Chocolate Amaretti Cake

I got the recipe from Giada De Laurentiis’ Everyday Italian.   According to her, Amaretti means “little bitters” but it commonly refers to light, airy, crunchy, dome-shaped almond cookies.  These cookies were used in this cake.

For the cake, you will need:

• 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup slivered almonds
• 1 cup (about 2 oz) amaretti cookies
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 teaspoons freshly grated orange zest
• 4 large eggs
• unsweetened cocoa powder for garnish

Procedure:

1)  Heat oven to 350°F.  Coat a 9-inch springform pan with non-stick spray.

2)  Microwave chocolate chips in a bowl, stirring every 30 seconds, until melted and smooth.

3)  Put almonds and cookies in a food processor; pulse until finely ground.  Transfer to a bowl.  Put sugar, butter and orange zest in processor; process until smooth and creamy.  With machine running, add eggs one at a time.  Add almond mixture and melted chocolate; pulse until blended.  Scrape into prepared pan.

4)  Make 35 minutes, or until top is firm and slightly cracked around the edges and a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool in pan on a wire rack 15 minutes before removing pan sides and cooling completely.  Dust cake with cocoa stirred through a strainer.

Note:  If you can’t find amaretti cookies, you can substitute 1 cup ladyfinger cookies and 1/2 teaspoon almond extract.

WW – Petit Fors and Tartlettes

Baking Tip (4)

You always want your cake to come out evenly from the oven, right?  The secret is to wrap a thick strip or two of moistened newspaper around the outer edge of the cake pan then secure with paper clips.  The damp newspaper lowers the pan’s temperature so the edges won’t set before the center does and cause the cake to dome.  Happy Baking! 

WW – Green Tea Ice Cream

Pecan Pie

Flaky crust and simply delicious.  This pie will have everyone asking for another slice. 

You will need:

• 2 Eggs, Slightly Beaten
• 1 cup Light Corn Syrup
• 1/4 cup Sugar
• 2 tablespoons Flour
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• 1-1/4 cups pecans

Procedure:

1)  Preheat oven to 375°.

2)  Spread pecans in an unbaked 9-inch pie shell.

3)  Mix remaining ingredients and pour over pecans.

4) Bake at 375 deg F. for 40 to 50 minutes or until filling is set.