Chocolate Cappuccino Torte By Lucy Waverman A Matter Of Taste Serves 10 Recipes

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the crumbs, sugar and butter; press onto the bottom of an ungreased 9-in. springform pan. Chill., For ganache, place chocolate chips in a large bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chocolate; whisk until smooth. Add butter and corn syrup; stir until smooth. Cool slightly, stirring occasionally. Pour over crust. Chill until firm, about 2 hours., For buttercream, dissolve coffee granules in hot water; set aside. In a large heavy saucepan over medium-high heat, bring brown sugar and water to a boil. Cook and stir until sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat. Add a small amount of hot mixture to egg yolks; return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Cook and stir for 2-5 minutes or until mixture is thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in dissolved coffee. Cool to room temperature., In a large bowl, beat butter until fluffy. Gradually beat in cooked sugar mixture. Beat on high for 2 minutes or until fluffy and light caramel-colored. Beat in cooled chocolate until blended. Spread over ganache layer. Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight., Several hours before serving, prepare coffee whipped cream. In a small bowl, combine 1 tablespoon cream and coffee; stir until coffee is dissolved. Beat in remaining cream until it begins to thicken. Gradually add confectioners' sugar and vanilla; beat until stiff peaks form. , Carefully run a knife around edge of springform pan to loosen; remove sides. Frost top of torte with whipped cream; garnish with chocolate curls if desired. Refrigerate until serving.

Steps:

• Butter an 8-inch-square pan and line with parchment paper. Press half of a 16-to-18-ounce package refrigerated sugar cookie dough into the bottom of the pan and bake at 375 degrees F, 8 minutes. Toss 1 1/2 cups sliced peaches with 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 teaspoon ground ginger and a pinch of salt; arrange on the crust. Increase the oven to 425 degrees F and bake until golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

Steps:

• Preheat a convection oven to 375 degree F. If using a regular oven preheat to 400 degrees F.
• Bring some water to a simmer in a medium pot over medium heat. Put 3/4 cup of the butter and 3/4 cup of the chocolate into a bowl that fits on top of the pot without the bottom of the bowl touching the water. Put the bowl onto the pot. When the butter and chocolate have melted, remove it from the heat and whisk in the powdered sugar.
• In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolks and eggs over the simmering water to warm the eggs. Fold in the chocolate mixture, then fold in the cake flour.
• Spray 6 (4-ounce) cake tins with nonstick cooking spray. Fill the tins to 1/2-inch from the top with the batter. Arrange the tins on a baking sheet and bake until they are set around the edges but are still liquid in the center, about 10 to 12 minutes. Check them after 10 minutes, don't overcook them or the center will not be liquid. Remove them from the oven and let them sit for 1 minute.
• While the torte is baking, put the remaining 1/4 cup butter and 1/4 cup chocolate chips into a bowl, melt them as before, and keep it warm. Beat the heavy cream in a large bowl until it forms soft peaks. Quickly beat in the coffee liqueur and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Slice the strawberries in half, leaving the stem on 1 half. Sprinkle the cut sides with sugar and caramelize them using a brulee torch.
• Brush a wide stripe of the melted chocolate across each serving plate. Arrange the caramelized strawberries above the stripe. Unmold each torte on top of the stripe on 1 side. Put a dollop of the whipped cream on the other side of the stripe. Top the whipped cream with the chopped nuts and a light dusting of cocoa powder. Garnish with mint sprigs and serve.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 24 standard muffin cups with paper liners. In a small bowl, combine espresso powder and 2 teaspoons hot water. Stir espresso and chocolate into batter; divide among muffin cups. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of a cupcake comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, about 20 minutes, rotating halfway through. Let cool in pans on wire racks 5 minutes, then transfer cupcakes to racks and let cool completely. (Unfrosted cupcakes may be stored, in airtight containers, at room temperature, up to 2 days.)
• Set a large bowl over (not in) a pot of barely simmering water. Add sugar, egg whites, and cream of tartar and whisk constantly until mixture is warm and frothy and sugar is dissolved, about 4 minutes. Remove bowl from heat and, using an electric mixer, beat on medium until soft peaks form, about 4 minutes. Increase speed to high and beat until whites form medium-stiff, glossy peaks, about 3 minutes.
• Transfer frosting to a large zip-top bag and snip a 1/4-inch hole in one corner. Frost cupcakes, then finely grate some chocolate on top.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F and grease a 9" round pan, line bottom with parchment.
• Mix together ground nuts, flour and instant coffee; set aside.
• Melt butter and chocolate chips together in microwave until chips are melted; whisk until smooth. Cool 15 min's then stir in sugar.
• Add eggs one at a time and beat well after each. Stir in nut mixture.
• Spread into pan and bake (on middle rack) 30-35 min's or until centre in set. Let cool 10 minute then remove from pan to a wire rack and cool completely. (*Note: at this point you can wrap and store the cake in the fridge for up to one week).
• Glaze: melt butter and chocolate chips together in microwave until chips are melted, whisk smooth. Stir in cream amd mix well; cool until slightly thickened.
• To Glaze: Place wax paper under cake on wire rack and pour glaze on top of cake letting it run over the sides to cover.
• Chill at least 8 hours to set glaze.