Best French Quarter Chocolate Torte Recipes

CHOCOLATE ECLAIR TORTE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring water and butter to a boil. Add flour all at once and stir until smooth ball forms. Remove from the heat; let stand for 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Continue beating until mixture is smooth and shiny., Line a large baking sheet with waxed paper. Draw a 10-in. circle on the waxed paper. Grease the paper. Drop batter by rounded tablespoonfuls just inside the circle outline. , Bake at 400° for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack. Immediately prick with a fork and cool completely. Cut off top third of puffs. Pull out and discard soft dough from inside., For filling, in a large bowl, whisk milk, pudding mixes and vanilla for 2 minutes; let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. Fold in whipped topping. Place bottom ring of cream puffs on a serving platter. Spoon filling inside. Top with top ring. Refrigerate., For icing, in a microwave, melt chocolate and butter with milk; stir until smooth. Stir in vanilla. Add confectioners' sugar and stir until smooth. Cool for 5 minutes. Drizzle over top of cake. Serve immediately. Refrigerate leftovers.

DENSE CHOCOLATE TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300&Deg;F with rack in middle. Wrap outside of cake pan in plastic wrap, then wrap tightly in a layer of foil.
• Lightly butter pan, then dust with sugar, knocking out excess.
• Heat 1 cup sugar with 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan, stirring, until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and cool.
• Melt chocolates in a large bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water (do not let bowl touch water), stirring occasionally, until melted. Stir together butter (2 sticks) and remaining 1/2 cup sugar in another bowl until combined. Stir butter mixture into melted chocolate. Then stir in sugar syrup. Gently stir in eggs (avoid making bubbles) until combined. 3Transfer to pan and bake in a hot water bath until center is almost set (it should barely wobble), about 45 to 50 minutes.
• Cool completely on a rack. Chill, covered, at least 8 hours. Run a thin knife along side of pan, remove side, and serve slightly chilled or at room temperature.

FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter the bottom and side of a 9-inch springform pan. Combine the chocolate and 1 1/2 sticks butter in a heatproof bowl. Place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water) and stir until melted and combined. Remove the bowl from the saucepan and let cool slightly.
• Combine the eggs, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Beat with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and thick, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Gently fold half of the melted chocolate mixture into the egg mixture until just combined, then gently fold in the rest. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until the top is no longer shiny and barely jiggles and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with only a few crumbs, 35 to 45 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool completely in the pan. Remove the springform ring and transfer to a platter; dust with cocoa powder.

THE BEST CHOCOLATE SOUFFLE TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Cut a square piece of parchment paper that is larger than the springform pan. Set it on the bottom of the springform pan and secure the ring on top; the paper will extend outside of the springform pan, which makes it easier to remove the torte after baking. Grease the sides of the springform pan.
• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat and stir in chocolate until melted. Allow to cool lightly.
• Beat egg yolks and 1/2 the sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer until light and foamy, about 5 minutes. It is important to beat a lot of air into the egg yolks, so they almost triple in volume.
• Fold lightly cooled chocolate mixture into the egg yolk mixture using a spatula.
• Beat egg whites in a glass, metal, or ceramic bowl until foamy using the electric mixer on medium speed. Gradually add remaining sugar and salt, continuing to beat until stiff peaks form.
• Stir 1/3 of the egg whites into the chocolate batter to thin it out. Then carefully fold in the remaining egg whites using a spatula. Immediately transfer batter into the prepared springform pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until torte is no longer glossy, 30 to 40 minutes. Be careful not to bake too long, otherwise it will get dry.
• Cool on a wire rack until completely cool. Unmold carefully, since the torte breaks easily.

SOUTHERN CHOCOLATE TORTE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, sift the cake and pudding mixes. In another bowl, whisk the eggs, milk and oil. Add to dry ingredients; beat until well blended. , Pour into three greased and floured 9-in. round baking 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 to cool completely., In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugars until smooth. Finely chop eight candy bars; stir into cream cheese mixture. Fold in whipped topping. , Spread frosting on cake plate, between layers and over the top and sides of the cake. Chop the remaining candy bars; sprinkle over top and along bottom edge of cake. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Store in the refrigerator.

FRENCH QUARTER CHOCOLATE TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Position rack in center of oven. Line a 9- or 10-inch springform pan with parchment paper and spray lightly with vegetable oil.
• Combine the molasses, corn syrup, brown sugar, diluted coffee, bourbon and vanilla in a small saucepan. Stir well and place over medium heat until melted and syrupy; do not boil. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Place the egg yolks in a small bowl and beat with an electric mixer until they are thick and lemon colored, about 2 minutes. Slowly beat in the syrup. Continue beating until the mixture is the consistency of thick cream.
• In a medium bowl, stir together the ground almonds and bread crumbs. Sift in the cocoa and stir to mix well. With a rubber spatula, fold the cocoa mixture into the yolk mixture. Set aside.
• Place the egg whites in a large, grease-free bowl. Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the egg whites until frothy. Add the salt and the cream of tartar, increase speed to high, and beat until stiff peaks form. With a large rubber spatula, fold 1/3 of the egg whites into the cocoa mixture to lighten it. Then gently fold in the remaining egg whites.
• Spoon the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until a thin wooden skewer inserted in the center comes out with only a few moist crumbs clinging to it, 20 to 25 minutes. Place on a wire rack to cool completely. Remove the sides of the pan, invert the cake and peel off the parchment paper. Turn the cake right side up and sift confectioners' sugar over the top if desired.