Chocolate Hazelnut Torte
Instructions:
- 6 eggs, separated
- 1 tbsp. orange peel, shredded fine
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tsp cream of tartar
- 3 cups hazelnuts, ground fine
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup chilled whipping cream
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup cocoa
- 2 tsp. orange peel, shredded fine
- 1/2 cup hazelnuts, chopped for decoration
- Prepare Frosting:
- 1/2 cup margarine or butter
- 3 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tbsp. brandy
- 2 tsp. vanilla
- 3 tbsp. milk
- Preheat oven to 325F. Grease bottom of round baking pan and line with wax paper.
- Beat egg yolks, 1 tbsp. orange peel and cinnamon in medium mixing bowl until thick and light colored (about 5 minutes). Gradually beat in 1/2 cup sugar. Set aside.
- Beat egg whites and cream of tartar in large mixing bowl until peaks form.
- Gradually beat in 1/2 cup sugar until stiff peaks form. Fold egg mixture into meringue.
- Mix 3 cups ground hazelnuts with flour. Sprinkle a of hazelnut mixture over meringue and fold in.
- Repeat until all hazelnut mixture has been folded in.
- Spread in baking pan. Bake 55 to 60 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack.
- Loosen side of cake with spatula. Remove cake from pan.
- Cool completely. Wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours.
- Prepare Frosting
- Beat butter or margarine and chocolate.
- Beat in remaining ingredients until mixture is smooth and easy to spread. Set aside.
- Beat whipping cream, powdered sugar and cocoa until stiff. Fold in 2 tsp. orange peel.
- Carefully split cake horizontally to form three layers. (The easiest way to do this is to take a long piece of sturdy thread.
- Place it around the cake one third from the top.
- Cross the loose ends of thread and pull.
- The threads will cut the cake evenly and cleanly. Brilliant idea, right?) Place bottom layer on cake serving platter.
- Spread with half of the whipped cream mixture. Add second layer of cake.
- Spread with half of the whipped cream mixture.
- Top with remaining cake layer.
- Frost sides and top of torte with frosting mixture.(Use cake decorating bag to make rosettes on top, if desired)
- Press 1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts around side. Chill overnight.