PDA

View Full Version : BA's Chocolate-Cranberry Torte



funnybone
11-20-2003, 01:52 PM
With all the discussion of the desserts from December's BA, I have not seen anyone mention this cake. I thought I would post it as I have copied it into MC and plan to make for Thanksgiving. I bought the Chambord it calls for, so I guess I am committed to making it (although I guess I could always drink the stuff instead :o ;) ).


* Exported from MasterCook *

Chocolate-Cranberry Torte

Recipe By :
Serving Size : 12 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories :

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
SAUCE
1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
3/4 cup water
1/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons Chambord (black raspberry liqueur)
TORTE
1 cup dried sweetened cranberries
1/3 cup Chambord
1 cup unsalted butter -- (2 sticks) cut into
pieces
12 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or -- chopped
semisweet chocolate
1 1/2 cups sugar
6 large eggs -- room temperature
2/3 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
GLAZE
1 cup whipping cream
10 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or -- chopped
semisweet chocolate
1/4 cup Chambord
Fresh mint leaves


FOR SAUCE: Bring first 3 ingredients to boil in saucepan over high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat to medium; cook until cranberries burst, about 5 minutes. Transfer to processor; puree. Strain puree into bowl; discard seeds. Mix in Chambord. Cover; chill at least 2 hours or overnight (sauce will thicken).

FOR TORTE: Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350 F. Butter and flour 9-inch-diameter springform pan. Line bottom with parchment paper. Stir 3/4 cup cranberries and Chambord in small saucepan over medium heat until liqueur simmers, about 1 minute. Cool to room temperature. Drain cranberries; reserve liqueur and cranberries separately.

Melt butter in heavy large saucepan over medium heat, stirring until beginning to bubble at edges. Remove from heat. Add chocolate; let stand 1 minute. Whisk until chocolate is melted and smooth. Whisk in sugar, then eggs 1 at a time (batter will look grainy). Whisk in reserved liqueur. Add flour and salt; whisk gently until blended. Stir in reserved cranberries; transfer to prepared pan.

Bake torte until top is puffed and cracked and tester inserted into center comes out with moist (not wet) batter attached, about 1 hour. Cool complete!y in pan on rack. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; store at room temperature.)

FOR GLAZE: Bring cream to simmer in medium saucepan. Remove from heat Add chocolate; whisk until melted and smooth. Whisk in Chambord. Let stand until glaze is thick but still pourable, whisking occasionally, about 2 hours.

Line rimmed baking sheet with foil: place cake rack in center. Cut around tone to loosen; remove pan sides. Place 8-inch-diameter cardboard round or 8-inch tan pan bottom on top of torte. Holding cardboard and springform pan bottom, turn torte over and place on rack. Remove par-bottom; peel off paper. Pour 1 1/2 cups glaze over torte. Using icing spatua, smooth glaze over top and sides (re-apply any glaze from foil if necessary). Freeze torte until glaze is set, about 10 minutes Pour remaining 1 cup glaze over torte and smooth evenly. Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup dried cranberries around top edge. Freeze until glaze is firm, about 15 minutes. Can be made 1 day ahead. Transfer to platter. Cover with cake dome and chill. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before serving.)

Arrange fresh mint leaves between cranberries at top edge of torte. Cut in wedges and serve with sauce.

8 TO 10 SERVINGS

Bon Appetit
December 2003
Page 154


NOTES : WHAT TO DRINK: Offer robust French roast coffee, but also a vintage or ruby Port.

Mlasley
11-20-2003, 03:16 PM
I have this one marked to make for Thanksgiving - I hope someone posts a review before then!

saw
12-01-2003, 09:09 PM
So did either of you try this for Thanksgiving? I am really curious to know how it is. I am thinking of making it for a dessert open house we are hosting in a couple of weeks.

Thanks for any reviews!

Sarah

MKSquared
12-02-2003, 06:58 AM
You know, I kind of wish this thread would just fade away because it's so darn dangerous. It looks awesome. Not something I can afford either financially or calorically - but I want it. Now. :)

funnybone
12-02-2003, 09:27 AM
I had every intention of making it - even bought the Chambord, and then decided to make a Cranberry Orange Cheesecake from BA 12/03 instead. It was a hit, so I don't regret it. I will be making this cake though at some point this month. Will post a review then. :D

ebobbitt
12-17-2003, 06:39 AM
I was pretty sure I remembered someone posting about this recipe. I made this Monday night and brought it to work for a potluck yesterday. It turned out great and really was easy to do. It did look like the picture in the magazine and someone asked if I bought it or made it. Most people who know me know I would not bring a bought dessert to our potluck! Everyone raved about it, making me quite happy. However, since I'm going to Weight Watchers I did not taste it so I'm just report rave reviews from everyone else!

TLee4
12-17-2003, 07:40 AM
Wow Elizabeth...I thought that recipe looked GREAT! For you to make it and not taste it, you should get a BIG WW gold star!!!

Terri

lorilei
12-17-2003, 07:43 AM
Am planning to make this as one of our desserts for Christmas Eve. It looks fantastic, and I'm thrilled to hear that it's not super difficult.

While I love slaving over a hot stove or oven for hours, I AM looking forward to simplifying my life a bit this year for the holidays :) So, easy-but-elegant is very, very, good.

Thanks, Elizabeth... and kudos to you. You mean you didn't even likc the SPOON while you were making it??

funnybone
12-17-2003, 08:06 AM
My plans are to make this one next week. The ingredients are still waiting, so .....


Thanks for the review, ebobbit, even if you didn't taste it yourself. :D

ashley
12-18-2003, 10:13 PM
Has anyone thought about making this with the Cranberry Liqeuer? I don't have Chambord on hand, but my batch of the liqeuer is just about ready.

Vicanddi
12-26-2003, 06:25 AM
Made this for Christmas dessert. It has a lot of steps and is rather time-consuming, but the end product is gorgeous! This is no everyday cake;it is very decadent and rich. The sauce is a necessity, as it cuts the richness of the torte and kinda mellows it out. Everyone liked it, but all agreed it was very rich, and could only eat a very small slice.

I loved the Chambord in it. It gave it a great flavor, and it even smelled wonderful! I'm not sure about the cranberry liquer. It may be too over-powering, as the torte has fresh and dried cranberries in it.

d_ferrero
12-26-2003, 11:12 AM
I missed this thread earlier... John and I made this cake for our dance group's holiday celebration last weekend and it was HUGE hit. I agree with Vicci - the chambord certainly makes it interesting. Maybe my friends are extreme chocoholics -- but I didn't make the sauce (because I didn't have time and it wasn't really portable) and there wasn't so much as a crumb left to bring home to tempt me.

funnybone
12-31-2003, 11:15 AM
FINALLY made this. I just took it out of the oven and it smells delicious!!! It's still only DH and I that will eat it, but so what!! :D It's the new year, and reason to celebrate. :D

funnybone
01-01-2004, 10:01 AM
What a delicious dessert! The sauce really made the taste come together. I'm embarrased to admit it, but I even licked my plate.:o :o DH laughed and said he couldn't believe what he was seeing. I told him I couldn't let that Chambord go to waste. ;) :o :D

Next time I see a dessert like this I want to try, I will not wait for an occasion. :D