Strawberry Chocolate Torte
Why I Love This Recipe
It's National Strawberry month and strawberry season is at it's peak. What a better way to celebrate than by eating a delicious torte.
Ingredients You'll Need
Cake:
8 oz dark chocolate, chopped
3/4 cup butter, diced
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp instant coffee granules
3 1/2 oz toasted almonds
2 heaped TB flour
1/2 tsp salt
5 eggs
3/4 cup granulated sugar (if you have bakers or caster sugar, that would be best)
8 fresh strawberries, plus more for garnish
8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
Glaze:
8 oz dark chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup heavy cream
Directions
Preheat your oven to 325' F. Line the bottoms of 2 round cake pans with parchment paper (you can spray the bottom with cooking spray before placing the parchment paper inside, to keep the paper in place).
Cake:
Put the 8 oz of chocolate and the butter in a medium sized, microwave safe bowl.
Melt the chocolate and butter in a the microwave (or use a double boiler) in 30 second increments, stirring in between until nearly all the chocolate is melted. Complete the process by stirring until fully melted.
Set aside to cool. Once cool, stir in vanilla and coffee granules.
In a food process, finely grind the almonds. Add in the flour and salt and transfer to a small bowl. Set aside.
With an electric mixer, beat the eggs in a large bowl until they double in volume (about 5 minutes). Slowly add the sugar and beat for 1 more minute. Fold in the cooled melted chocolate until just combined. Sprinkle in half of the almond/flour mixture and fold until just combine then sprinkle in the other half, folding until just combined.
Divide the batter between the two cake pans. Bake for 15 minutes or until toothpick comes out with only a few crumbs
Allow to cool in the pans.
Meanwhile, make the filling by smashing the strawberries and combining with the cream cheese.
Carefully remove the cakes from the pans. Place one of a plate. Spread the filling over it. Place the other cake on top.
Glaze:
Bring the cream to a boil. Place the chocolate into a medium bowl. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and stir until melted.
Spread the glaze over the cake.
The glaze will thicken as it sets.
Garnish with strawberries and a bit of powdered sugar if desired.