Chocolate walnut cakes with vanilla cream pt 1

9 Servings

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
Softened unsalted butter; for preparing the molds
10 ounces Semisweet chocolate; coarsely chopped
¼ cup Water
3 tablespoons Cognac or brandy
1 cup Plus 2 tablespoons sifted cake flour (not self-rising)
¾ cup Walnuts
3 tablespoons Unsweetened alkalized cocoa powder
¼ teaspoon Salt
18 tablespoons (2 sticks plus 2 tablespoons) unsalted butter, sightly softened
1 cup Granulated sugar; used in two separate measurements
1 tablespoon Vanilla extract
5 larges Eggs; separated (at room temperature)
10 ounces Semisweet chocolate; finely chopped
1¼ cup Heavy (whipping) cream
3 tablespoons Light corn syrup
2 teaspoons Cognac or brandy
1½ teaspoon Vanilla extract
2¼ cup Heavy (whipping) cream
5 teaspoons Granulated sugar
1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
Unsweetened cocoa powder

Directions

CHOCOLATE WALNUT CAKES

CHOCOLATE GLAZE

VANILLA CREAM

GARNISH

YIELD: 9 miniature fluted tube cakes DIFFICULTY:** PREPARATION: 1½ hours plus baking time. Recipe From: Chocolatier Magazine SPECIAL EQUIPMENT: A Bundt-lette(R) cake pan, available by mail from: Maid of Scandinavia, 3244 Raleigh Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55416; 800-328-6722, in MN call 800-851-1121. Write or call for a catalog.

Make the chocolate walnut cakes: 1.Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F.

Generously brush the inside of six 1-cup fluted tube molds in a Bundt-lette(R) cake pan with softened butter. Do not flour the molds.

(Please note that the pan will be used twice. There is enough cake batter to make 9 small cakes.)

2.In the top of a double boiler set over hot, not simmering, water, melt the chocolate with the water and cognac. Stir occasionally until smooth.

Remove the top part of the double boiler from the bottom and cool the chocolate mixture for about 10 minutes, until tepid.

3.In a food processor fitted with the metal chopping blade, combine the flour, walnuts, cocoa and salt. Process for 10 to 15 seconds, until the walnuts are coarsely ground. Transfer the flour/walnut mixture to a small bowl.

4.In a 4 ½-quart bowl of a heavy-duty electric mixer, using the paddle attachment, beat the butter and ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons of the sugar for 1 to 2 minutes, until creamy. Do not overbeat. Beat in the vanilla. One at a time, add the egg yolks, beating well after each addition. Add the melted chocolate mixture and beat until blended. Scrape the bottom and side of the bowl with a rubber spatula.

5.In a 4 ½-quart bowl of a heavy-duty electric mixer, using the wire whip attachment, beat the egg whites at low speed, until frothy. Gradually increase the speed to medium-high and beat the whites until soft peaks start to form. One teaspoon at a time, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar and continue beating the whites until stiff, shiny peaks form.

6.Fold one-third of the whites along with one-third of the flour/walnut mixture into the batter. One-third at a time, gently fold in the remaining egg whites and the flour/walnut mixture.

7.Reserve one-third of the batter for baking the second batch of cakes.

Spoon the remaining batter, dividing it equally, into the buttered molds.

The batter should fill each mold to ¼-inch below the top of the tube in each mold.

8.Bake the first batch of cakes for 10 to 15 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of each cake comes out with creamy moist crumbs clinging to it. Do not overbake.

9.Cover the top of the Bundt-lette(R) pan with a rectangular wire rack or a cutting board. Invert the pan holding the rack in place so that the hot cakes come out right side up onto the rack.

10.Wash the pan and cool it under cold water. Generously butter three of the 1-cup molds with softened butter. Spoon the remaining batter into the prepared

continued in part 2

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