Shelly's Recipe

CHOCOLATE-HAZELNUT TORTE

Category: Tortes

Crust:
11/2 cups hazelnuts
2 tbsp flour
2 tbsp sugar
1/3 cup butter, softened

Filling:
1 cup butter, divided
3 (4 oz) bittersweet chocolate baking bars, broken into 1-inch pieces
13/4 cups sugar
6 eggs, separated
1 cup flour
Garnish: fresh fruit

Preheat oven to 350. Process hazelnuts in a food processor until finely chopped. Add remaining , pulsing until mixture holds together. Press into bottom and 1-inch up sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside while preparing filling.

In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt 1/4 cup butter and chocolate pieces in microwave oven on HIGH for 30 second intervals until melted (approximately 11/2 minutes total). Stir until smooth. Set aside to cool.

Preheat oven to 350. In a large mixing bowl, beat remaining 3/4 cup butter and sugar until fluffy. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in flour and melted chocolate.

In a separate mixing bowl, beat egg whites at high speed with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Fold egg whites into chocolate mixture. Spoon batter into prepared crust.

Bake for 1 hour. Cool for 1 hour; refrigerate for 4 hours before serving. Garnish with fresh fruit, if desired.