twd: chocolate amaretti torte

Posted April 14th by Kara | Uncategorized

Tuesdays with Dorie post #2: Holly of Phe/MOM/enon picked the 15 Minute Magic: Chocolate Amaretti Torte on pages 276 and 277.

At first I wasn’t going to make this recipe although I really wanted to. I just couldn’t justify dropping $12 on a box of cookies at Whole Foods, plus the almonds, cream, chocolate, etc., that the rest of the recipe called for. But someone on the group mentioned they found amaretti cookies at World Market for much less and so the game was on!

Believe it or not I don’t have any round cake pans, but I do have a tart pan, so I prepped the tart pan as directed. I wasn’t sure that the cake would come out as easily, but the removable bottom on the tart pan really helped. Just a nice gentle push around the bottom edge and the cake popped right out.

The cake took the full 35 minutes to bake and Dorie’s instructions warned that it might dome and crack. Yup.

It was also very thin, as she mentioned.

45 minutes to cool and then pour on the glaze.

Then 30 mins in the fridge to let the glaze set before cutting a slice.

Wow! I mean a serious wow factor with this cake. Even H loved the cake and normally this much chocolate makes him cringe. The richness of all the chocolate is mellowed a bit by the almond flavor that comes through. I think you could make nice variations of this recipe using different types of crisp cookies/biscuits and nuts. I might try a version with ginger biscuits and pecans at some point.

Also surprisingly, for such a rich dessert, it’s not a complete nutritional wasteland. (Not that I think 353 calories of chocolate, butter, and sugar is a good thing all the time – but as a once a while treat, this is a lot of flavor and richness for the calories and would make it a worthwhile splurge, IMO). I based this calculation on cutting your torte into 8 servings, but truly there is no way I could eat 1/8th of this at a sitting, it’s so rich and decadent.

Nutritional info: (8 servings) Calories: 353. Fat: 27g. Sodium: 135mg. Carbs: 22.5g. Fiber: 2.1g. Protein: 6.7g. (courtesy Calorie Count Recipe Analyser)

Thanks, Holly, for picking an awesome recipe!

The recipe is available in Baking: From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan.

Enjoy!

24 comments on twd: chocolate amaretti torte

carmen
April 14th, 2009

Oooh yum – I think it looks great! I couldn’t find the cookies and didn’t have time to make my own; though I think even if I saw them at WF, I probably would not have purchased them for $12! It sounds like everybody really liked this recipe.

Amy
April 14th, 2009

Uh-oh. 353 calories for 1/8 slice. But I also have to add calories of extra whipped cream and (I’ll admit it) caramel ice cream I added to the side of my plate…. Oh well. This was a wonderful dessert!

CB
April 14th, 2009

Why do ppl post nutritional analysis on their blog?? At least warn me before reading so I can prepare!! I almost fainted seeing the calories! haha. Glad you and the hubs enjoyed this one! Great job.
Clara @ iheartfood4thought

Sugar B
April 14th, 2009

Wow, your pictures are awesome!

I love photographers who cook . . and blog their adventures. It’s like beautiful story telling.

Fab job . . I am going to link you on my blog.

P.S. Thanks for the nutri info .. . I am going to have two more slices!

Carolyn
April 14th, 2009

Looks beautiful!! Kind of wishing I had made the glaze, but was too lazy… maybe next time.

Kayte
April 14th, 2009

This looks really lovely…don’t you think this dessert would make an elegant one for a holiday? I think yours definitely would fit into that category. Very nice job…always a big recommendation when someone likes it that you think won’t…I always think those are the real winning recipes!

Michelle from Baken
April 14th, 2009

That’s so cool that you figured out the caloric content of these. Surprisingly, not that bad! Your torte looks great!

Jill
April 14th, 2009

Your torte looks beautiful. I’m glad I ate mine before I saw the calories!

fit chick
April 14th, 2009

Your torte looks wonderful and I like your suggestion of using gingersnaps, yummy!!! Did you really need to figure out the calories per slice? LOL!!!

audrey
April 14th, 2009

Oh, BRILLIANT idea on the tart pan…especially since this cake (mine anyway) was about 1/4 inch tall! Didn’t matter since it was so good. I’m not going to read what you said about calories…I’m still reeling from my own serious investment in ingredients! Worth it once in a while though!
Audrey

Jessica
April 14th, 2009

I’m so glad that you were able to find the cookies at a better price. I hate having to shell out a lot of $$ for ingredients sometimes. Your torte looks beautiful — I love the crinkled edges that the tart pan gave it.

farah
April 14th, 2009

This looks so yummy, so glad you enjoyed it

Katrina
April 14th, 2009

Yours looks awesome! Glad you loved it.

Kara
April 14th, 2009

Heheh. Well I didn’t post the nutritional info from the Banana Cream Pie because it nearly made me faint. I figured this one was reasonable. I’ll post big red warnings next time!

Jacque
April 14th, 2009

You know, this would probably make a pretty good tart, come to think of it. I like how it’s not very tall… it has a European flair.

Natashya
April 15th, 2009

Gorgeous photos!
We loved this one too, and I am not much of a chocolate gal either.

Carolina
April 15th, 2009

Hhmmm, funny, when I did my calculations, the calories came out to zero, the fat grams also zero, and the nutritional values were through the roof, so I had a little piece for breakfast! I must have made an error somewhere. Beautiful post.

Kara
April 15th, 2009

Carolina – obviously I’m using the WRONG calorie calculation program! I should be using yours instead – I like it much better!

Zoran
April 15th, 2009

Hi, http://www.karacooks.com to GoogleReader!
Thank you
Zoran

Lillian
April 15th, 2009

Your photos are great — and your torte is gorgeous. I love the fluted edges from the tart pan.

Margot
April 15th, 2009

How many calories do you think it has without the glaze? Whatever the number, this torte’s worth it! Yours looks beautiful.

Cakelaw
April 17th, 2009

Yum! That slice of cake at the top of the post is beckoning to me like the Lorelei beckons the sailors to the rocks – but good to hear that it is not a complete nutritional write-off.