Black Forest Torte

Serves: 4

Halle Leffler

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

63

Spice

41

Sweetness

37

Sourness

34

mins

Prep time (avg)

5.7

Difficulty

Ingredients:

1 cup

Water

1 tsp

Salt

1 cup

Sugar

Directions:

1

For brownie: Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F

2

Butter 9-inch-diameter springform pan

3

Place pan on baking sheet

4

Combine cherries and 1/4 cup water in small saucepan

5

Boil over medium-high heat until liquid almost evaporates, about 2 minutes

6

Add kirsch and boil 1 minute

7

Standing back, carefully ignite kirsch

8

When flames subside, mix in preserves

9

Cook until preserves boil and thicken, about 3 minutes

10

Cool

11

Whisk flour, cocoa, pepper, and salt in small bowl to blend

12

Melt butter and bittersweet chocolate in heavy medium saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until smooth

13

Remove from heat; mix in 1/2 cup sugar

14

Using electric mixer, beat eggs, remaining 1 cup sugar, and vanilla extract in large bowl until pale and thick, about 5 minutes

15

Using spatula, mix in melted chocolate mixture

16

Fold flour mixture into batter

17

Fold cherry mixture and chocolate chips into batter

18

Transfer batter to prepared pan; smooth top

19

Bake until top is dry and slightly cracked and tester inserted into center of brownie comes out with some moist (not wet) batter attached, about 55 minutes

20

Cool brownie in pan on rack 15 minutes

21

Run knife around pan sides to loosen cake

22

Remove pan sides and cool cake completely

23

Replace sides of pan

24

(Can be made 1 day ahead

25

Cover and refrigerate

26

) Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F

27

Butter 9-inch-diameter springform pan

28

Place pan on baking sheet

29

Combine cherries and 1/4 cup water in small saucepan

30

Boil over medium-high heat until liquid almost evaporates, about 2 minutes

31

Add kirsch and boil 1 minute

32

Standing back, carefully ignite kirsch

33

When flames subside, mix in preserves

34

Cook until preserves boil and thicken, about 3 minutes

35

Cool

36

Whisk flour, cocoa, pepper, and salt in small bowl to blend

37

Melt butter and bittersweet chocolate in heavy medium saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until smooth

38

Remove from heat; mix in 1/2 cup sugar

39

Using electric mixer, beat eggs, remaining 1 cup sugar, and vanilla extract in large bowl until pale and thick, about 5 minutes

40

Using spatula, mix in melted chocolate mixture

41

Fold flour mixture into batter

42

Fold cherry mixture and chocolate chips into batter

43

Transfer batter to prepared pan; smooth top

44

Bake until top is dry and slightly cracked and tester inserted into center of brownie comes out with some moist (not wet) batter attached, about 55 minutes

45

Cool brownie in pan on rack 15 minutes

46

Run knife around pan sides to loosen cake

47

Remove pan sides and cool cake completely

48

Replace sides of pan

49

(Can be made 1 day ahead

50

Cover and refrigerate

51

) For mousse: Puree cherry preserves in processor until smooth

52

Transfer to small resealable plastic bag

53

Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract in medium bowl until very smooth

54

Reduce speed to low

55

Beat in mascarpone just until smooth

56

Add cream and beat just until blended and still soft (do not overbeat)

57

Immediately spread mousse evenly over brownie

58

Cut off enough of 1 corner of plastic bag with preserves to make 1/8-inch opening

59

Pipe preserves in parallel lines across mousse, spacing 1 inch apart

60

Starting 1 inch in from 1 side, drag tip of toothpick across lines in 1 direction

61

Repeat in opposite direction, 1 inch from first line

62

Continue, alternating direction every time to form chevron pattern

63

Cover and chill at least 4 hours or overnight

64

Cut around pan sides, then remove sides

65

Let torte stand 20 minutes at room temperature before serving

66

Puree cherry preserves in processor until smooth

67

Transfer to small resealable plastic bag

68

Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract in medium bowl until very smooth

69

Reduce speed to low

70

Beat in mascarpone just until smooth

71

Add cream and beat just until blended and still soft (do not overbeat)

72

Immediately spread mousse evenly over brownie

73

Cut off enough of 1 corner of plastic bag with preserves to make 1/8-inch opening

74

Pipe preserves in parallel lines across mousse, spacing 1 inch apart

75

Starting 1 inch in from 1 side, drag tip of toothpick across lines in 1 direction

76

Repeat in opposite direction, 1 inch from first line

77

Continue, alternating direction every time to form chevron pattern

78

Cover and chill at least 4 hours or overnight

79

Cut around pan sides, then remove sides

80

Let torte stand 20 minutes at room temperature before serving