Chocolate Almond Puddings With Amaretti Crumb Topping Recipes

Steps:

• Center a rack in the oven, and preheat to 350. Butter an 8-inch cake pan, line the bottom with parchment paper, butter the paper and dust the interior with cocoa powder; tap out the excess.
• To make the cake: Put the almonds, amaretti, sugar, cocoa and salt into a food processor, and process in short spurts, until the almonds and cookies are finely ground. Add the butter and eggs, and process, scraping the bowl occasionally, for about 2 minutes, until the mixture is homogeneous. Add the melted chocolate a little at a time, pulsing after each addition. Scrape the bowl, and then pour the batter into the pan. Standing back (to avoid being showered by cocoa powder), rap the pan against the counter a few times, to break the largest bubbles in the batter.
• Bake the cake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a tester comes out streaky; the top of the cake will look dry and perhaps cracked. If the top has erupted in a couple of places - it happens - use a spatula to press down the bumps as best as you can. Let the cake rest on a rack for 15 minutes.
• Run a blunt knife between the cake and the sides of the pan. Invert the cake onto the rack, peel off the paper and turn right side up; cool to room temperature.
• When you're ready to glaze the cake, place the rack over a baking sheet lined with parchment or foil - the drip-catcher.
• To make the glaze: Put the chocolate in a heatproof measuring cup with a spout or in a bowl. Bring the cream, sugar and water to a boil in a saucepan (or do this in the microwave). Pour the cream over the chocolate, and stir gently until you have a smooth glaze.
• Pour the glaze over the cake, and use an offset spatula or knife to spread it over the top. Sprinkle over the crushed amaretti. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to set the glaze (which will always be soft). Serve the cake slightly chilled or at room temperature (my preference).

Steps:

• Combine flour, sugar and nutmeg in a mixing bowl; stir well to mix and stir in sliced almonds.
• Stir in the butter evenly. Set aside for 5 minutes, then, using your fingertips, break the mixture into 1/4 to 1/2 inch crumbs. Set aside again while you prepare the filling.

Steps:

• Make the crust: Pulse the almonds, sugar and lemon zest in a food processor until finely ground. Add the flour and salt; pulse to combine. Add the butter and pulse until it is in pea-size pieces. Sprinkle in the almond extract and 4 tablespoons ice water; pulse until the dough holds together when pinched, adding up to 1 more tablespoon water if the dough is too dry. Turn the dough out onto a large piece of plastic wrap. Gently pat into a disk, using the plastic wrap to help you. Wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 30 minutes and up to 24 hours.
• Roll out the dough into a 12-inch round on a lightly floured surface. Ease into a 9-inch pie plate. Fold the overhanging dough under itself and crimp the edge with your fingers. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line the crust with foil and fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake until the crust is lightly golden around the edge, 13 to 15 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350° and remove the foil and beans. Continue baking until the crust is crisp and golden all over, 10 to 12 more minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool completely.
• Make the filling: Whisk the sugar, cornstarch and salt in a medium saucepan until smooth. Whisk in the eggs, egg yolks and lemon zest and juice. Cook over medium-high heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture is thick like pudding, about 8 minutes. (Reduce the heat to medium if the mixture starts to boil.) Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter, 1 piece at a time; whisk vigorously until incorporated, about 15 seconds. Whisk in the limoncello. Pour the filling into the cooled crust. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate until set, at least 4 hours.
• Make the topping: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Combine the crushed amaretti cookies, almonds, sugar and melted butter in a large bowl. Spread on a baking sheet and bake until crisp and golden, 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer to a plate and let cool completely. Sprinkle on the pie just before serving.

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, stir together the sugar, cocoa and cornstarch. Gradually whisk in milk and egg. Stirring constantly, bring to a boil over medium heat, and cook until thickened. Remove from heat, and quickly stir in the vanilla and almond extracts. Garnish as desired, and serve warm.

Steps:

• Crumble almond paste into a food processor; add sugar and pulse until evenly combined. Add egg whites and process until incorporated. Transfer mixture to a bowl. Sift together confectioners' sugar and cocoa; gradually add to almond mixture and mix well., Drop by tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake at 350° until tops are cracked, 17-20 minutes. Cool for 1 minute before removing from pans to wire racks. Store in an airtight container.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6 and put on a full kettle. Have a large roasting tin ready. Butter 10 squares of foil, each about 15 x 15cm. Butter 10 x 200ml mini pudding tins, dust with flour, then tap out the excess. Cut 10 small circles of baking paper to fit the bottoms and drop one into each tin.
• Melt the butter and chocolate together in a pan, heating gently and stirring every so often. Set aside to cool. Meanwhile, put the eggs and sugar into a large bowl and whisk with electric beaters for 10 mins, or until the mix is thick and foamy and holds a trail for a few seconds.
• Mix the ground almonds, flour and baking powder together. Splash 1 tbsp amaretto over the biscuits. Fold the cooled chocolate mix into the whisked egg and sugar using a large metal spoon. Follow with the flour mix, then work in the amaretto.
• Fill the tins one-third full, then drop in an amaretti biscuit and top up with mix, leaving a 1cm gap between the top of the mix and the edge of the tins. Loosely scrunch a foil square over the top of each tin. Put the tins in the roasting pan and pour hot water around - it should come about halfway up the sides of the puddings. Bake for 30 mins, then insert a skewer into one; a few damp crumbs should stick to the skewer - you don't want the puds to be totally dry.
• Meanwhile, make the fudgy sauce. Melt all of the ingredients together in a heavy-based pan, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Set aside. Keep in the fridge for up to 2 days,then reheat on the hob or in the microwave on High for 1 min. To serve the puddings, turn onto plates and spoon over some of the sauce, allowing it to ooze over the edges. Sprinkle with shards of Salted almond brittle and serve straight away.