Chocolate Walnut Cake / Torta al Cioccolata con Noci

Name: Chocolate Walnut Cake / Torta al Cioccolata con Noci
Ingredients: CAKE; 2 cups walnut halves; 3 ounces semisweet chocolate, broken into small pieces; 1/2 cup unsalted (1 stick); 3 large eggs; 1/2 cup sugar; 1 Zest oflarge orange; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or orange liquor; SAUCE; 3 tablespoons unsalted butter; 2 tablespoons flour; 3/4 cup heavy cream; Pinch salt; 3 tablespoons sugar

SERVES 8

This chocolate and walnut cake recipe was given to me by a friend and it has become a family favorite. It is dense with a texture almost like pudding. The cake can be made ahead and frozen, leaving only the luscious cream and walnut sauce to make, which takes but a few minutes.

Ingredients

CAKE
2 cups walnut halves
3 ounces semisweet chocolate, broken into small pieces
1/2 cup unsalted (1 stick)
3 large eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1 Zest oflarge orange
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or orange liquor
SAUCE
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons flour
3/4 cup heavy cream
Pinch salt
3 tablespoons sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 325F.
Butter a 9 x 1 1/2-inch round baking dish. Line the dish with a circle of parchment to fit the bottom of the pan and lightly butter the paper. Set aside.
Place the walnuts in a sauté pan and over low heat stir them until they smell fragrant. Do not let them burn. Cool and transfer 1 1/3 cups of the nuts to a food processor and process them until coarsely ground. Set aside.
Melt the butter in a bowl in the microwave or in a small saucepan. Stir in the chocolate and mix until smooth and well blended. Set aside.
Beat the eggs and sugar in a medium size bowl with a hand held mixer until the mixture thickens. Stir in the salt, orange zest, and 1 tablespoon of the vanilla or orange liquor. Stir in the walnuts, then stir in the chocolate and pour the mixture into the prepared pan.
Bake for about 30 to 35 minutes or until a cake skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. Do not overbake the cake. It should remain moist. Cool the cake in the pan for 30 minutes.
Run a butter knife along the inside edge of the pan to loosen the cake and invert the pan onto a cooling rack. Remove and discard the parchment paper. Invert the cake and place it on a cake plate.
Melt the remaining butter in a saucepan and stir in the flour. Cook for 1 minute making sure that the paste is smooth and well blended. Slowly pour in the cream and stir in the remaining sugar and salt. Cook the mixture over medium heat until the sauce is smooth and has thickened. Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the remaining walnuts and 1 teaspoon of vanilla or orange liquor.
To serve, cut the cake into wedges and pour some of the sauce over the top.
Variation: Hazelnuts instead of walnuts is a nice alternative.