Best Chocolate Almond Flourless Torte Recipes

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FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE-ALMOND TORTE WITH CHERRY PRESERVES AND KIRSCH MERINGUE



Flourless Chocolate-Almond Torte with Cherry Preserves and Kirsch Meringue image

Almonds add texture to this rich chocolate dessert, while a cloud of meringue adds an ethereal element to each dense bite. Cherries figure in at every level, thanks to kirsch liqueur and a smear of preserves.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dessert & Treats Recipes     Cake Recipes

Time 2h25m

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 sticks unsalted butter or nondairy margarine, room temperature, plus more for pan
1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
1/2 cup boiling water
1 tablespoon kirsch or other cherry-flavored liqueur (optional)
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
6 large eggs, separated (whites kept at room temperature)
1 2/3 cups finely ground almonds
Coarse salt
1/4 cup cherry preserves
6 large egg whites, room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon kirsch or other cherry-flavored liqueur (optional)

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make the cake: Butter a 9-inch springform pan. Whisk together cocoa and boiling water until cocoa dissolves and mixture is smooth. Stir in kirsch.
  • Beat butter and 1 cup sugar with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy. Beat in egg yolks, 1 at a time, scraping down sides of bowl between additions. Add cocoa mixture and almonds, and beat until combined. Transfer to a large bowl.
  • Whisk egg whites and 1/2 teaspoon salt in the clean bowl of a mixer on medium-high speed until soft peaks form. With machine running, add remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, and whisk until stiff peaks form. Fold one-quarter of the whites into batter, then fold in remaining whites.
  • Pour batter into pan, and transfer to a baking sheet. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven, and cover cake with parchment-lined foil. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes more. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool for 45 minutes. Run a knife or an offset spatula around edge of cake to loosen, and release sides of pan to remove.
  • Make the meringue: Whisk egg whites and sugar in a clean heatproof bowl of a mixer set over a pan of simmering water until sugar dissolves and mixture is hot to the touch, about 3 minutes. Whisk on medium speed until soft peaks form. Whisk in kirsch. Whisk until stiff peaks form.
  • Spread cherry preserves on top of cake. Spread meringue over preserves using an offset spatula, making decorative swirls. Caramelize peaks of meringue using a handheld kitchen torch or under the broiler.

CHOCOLATE ALMOND FLOURLESS TORTE



CHOCOLATE ALMOND FLOURLESS TORTE image

Yield 10-12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

10 oz good imported bittersweet chocolate, broken into pieces
1/2 c (1 stick) unsalted butter or margarine, at room temperature
1/2 c granulated sugar plus more for sprinkling
5 large eggs, separated
1/3 c finely ground almonds (done in a food processor)
2 T kosher for passover cognac or dark rum
Whipped cream, optional
Fresh raspberries, optional

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 300 degrees and grease well a 9-inch springform pan and line bottom with parchment paper. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler over hot, not boiling water. When the chocolate is melted, turn off the heat and leave it over the hot water to cool slowly. Meanwhile in a large bowl, beat the butter with 1/4 cup of the sugar until the mixture is fluffy and almost white. Add egg yolks and beat for 1 minute. Add the almonds and cognac and beat 2 minutes more. In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until light and foamy while gradually adding the remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Continue beating the whites until they are stiff and shiny. Add the melted chocolate to the egg yolk mixture and mix with a rubber spatula until well combined. Fold in 1/4 of this chocolate mixture into the egg whites; then gradually fold the egg whites back into the rest of the chocolate mixture, taking care not to deflate the batter. Pour the mixture into the springform pan and bake until a tester comes out covered with a thick, moist, not wet, and crumbly coating. Allow cake to cool for 30 minutes in the pan. Loosen the edges with a knife and carefully turn the cake out onto a plate. Remove the parchment paper. Sprinkle with the sugar. Serve at room temperature or chilled with whipped cream and raspberries on the side.

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