CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO DACQUOISE

CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO DACQUOISE image

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 25

Ingredients

MERINGUE
3/4 cup blanched sliced almonds, toasted
1/2 cup hazelnuts, toasted and skinned
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup (7 ounces) sugar
4 large egg whites, room temperature
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
BUTTERCREAM
3/4 cup whole milk
4 large egg yolks
1/3 cup (2 1/3 ounces) sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons amaretto or water
1 1/2 tablespoons instant espresso powder
16 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
GANACHE
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped fine
3/4 cup heavy cream
2 teaspoons corn syrup
12 whole hazelnuts, toasted and skinned
1 cup blanched sliced almonds, toasted
FOR THE MERINGUE: heat oven to 250 degrees. draw 13 by 10 1/2-inch rectangle on piece of parchment paper. Grease baking sheet and place parchment on it, ink side down.
Process almonds, hazelnuts, cornstarch, and salt in food processor until nuts are finely ground, add1/2 cup sugar and pulse to combine3. Using stand mixer whisk, whip egg whites and cream of tartar on until foamy, Increase speed to medium-high and whip whites to soft, billowy mounds,slowly add remaining 1/2 cup sugar and continue to whip until glossy, stiff peaks form Fold nut mixture into egg whites in 2 batches. With offset spatula, spread meringue evenly into 13 by 10 1/2-inch rectangle on parchment,Using spray bottle, evenly mist surface of meringue with water until glistening. Bake for 1 1/2 hours. Turn off oven and allow meringue to cool in oven for 1 1/2 hours. (Do not open oven during baking and cooling.) Remove from oven and let cool to room temperature, about 10 minutes. (Cooled meringue can be kept at room temperature wrapped for 2 days)4. FOR THE BUTTER CREAM: Heat milk until just simmering. Meanwhile, whisk yolks, sugar, cornstarch, and salt in bowl until smooth.

Steps:

add half of milk to yolk to temper, then add to remaining milk and heat to thick consistency.cover refrigBefore using, warm gently to room temperature in microwave. Stir together amaretto and espresso powder;Using paddle, beat butter until smooth and light, 3 to 4 minutes. Add pastry cream in 3 batches, Add amaretto mixture and continue to beat until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes 6.make ganache. Set aside to cool 7. Carefully invert meringue and peel off parchment. Reinvert meringue and place on cutting board. Using serrated knife and gentle, repeated scoring motion, trim edges of meringue to form 12 by 10-inch rectangle. eat trimmings. With long side of rectangle parallel to counter, use ruler to mark both long edges of meringue at 3-inch intervals. Using serrated knife, score surface of meringue by drawing knife toward you from mark on top edge to corresponding mark on bottom edge. Repeat scoring until meringue is fully cut through. Repeat until you have four 10 by 3-inch rectangles. (If any meringues break during cutting, use them as middle layers.) 8. Place 3 rectangles on wire rack spread 1/4 cup ganache evenly over surface of each meringue. RefrigerateSet aside remaining ganache. 9. Using offset spatula, spread top of remaining rectangle with 1/2 cup buttercream; place on wire rack with ganache-coated meringues. Invert 1 ganache-coated meringue, place on top of buttercream, and press gently to level. Repeat, spreading meringue with 1/2 cup buttercream and topping with inverted ganache-coated Spread top with buttercream. Invert final ganache-coated strip on top of cake. Use 1 hand to steady top of cake and spread half of remaining buttercream to lightly coat sides of cake, then use remaining buttercream to coat top and sides of cake making smooth box. Refrig. Rewarm ganache, pour over cake spreading sides (doesn't have to cover completely). Garnish top with hazelnuts. Holding bottom of cake with 1 hand, gently press almo