Birthday Cakes

My absolutely most favourite holiday is coming up – Valentine’s Day.  I am simply an incurable romantic.  Valentine’s Day gives me all kinds of reasons to get creative with desserts for two.  This year, I have developed a rather whimsical  Sweetheart Chocolate Torte with Feuillette of Chocolate and Strawberry. The torte has a deliciously chocolate flavour because it uses both bittersweet and semi-sweet chocolate to create a rich and dense dessert that can only be described as memorable.  This little torte would also be an excellent choice for an anniversary celebration or for a chocoholic’s birthday. 

To take this little torte over the top, I made a tasty garnish that is like edible paper.  I often made this garnish when competing in dessert competitions because it is somewhat unusual. It is easy to make and delicious to nibble on.  It is a very delicate yet striking garnish.  For this torte, the feuillette garnish is constructed on the topping while the ganache is still soft.   As the ganache sets up, it secures the edible paper in place, creating a crown of sorts.  Try this Sweetheart Chocolate Torte together with the Feuillette of Chocolate or Strawberry – it is unforgettable.

The torte is not difficult to make but does require three distinct steps:  the chocolate pastry; the bittersweet chocolate filling and finally, the shiny semi-sweet chocolate ganache topping.  The torte is lovely with just the shiny ganache topping but can be gorgeous with a simple baby rose or two on top, or you can make the feuillette of chocolate or strawberry (the recipe is included below).

A Sweetheart Chocolate Torte with Feuillette of Chocolate and Strawberry

Yield:  one 5 – 6-inch torte

INGREDIENTS:

The Chocolate Pastry:

• ½ cup (62 g) all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons (30 g) sugar
• 1 ½ tablespoons (10 g) Dutch process cocoa powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking powder
• 2 tablespoons (26 g) unsalted butter
• 1 egg

The Chocolate Filling:

• 8 oz. (226 g) bittersweet chocolate
• ½ cup (125 ml) heavy whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) brandy 

The Chocolate Ganache Glaze:

• 8 oz. (226 g) semisweet chocolate
• ½ cup (125 ml) heavy whipping cream

METHOD:

For the Chocolate Pastry:

1. Preheat the oven to 350^oF.  Set the rack in the middle of the oven.
2. Prepare the 5 or 6-inch springform pan by greasing the bottom and the sides. Cut a circle of parchment for the bottom and strips of parchment for the sides of the springform pan.
3. Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl.  Work in the butter. 
4. Beat the egg with a fork and work into the mixture.  Press the mixture into the prepared spring form pan.
5. Bake for 10 minutes or until the pastry is set.  Cool the pastry in the pan while you are preparing the filling.  The filling is placed on top of the cooled chocolate pastry crust. 

For the Chocolate Filling:

1. Cut the bittersweet chocolate into small pieces and place them into a medium-size bowl. 
2. Bring the cream to a boil in a small saucepan.  Pour the cream over the chocolate and let it sit for a few minutes to allow the chocolate to melt before stirring with a spatula until smooth.
3. Cover and leave at room temperature until the mixture starts to set (it should be about the consistency of toothpaste).  This will take about 30 minutes, depending on the room temperature. 
4. Using a mixer with a paddle or a whisk attachment, beat the chocolate mixture on medium speed until light and fluffy.  Add the vanilla and the brandy and beat to incorporate.
5. Spread the filling over the cooled chocolate pastry.  Using an offset spatula, level the top of the filling.  Refrigerate the torte for at least one hour.  Remove from the refrigerator when you are ready to prepare the glaze.
6. Remove the cake from the springform pan, peeling the parchment paper from the sides and bottom of the torte. Place the torte on a cookie rack over a baking sheet.  Prepare the glaze.

For the Chocolate Ganache Glaze:

1. Cut the semi-sweet chocolate finely and place it in a medium size bowl. 
2. Bring the cream to a boil in a small saucepan.  Pour the cream over the chocolate and let it sit for a few minutes to allow the chocolate to melt before stirring with a spatula until smooth.
3. Pour the glaze over the torte; making sure that the entire cake is covered.

The Feuillette of Chocolate and Strawberry

While it is not essential to garnish the cake with the feuillette, I think that you would enjoy the experience of making this unique garnish.  You will need a scale to make the paste.  The chocolate feuillette paste is made using cocoa powder.  I made the strawberry feuillette paste using a powder made from pulverizing dried strawberries in my coffee grinder (I used my food dehydrator to dry thinly sliced strawberries, which took about two hours to dry to a crisp in my dehydrator).  The subsequent strawberry paste made from this powder is delightfully tasty!  Take care not to over bake the strawberry feuillette as they will lose their delicate pink hue.  I did not use any food colouring in my paste recipe, however, you can add a drop or two of pink or red food colouring to achieve the desired colour.

INGREDIENTS: 

• 21 g all-purpose flour
• 77 g icing sugar
• 12 g cocoa powder or strawberry powder
• 20 ml water
• 32 g butter, unsalted, melted

METHOD:

1. Sift the dry ingredients together.
2. Gradually add the water, then the melted butter.  Stir to combine into a smooth paste.
3. Spread the paste in a thin layer on Silpat baking mats using an offset spatula.  Start from the bottom of the feuillet and spread upwards.  The bottom will be slightly thicker spreading to a thin imprecise ‘schmear’ (pastry chef slang).
4. Bake in a 350^oF (325^oF Convection) for 5 – 6 minutes.  The feuillette will look bubbly and will not have any moist spots. They will crisp up as they cool.
5. Allow the feuillette to come to room temperature.  Using an offset spatula, slide it under the thickest edge of each feuillet, and slide upwards to lift it gently from the Silpat baking sheet.  Place the feuillette gently on a cookie rack until you are ready to decorate the torte.  CHEF TIP:  These garnishes are very fragile, light and almost see-through delicate.  Make as many as you need at a time (make a few extra to allow for breakage).  Store any unused paste in a covered container in the refrigerator.  Bring the paste to room temperature before using.
6. To Decorate:  Decorate the torte with feuillette while the glaze is still moist.  Place the feuillette randomly on top, alternating between the chocolate and the strawberry feuillette, setting the next feuillet to hold up the previous one.  If you have a few dried strawberries remaining, decorate the sides of the cake, if desired.  Allow the ganache topping to set at room temperature.  CHEF TIP:  The chocolate torte (and any chocolate cake) is best served room temperature.  The feuillette are best used the day that you make them.  They will remain crisp and papery when decorated close to the time that you serve the cake.
7. Refrigerate any leftovers. 

LEARNING TIPS:  

Please CLICK the link above to access my Urb’n’Spice LEARNING TIPS, which are listed alphabetically on the Learning Tips blog post under the following subheadings:

• Parchment Paper
• Favourite Kitchen Tools: Spatula
• Extracts: Vanilla Extract
• Cutting Tarts and Cakes
• Oven Temperature Accuracy
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White Chocolate Vanilla Bean Mini Cheesecakes with Gluten Free Crust

Lavender Rose Mini Cheesecakes

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If you try my recipe for Sweetheart Chocolate Torte with Feuillette of Chocolate and Strawberry, please leave me a comment below with your feedback. Tag me @urbnspice on Instagram and hashtag #urbnspice  Don’t forget to pin this recipe for later!

Denise Paré-Watson

The Urb’n’Spice Chef

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