Fold a fourth of egg whites into the batter, then fold in remaining whites., Pour into prepared pans. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. Carefully peel off waxed paper. , For frosting, in a large bowl, cream shortening and butter. Beat in vanilla. Gradually beat in sugar. Add milk; beat until light and fluffy. Spread frosting between layers and over top and sides of cake. Garnish with toasted walnuts.

CARAMEL-WALNUT TORTE

Steps:

• FOR CRUST: Using electric mixer, beat butter, sugar, egg, lemon peel, and salt in large bowl to blend. Gradually add flour and beat until mixture holds together, adding water by tablespoonfuls if dough is dry. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate 30 minutes. FOR FILLING: Stir sugar and 1/3 cup water in heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat; boil without stirring until syrup turns deep amber, brushing down sides of pan occasionally, about 8 minutes. Turn off heat. Add cream and honey (mixture will bubble vigorously); stir over low heat to dissolve any caramel bits. Mix in walnuts. Cool to room temperature. Preheat oven to 350. Spray 9-inch diameter springform pan with nonstick spray. Divide dough into 3 pieces, 2 slightly larger than the third. Roll out 1 larger dough piece on lightly floured surface to 10-inch round. Transfer to prepared pan; press onto bottom and slightly up sides of pan. Divide smaller dough piece into 2 balls. Roll each ball into 14-inch-long rope. Coil each rope around bottom edge of pan, pressing against sides. Press coiled dough up sides of pan, forming 1 1/2-inch-high sides. Spoon filling into dough-lined pan (pan will not be completely filled). Roll out remaining dough piece on lightly floured work surface to 9 1/2-inch round. Place atop filling. Press dough edges together to seal and enclose filling. Brush top crust with egg yolk. Pierce top in several places to allow steam to escape. Bake until crust is golden brown, about 40 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool. Cut around pan sides to loosen torte. Release pan sides. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and let stand at room temperature.) Cut torte into wedges and serve.

RAW TORTE

Steps:

• Unless you're using very soft, creamy dates, soak the dates in coconut water for 1 or 2 hours prior ro using them. /drain the dates and set them aside, saving the coconut water for future use. Mince the coconut meat by hand or in a food processor one cup at a time, until each chunk is a bit larger than a chocolate chip. In a large mixing bowl, combine the coconut meat, Buckwheaties (optional), and carob and mix until the coconut and Buckwheaties are well-coated with carob. There should still be at least 1/2 cup of carob in the bottom of the bowl after all coconut meat and Buckwheaties are coated. Set aside. In a food processor puree the dates and maple syrup. Add the date puree, nut butter, and vanilla extract (optional) to the carob coconut mixture. Mix Well. Make the crust. In a food processor puree the Buckwheaties, maple syrup, almonds, walnuts, date, and nut butter. Oil a 9-inch round pie plate with olive oil and press the pureed crust into it. The crust should be thin. Spoon the torte filling into the crust and cover it with the Whipped Cream. Put the torte into the freezer for 2 hours. It will not freeze, but should be served chilled and garnished. Store in freezer.