Belle's 8-Layer Chocolate Torte

  Home Page   |  Recipes  |  Diet Recipes  |  Dinner Party Menus  |  Food History  |  Culinary Dictionary  |  Diet, Health & Beauty

 

This truly spectacular looking and  tasting chocolate cake is from Belle Cook of North Carolina. Belle is the mother-in-law of Andra Cook, co-author of my first cookbook called What's Cooking America.

Click here for Basic Rules For Baking or here for Secrets of a Successful Cake. Check out more of Linda's wonderful Cake Recipes and Chocolate Recipes.


Belle's 8-Layer Chocolate Torte

6 eggs, separated and room temperature
1 1/4 cups granulated
sugar
2 tablespoons fresh-squeezed
lemon juice, divided
1/4 cup cornstarch
3/4 cup all-purpose
flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
Chocolate Frosting (see recipe below)
Chopped nuts

MAKE CAKE RECIPE TWICE.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line two 14- x 10-inch rimmed pans with wax paper. Grease wax paper with butter or margarine.

In a large bowl, beat egg yolks until thick and creamy. Gradually beat in sugar and 1 tablespoon lemon juice.

In a small bowl, sift cornstarch, flour, and salt together; add to egg mixture. Add remaining lemon juice and beat until smooth. In a medium bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form; fold into batter mixture.

Spread batter evenly onto prepared baking sheets. Bake 10 to 15 minutes; remove from oven. Remove from baking sheets immediately and remove wax paper. Let cool on wire racks.

To assemble, cut each layer in half widthwise. NOTE: After making this recipe twice, you will end up with a total of eight (8) layers. Place onto a cake plate and frost each layer with Chocolate Frosting. After frosting the top layer, sprinkle with chopped nuts.

Makes 16 servings.

Chocolate Frosting:
3 (1-ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate
3 (1-ounce) squares semi-sweet chocolate
6 egg yolks
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup
heavy cream
1 3/4 cups butter, room temperature

Melt chocolate (unsweetened and semi-sweet chocolate) in the top of a double boiler over hot water. In a medium bowl, combine egg yolks and sugar. Stir in heavy cream; add to the melted chocolate. Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened. Remove from heat and let cool.

In a medium bowl, cream butter until light and fluffy; beat into chocolate mixture, 1 tablespoon at a time. Chill until frosting is of spreading consistency.