French Quarter Chocolate Torte Recipes

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.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line the base of an 8-inch springform pan with parchment paper.
• Melt the chocolate gently in the top of a double boiler over hot, not boiling, water. This is a critical step in the preparation and should be done very slowly (or it can be done more speedily in the microwave).
• Remove the melted chocolate from the heat and stir in the butter, flour and sugar. Beat the yolks lightly and whisk into the chocolate mixture gradually.
• Beat the egg whites until they hold a definite shape but are not dry and fold into the chocolate mixture. Overbeating or underbeating will ruin the cake. The beaten egg whites should be folded smoothly, quickly and easily into the chocolate mixture. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 15 minutes. Turn off the heat; open the oven door, leaving it ajar, and allow the cake to cool completely in the oven.
• The cake is best served a little warm. Decorate with whipped cream. Run a long, thin knife under hot water and then slice the cake into small slivers. It is rich.

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.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 9" springform pan with parchment paper; spray lightly with cooking spray.
• In small saucepan, combine molasses, corn syrup, brown sugar, diluted coffee, bourbon and vanilla extract. Stir well and place over medium heat. Cook 1 to 2 minutes or until melted and syrupy. Do not boil. Remove from heat.
• In small bowl with mixer at medium speed, beat egg yolks about 2 minutes or until thick and lemon-colored. Slowly beat molasses syrup into yolks, continue beating until mixture is consistency of thick cream.
• In another small bowl, stir together almonds and bread crumbs. Sift cocoa powder into crumb mixture, stir to mix well. With rubber spatula, fold cocoa mixture into yolk mixture.
• Beat egg whites until frothy. Add salt and cream of tartar. Increase speed and beat until stiff peaks form. Fold 1/3 egg whites into cocoa mixture. Gently fold in remaining whites. Spoon batter into prepared pan. Bake on middle rack of oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a thin skewer comes out fairly clean. Remove from oven and let cool completely. Remove from pan, peel off paper and sift confectioner's sugar over top of cake.