Showing posts with label Chocolate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chocolate. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Salted Caramel Chocolate Torte

I should have been a housewife

I saw this salted caramel chocolate torte floating around Facebook a couple of weeks ago and it looked right up my alley. I looooovvveee caramel and you can't go wrong by adding the chocolate ganache with a  sprinkle of sea salt.

The full original post with recipe and pictures can be found on the Home Cooking Adventure blog. Below are the instructions and ingredients from Tastemade's Youtube video



The recipe took me almost all day to make but was well worth it. To save time I would make and chill the crust the night before and roll it out in the morning.

Salted Caramel Chocolate Torte
Makes about 6-8 servings

Almond Chocolate Sweet Pastry
1 1/4 cups (160g) flour
1/4 cup (30g) ground almonds
1/4 cup (30g) unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup (50g) sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 stick (110 g) cold unsalted butter, cut into small (1/2-inch) cubes
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg
1-2 tbsp ice water

Caramel
1 1/2 cups (300 g) sugar
1/2 cup (100g) water
1/2 cup (120 g) heavy cream
5 tbsp (70 g) unsalted butter
1 tsp salt

Chocolate Ganache
1/2 cup (120 g) heavy cream
4 oz (120g) bittersweet chocolate, chopped

Garnish
sea salt crystals


Directions
1. Prepare the sweet pastry. In a large bowl mix flour with ground almonds, cocoa powder, sugar and salt.

2. Incorporate butter to the flour mixture, using a pastry blender, a fork or a pastry processor, until crumbs are formed. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix them in. Add water and incorporate into the dough. Wrap it with plastic, knead slowly to form a disc and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or overnight.

3. On a floured surface or over the plastic wrap roll the dough to a circle with about 1 1/2 inches larger than your tart pan. Lift up the rolled dough and place it on a greased 9 inch tart pan. Remove the edges and refrigerate for 30 minutes before baking.

4. Prick the dough with a fork, line a parchment paper over the dough. Fill with dry beans, rice or pie weights.

5. Bake for 15 minutes in preheated 350 F (180C) oven. Remove the weights and the parchment paper. Return to oven for another 10 to 15 minutes. Allow to cool before removing from the tart pan.

6. Prepare the caramel. Place the sugar and water in a medium heavy bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat, and cook without stirring until sugar dissolves and gets a caramel color.

*This step took me approximately 10-15 minutes and I actually had to do it twice. The first time I was afraid of burning the caramel so I took the mixture off way too early and it was nowhere near caramel when I tried to mix in the cream and butter. The second time I thought I burned and ruined the sugar mixture when I waited for it to turn a caramel color since it was smoking slightly and smelled a hair burnt, but it came out prefect after mixing the cream and butter.

7. Remove the pan from the heat and add the cream. It will bubble a little bit.

8. Cook for about 1 or 2 minutes stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until smooth. Remove from heat and add butter and salt. Stir well until smooth.

9. Let the caramel cool slightly and pour over the chocolate crust. Refrigerate for about 4-5 hours.

10. Prepare the chocolate ganache. Heat the cream in a small saucepan. When the cream just begins to boil at the edges, remove from heat and pour over the chopped chocolate. Let sit one minute, then stir until smooth.

11. Pour the chocolate ganache over the caramel. Spread it evenly and refrigerate for another 2-3 hours before serving. Sprinkle with sea salt flakes and serve.

Enjoy!

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Sue's Mandelbread Cookies

I should have been a housewife

In preparation for the holidays, kitchen Kaplan was in full swing this Sunday morning. We made chocolate covered pretzels, gingerbread men, forgotten kisses, and my personal favorite, mandelbread cookies.

Mandelbread is a traditional Jewish cookie that is similar to a biscotti, but with this recipe they almost melt away in your mouth while maintaining a satisfying crunch. We used chocolate and butterscotch chips but I'm really excited to try the recipe with dried cranberries and pistachios as well. Here's the recipe we made this morning.

Sue's Mandelbread Cookies
3 cups flour
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup oil
7 oz chocolate chips
5 oz butterscotch chips
3 tbsp cinnamon and 3 tbsp sugar combined for dusting

1. Preheat oven to 375 F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Mix together dry ingredients in a large bowl then add wet ingredients until well combined. Mix in chocolate and butterscotch chips.

2. Divide mixture into 3 loaves onto parchment lined baking sheet and sprinkle each with cinnamon sugar. Bake for 20 minutes until lightly golden brown.

I should have been a housewife

3. Cool for 15 minutes then slice into  3/4" pieces across the short side. Arrange cookies cut side up on the baking sheet and bake for an additional 15 minutes.

I should have been a housewife



Enjoy!

Be sure to follow me on instagram @rocky092 for more baking and cookie posts


Friday, October 24, 2014

Coconut Macaroons


I'm a huge, huge fan of French macaroons (or just macarons). Some would even say I'm obsessed, and they wouldn't be wrong. But before there were french macarons, I used to make coconut macaroons. 

French macarons are made using a nut flour (most commonly almond) mixed with powdered sugar, which is then combined with meringue. Coconut macaroons are made with shredded coconut and egg whites. 

Coconut macaroons

French macaroons or macarons

Not having made coconut macaroons in years I decided to bake a batch for my best friends birthday. Jessica and her family get chocolate drizzled macaroons from a local bakery that are to die for and I tried to replicate that recipe. 

Chocolate Drizzled Coconut Macaroon

1 package shredded coconut (14 oz)
1/2 cup cream of coconut
6 tablespoons flour
4 egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 325 F.  Combine coconut, cream of coconut, and flour in a large bowl. Mix well. Add egg whites and vanilla extract and mix until well combined. 

2. Drop heaping teaspoonfuls of coconut mixture onto baking sheets fitted with silicone mats or parchment paper. Bake for 25 minutes until tops are golden brown and look like they have dried up slightly. 

3. Allow macaroons to cool completely on their baking sheets. Place chocolate chips in a sealable plastic baggie and microwave for 15 seconds at a time, massaging in between intervals to mix chocolate. Once chocolate is smooth and uniformly heated, seal bag and snip off a small corner with some kitchen scissors. Drizzle chocolate quickly across tops of macaroons using a smooth back and forth motion and even pressure. 


6. Allow chocolate to cool and set, then macaroons are ready to eat. 


Hope you enjoyed!

Be sure to follow me on instagram @rocky092 for more food and baking posts


Monday, September 29, 2014

Past Cupcake Projects

I love baking. Mostly I love eating what I bake. I haven't been making cupcakes recently, too many cupcakes with too many details left me feeling a little burnt out afterwards. Here are some of the projects I've made in the past from many different books and some original ideas of my own. Enjoy!

I should have been a housewife

Sunbathing bears in hand piped bathing suits


I should have been a housewife

Marching picnic ants with watermelon slices


I should have been a housewife

Thanksgiving stuffed turkey...


I should have been a housewife

...and all the fixin's


I should have been a housewife

Nutcracker Christmas pull-apart cupcakes


I should have been a housewife

Red delicious apples


And my personal favorite...

I should have been a housewife

Hand piped chocolate monarch butterflies


Hope you enjoyed looking!

Be sure to check out my other projects on instagram @rocky092