Chocolate diamonds from death by chocolate
Chocolate Diamonds from Death by Chocolate
Recipe By : Mimi Markofsky
Serving Size : 36 Preparation Time :4:30
Categories : Chocolate Cookies
Desserts
Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
***** CHOCOLATE CAKE -- *****
1/2 pound unsalted butter
(2 Tblsps. melted)
6 1/2 ounces semisweet chocolate -- chopped
9 extra large egg yolks
1 cup granulated sugar
4 extra large egg whites
***** CHOCOLATE GANACHE -- *****
1 cup hazelnuts -- toasted
3 1/2 cups heavy cream
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 pounds semisweet chocolate -- chopped
***** RASPBERRY FILLING -- *****
1/2 pint red rasperries
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
Lightly coat the bottom and sides of 2 10x15" baking sheets with the
melted butter. Line each sheet with parchment paper, then lightly coat
the parchment paper with more melted butter. Set aside.
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
In the top of a double boiler that is set over medium heat, place the
remainder of the 1/2 pound butter and the 6-1/2 oz. semisweet chocolate.
Tighly cover with plastic wrap and allow to heat for 10-12 minutes.
Remove from heat, uncover and stir until smooth. Hold at room
temperature.
Place the egg yolks and 1 cup sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer
fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat on high until the mixture is
lemon-colored and slightly thickened, about 4 minutes. Scrape down the
sides of the bowl and beat on high for another 2 minutes.
In another dry bowl,using the whip attachment, beat the egg whites until
they are stiff but not dry.
Using a rubber spatula, fold the chocolate mixture into the egg yolks.
Add 1/4 of the egg white mixture into the chocolate mixture stirring to
incorporate. Gently fold in the remaining egg whites until completely
incorporated, with no white streaks remaining.
Divide the mixture between the 2 prepared pans, smoothing the batter.
Bake on the top and middle shelves in the oven for 20-22 minutes, rotating
the sheets halfway through baking. Remove from oven and allow to cool for
30 minutes.
While the cakes are cooling, toast the hazelnuts on a baking sheet in the
350 degree oven for 10-15 minutes. (They will begin to give off a toasted
scent when ready. Watch carefully, as they can burn easily.) Place the
hot nuts in a large, clean kitchen towel and rub vigorously to skin.
Allow the nuts to cool, then place them in a food processor and chop them
to 1/8" size pieces.
Invert 1 sheet of cake onto a large cutting board (larger than the pan).
Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Hold the remaining cake at room
temperature until needed.
To prepare the ganache, heat the heavy cream, 4 Tblsps. butter and 1/4 cup
sugar in a medium sized, heavy saucepan, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
Bring the mixture to a boil. Place 2 pounds of chocolate in a medium
stainless steel bowl. Pour the boiling cream over the chocolate and allow
to stand 6-7 minutes. Stir until smooth.
Combine 3 cups ganache with the chopped hazelnuts. Hold this mixture at
room temperature to use for filling. Remove 1 more cup of ganache and
place it in a bowl in the refrigerator (to be used to decorate the
diamonds). Keep the remaining ganache at room temperature until needed.
To make the raspberry filling, puree the rasperries and 2 Tblsps. sugar in
a food processor for 12-15 seconds. Strain the puree in a fine mesh sieve
over a stainless steel bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate
unitl needed.
ASSEMBLY:
Remove the cake from the refrigerator. Using a cake spatula, spread the
raspberry puree over the cake, to the edges.
Spread the hazelnut ganache over the raspberry filling, to the edges.
Invert the other cake layer on top of the ganache covered layer. Remove
the parchment paper from the second layer and press the layers together to
hold them. Place the entire cake in the freezer for 1 hour.
Remove the cake from the freezer. Using a very sharp serrated knife, cut
away the uneven edges of the cake so it will measure 9" x 13-1/2". Use a
serrated knife to cut the cake widthwise into 9 1-1/2" strips. Trim a
1", diagonally cut piece from each end of the strips, then cut the strip
diagonally 3 times to form 4 evenly sized diamonds from each strip.
Place a cooling rack on a baking sheet with sides (a jelly roll pan is
perfect). Place 9-12 diamonds on the rack. Using the room temperature
ganache, pour 2 Tblsps. ganache over each diamond, coating the tops and
sides. Using a large fork, remove the coated diamonds from the rack and
place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Place the sheet in the
refrigerator until firm, about 20 minutes. Scrape the ganache from the
rack and pan and return it to the bowl of room temperature ganache. Warm
the ganache over a double boiler to the right "pouring" consistency.
Repeat the coating process with the remaining diamonds.
Transfer the refrigerated ganache to a pastry bag that has been fitted
with a medium-sized star tip. Decorate each diamond with a ganache star.
Refrigerat the diamonds for at least 1 hour before serving. Allow the
diamonds to come to room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving.
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NOTES : These may be made in larger sizes for dessert size pieces. Do not
make them too large, they are very rich !!
You may also make this as a round torte, using 9" round pans.
Spread the filling as directed, but cover the entire torte, placed
on the cooling rack, with the room temperature ganache. Decorarte
with ganache stars or rosettes around the edges.
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