Best Russian Torte Recipes

RUSSIAN NAPOLEON TORTE

Steps:

• Place 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons of margarine in a large mixing bowl. Sift in the flour. Cut in margarine with 2 knives or pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Whisk cold water and egg together in a bowl. Whisk in lemon juice. Stir into flour mixture until dough is moistened. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly until it is smooth.
• Roll the dough into a long log. Divide dough into 9 equal parts, roll each part into a small ball and chill for at least 1 hour, or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Dust a large piece of parchment with flour. Take one of the dough balls, dust with flour, and place on prepared baking sheet. Roll into a thin and rough 8-inch circle. Prick with a fork all over. Transfer dough circle and the parchment paper onto a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 10 to 15 minutes. Repeat with the remaining balls of dough.
• Once pastry circles are baked, remove each one from oven. Place a large plate on top and cut around the plate with a sharp knife, so all the dough circles are the exact same size. Save the trimmings for later.
• Place 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons butter in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Beat in the condensed milk until smooth.
• To assemble the cake, place one pastry circle on a serving plate and cover with 1 tablespoon of the butter filling. Sprinkle with walnuts and cover with the next pastry circle. Repeat till all of the pastry circles have been used, spreading filling on the top of the final pastry circle, but no walnuts.
• Crush the reserved trimmings into crumbs. Sprinkle evenly to cover the top and sides of the cake.
• For best results, chill Napoleon Torte in the fridge for 8 hours before serving.

RUSSIAN TORTE

Steps:

• To make pastry: Sift flour, add butter and mix like pie dough.
• Add egg yolks and then warmed milk/yeast mixture. Mix until dough pulls away from the bowl.
• Divide into 3 equal portions (eyeball it or if you are a perfectionist like me the balls will be about 12 oz. each!) Preheat oven to 350.
• Roll out one portion of dough (between sheets of parchment paper or greased/floured wax paper) into a rectangle to fit a 15x10x1-inch jellyroll pan. Remove dough from paper and press into the lightly greased pan.
• Combine nut filling ingredients. Reserve 1/4 cup for the topping. Sprinkle remaining nut filling onto the dough.
• Using the same method, roll out the 2nd portion of dough.
• Spread both cans of fruit over the 2nd layer of dough.
• Roll out 3rd portion of dough and place over the apricot filling. Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes. Meanwhile, make meringue by beating the 4 egg whites until stiff. Add sugar, beating until dissolved. When torte has baked 25 min, pull out and spread meringue over baked torte. Sprinkle with reserved nuts. Return to the oven for 10-20 minutes until lightly browned.
• Cut into diamond or square shapes when cooled. You can use other fruit fillings in place of the apricot.

RUSSIAN TORTE RECIPE - APRICOT-NUT-MERINGUE TORTE RECIPE

Steps:

• To make the pastry dough: In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water and stir in sour cream. Set aside. In a large bowl, cream the butter, and mix in the egg yolks and yeast mixture. Then add the flour and salt, and mix well. Divide dough into three parts and let stand wrapped in plastic for 20 minutes.
• To make the nut filling: In a medium bowl, mix together ground walnuts, 3/4 cup sugar and cinnamon. Reserve 1/2 cup of this for the topping and set the rest aside.
• To assemble: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Working with one piece of dough at a time, roll out into a thin rectangle (the size of a half-sheet pan, about 18x12 inches). Place on a cookie sheet or into a half-sheet pan. Top with ground walnut mixture, reserving 1/2 cup for topping.
• Roll out second portion of dough and place on top of walnut mixture. Loosen the apricot filling by stirring it well and spread it over the entire surface of the dough. Roll out third portion of dough and place it on top of the apricot filling. Bake for 40 minutes. Remove from oven.
• Toward the end of the 40-minute baking time, make the meringue by whipping the egg whites until foamy. Add 1/2 cup sugar and vanilla and beat until stiff. Increase oven temperature to 400 degrees. Spread meringue over hot torte and sprinkle with reserved nut mixture. Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until brown. When cool, cut into diamond shapes to serve.