Sacher Torte Squares Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Combine apricots and amaretto; let stand 15 minutes. In another bowl, combine cake mix, eggs, water, oil and apricot mixture. Beat on low speed 30 seconds; beat on medium 2 minutes. , Pour into 2 greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 22-27 minutes. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely., For filling, heat apricot preserves and amaretto on low in a small saucepan, stirring occasionally, until preserves are melted; set aside. , For glaze, combine cream and corn syrup in a small saucepan. Bring just to a boil. Pour over chocolate; whisk until smooth. Stir in vanilla., Using a long serrated knife, cut each cake horizontally in half. Place 1 layer on a serving plate; spread with half of the filling. Top with another layer; spread with a third of the glaze. Cover with third layer and remaining filling. Top with remaining layer; spread top and sides of torte with remaining glaze. If desired, spread toasted almonds on edges or sides of torte. Refrigerate several hours before slicing.

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Butter the bottom and sides of an 8-inch springform pan; line the bottom with parchment paper. Butter the parchment and dust the bottom and sides with cake flour, tapping out the excess. Microwave the semisweet chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring every 30 seconds, until smooth; let cool.
• Meanwhile, sift the cake flour and salt into a medium bowl. Beat the butter and 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on low speed until combined. Increase the speed to medium high and beat until light, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the 6 egg yolks, one at a time, then beat in the vanilla. Reduce the mixer speed to low and beat in the melted chocolate. Add the flour mixture and beat until just combined.
• Beat the 4 egg whites in a separate large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until frothy, about 30 seconds. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar. Increase the speed to high and beat until the egg whites are stiff and glossy, about 1 more minute. Working in two batches, fold the egg whites into the batter with a rubber spatula until just combined. Spread the batter in the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool 10 minutes, then remove the springform ring and let the cake cool completely. Remove the cake from the bottom of the pan and cut in half horizontally using a long serrated knife.
• Make the filling: Combine 1/2 cup apricot jam, the granulated sugar and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer, stirring, until the jam melts; strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a medium bowl and stir in the rum. Gradually brush about two-thirds of the syrup on the cut sides of the cake, allowing it to soak in. Remove any large pieces of fruit from the remaining 1/2 cup apricot jam; spread over the cut side of the bottom cake half and top with the remaining cake half, cut-side down. Brush the top and sides of the cake with the remaining syrup, allowing it to soak in.
• Make the glaze: Combine the corn syrup and water in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over low heat, stirring to combine. Remove from the heat and add the bittersweet chocolate; stir until melted and smooth.
• Transfer the cake to a rack set over a baking sheet. Working in two or three batches, pour the glaze over the cake, allowing the excess to drip down the sides. Smooth the glaze with an offset spatula if needed. Refrigerate until the glaze is set, about 30 minutes. Serve with whipped cream.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly butter a 9-inch springform pan; place a circle of parchment paper inside, and butter that as well.
• Melt 4 ounces of chocolate in a metal bowl placed over gently simmering water. Stir frequently until melted, then remove from the heat and let cool slightly.
• Beat the butter together with confectioners' sugar until creamy. Mix in the melted chocolate, then beat in the egg yolks, one at a time. In a clean bowl, beat egg whites with white sugar until stiff and glossy. Fold into chocolate mixture, then fold in cake flour, until incorporated. Pour into prepared springform pan, and smooth the top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the edges begin to pull away from the sides of the pan, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out dry, about 45 minutes. Cool pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes, then run a small knife around the edge and remove the sides of the pan. Allow cake to cool completely on the base of the pan. When cool, remove from pan, and remove parchment paper; slice cake in half horizontally.
• Bring 1/4 cup water and sugar to a boil in a small saucepan. When the sugar has dissolved and the syrup is clear, remove from heat and stir in 2 tablespoons rum. Brush 1/3 of the syrup onto the cut side of the cake bottom.
• Puree the apricot preserves with 1 tablespoon of water until smooth. Bring to a simmer over medium heat in a small saucepan, and cook until thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in remaining rum, then spread 1/3 of the jam mixture onto the cut side of the cake bottom. Place the top of the cake onto the bottom. Brush the outside of the cake with the remaining syrup, then spread remaining apricot preserves over the top and sides; refrigerate until the icing is ready.
• To make the icing, melt 9 ounces of chocolate over a double boiler or in the microwave until smooth. Bring the cream to a simmer in a small saucepan, then stir into melted chocolate. Cool slightly, stirring often, until the chocolate reaches a spreadable consistency.
• Set the cake on a cooling rack set over a cookie sheet or waxed paper to catch any drips. Pour the icing on top of the cake, and spread around the edges; allow excess icing to drip through the rack. Cool cake to room temperature, then carefully remove from the cooling rack using a spatula. Transfer to a dessert plate and store in the refrigerator. Allow cake to come to room temperature before serving.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 13x9-in. baking pan., In a large bowl, combine cake mix, apricot filling, eggs and vanilla; beat on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium 2 minutes. Fold in chocolate chips. Transfer to prepared pan. Bake 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean., Remove pan from oven and place on a wire rack. In a small bowl, mix preserves and vanilla; spread over warm cake., In a small saucepan, combine butter, sugar and cream; bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat; stir in chocolate chips until melted. Spread over cake; sprinkle with almonds. Refrigerate until set, about 1 hour.

Steps:

• Place a baking sheet in the oven and heat it to 350 degrees. Line bottom of a 9-inch cake pan with parchment paper. Butter and lightly flour sides of the pan.
• Make the cake: Place chocolate and butter in a metal bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water and melt, stirring, until smooth. Set aside.
• Place egg yolks in bowl of a stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment. Place whites in a separate, clean bowl.
• Add confectioners' sugar to yolks and whip together until fluffy, creamy and pale, about 5 minutes. With the mixer on, slowly drizzle in the melted chocolate and butter, and beat until fluffy and incorporated.
• Add salt to the bowl of egg whites and start beating them with a whisk or electric mixer. When whites show soft peaks, slowly add granulated sugar as you continue to beat. Do this until sugar has dissolved and egg whites are stiff and glossy.
• In a separate bowl, sift together flour and cornstarch.
• Fold a third of the flour mixture into egg yolk mixture. Fold a third of the egg whites into egg yolk mixture. Repeat two more times, alternating flour mixture and then egg whites, until no white streaks remain.
• Gently scrape batter into prepared pan and smooth top. Place on baking sheet in oven and wedge the handle of a wooden spoon in the oven door. Bake for 10 minutes and then remove spoon. Lower heat to 275 degrees, and bake for 40 to 45 minutes longer, or until a tester inserted into the cake's center comes out clean.
• Place cake pan on a rack for 10 minutes to cool, then invert cake, remove pan and peel off parchment paper. Let cake cool completely upside down. Once cooled, slice it in half horizontally into two layers. Place rack over a piece of parchment paper and move top half of cake to a large plate.
• Make the filling: Place jam and rum in a small pan, bring to a boil and continue to boil for a minute or two. Push apricot mixture through a sieve to get a smooth consistency. Let cool, then spread half of the mixture evenly on the bottom cake layer. Place second layer on top of the jam and press down slightly. Spread remaining jam over top and sides of cake. Let cool completely.
• Make the glaze: Place the sugar, water, and chocolate in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Clip a candy thermometer to the side of the pan. Boil, stirring frequently, until the glaze reaches 230°F/110°C, about 5 minutes. The mixture will be smooth, glossy, and pourable and will coat the back of a spoon. Remove from the heat and let stand just until the bubbles die down.
• Slowly pour warm chocolate glaze evenly all over cake, letting excess drip down sides. Avoid using a spatula to spread glaze: It will stay glossiest if not touched. Reserve a little glaze in the pan to pour over any uncoated patches on the sides so that entire cake is coated. Gently wedge two spatulas under cake to transfer it to a serving plate. Let glaze set completely before cutting and serving.