CELEBRATING WITH A CHOCOLATE WALNUT TORTE
It’s time to celebrate my blog’s make-over! All credit goes to a wonderful custom blog designer, Hannah, who did the honours. I found her at Clumsy Cookies & she was just the right person for me. Endlessly patient, very efficient & a wonderful aesthetic balance, she gave my blog a new look. You can find Hannah here at Craner Design Studio. This torte is a virtual thank you post for her!
I bookmarked Gretchen’s post immediately, with a comment on the post etc. Then some time later read Giz’s post on Gingerbread, that she had bookmarked, where she amusingly thought of how often people leave comments of ‘Yes, I’m going to make this immediately’, etc & etc. In response she thought of how the blog owner would think…”Ya, Ya, whatever”!! LOL…I left comments like that initially, about a year ago, very new to blogging, & very ambitious! Times changed, life changed, & a bursting bookmarked folder later, I’m careful now. 
Made the torte day before yesterday for the hub who had been away trying to fix an aeroplane that was technical for over 24 hours. I thought that it would give him some unwinding & comfort when he got back home; & I wasn’t disappointed. He enjoyed every last crumb! It was wonderful…absolutely delicious & quite the easiest one I’ve ever made. This post has taken much longer & more work to put together, than the making of the torte…LOL!
The Difference Between A Cake And A TorteWhat’s the difference between a cake and a torte? It depends on whom you ask. But essentially, torte is the German word for cake. As opposed to a pound cake or a more casual affair, a torte denotes a rich, dense cake made with many eggs and little or no flour, using ground nuts (and sometimes breadcrumbs) for texture. Tortes are also are shorter and wider—often no more than 2-1/2 inches high, and 10 to 12 inches in diameter.
It’s even flour less! Raced back to check the post online again, twice. I’m one of those who scribbles the recipe down on an old envelope, or used sheet of paper trying to save the environment. I don’t print out extra stuff, the printer cartridge has not been replaced, because that’s the easiest way to go…print,print & print. This way, I do my teeny bit, save paper, save trees, get some writing practice, get a recipe review while jotting to down, & do a quick check on the ingredients! It also teaches the kids an invaluable lesson of being careful of resources; earlier they were constantly printing like there was no tomorrow! Now, when they forget or don’t plan in advance, it gets pencil to paper like magic! A lady by the name of Kelly Sonara sent me a link to this article some time back … “Eco-Kitchens: 100 Big and Little Ways to Make Your Kitchen More Earth-Friendly”. Take a look at it; you might find it interesting & inspiring!
Do you like the pretty lace? It’s got memories crocheted into to it. I bought it from Calcutta many years ago from a small charity shop run by nuns from Mother Teresa’s charity. It is special because it brings to mind the one time I met her on a British Airways flight from London to Calcutta, transiting through Delhi. I was supervising the flight, & went to check on transit passengers. She was in the first class cabin radiating light & peace, with time for everyone. She blessed us all, every loader, every cleaner, flight crew, cabin crew, ground staff…everyone, & gave me a few of her silver coins as a blessing. I went on to meet her a few times on our aircraft after that, & she was as wonderful each time.
CHOCOLATE WALNUT TORTE as adapted from Canela & Comino
The one at Canela & Comino was a Chocolate Hazelnut Torte.
Ingredients:
Butter – 2 tbsps, chilled + 1 small knob, softened
Walnuts – 1 1/2 cups (finely ground with 1 tbsp of sugar)
Egg yolks – 4
Granulated vanilla sugar – 1/4 cup
Powdered sugar – 1/4 cup
Dark chocolate – 100 grams, melted and cooled
Instant coffee powder – 3 tsps
Hot water – 2 tbsps
Egg whites – 4
Pure vanilla extract – 1 tsp
Powdered sugar for sifting 
Method:
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Preheat oven to 180 C.
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Cover a 9-inch spring form pan with a little knob of softened butter. Run walnuts in the food processor with 1 tbsp of sugar till ground. Drop in 2 tbsps of chilled butter & pulse till it all comes together.(I added butter to the nuts after reading the comments at the bottom of her post) Press nuts evenly onto bottom and sides of the spring form pan.
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In a medium bowl, beat egg yolks with an electric mixer on high speed about 5 minutes or until thick and lemon colored. Gradually beat in 1/4 cup of the vanilla sugar & the extract. With mixer on low speed, beat in melted chocolate. Dissolve instant coffee powder in hot water, stir into chocolate mixture. Wash and dry beaters of mixer.
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In a large bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form (tips curl). Gradually add the remaining 1/4 cup of powdered sugar, beat until stiff peaks form (tips stand straight). Pour chocolate mixture over the egg whites; gently fold in. Spread evenly in spring form pan.
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Bake for 20-25 minutes of until set. Cool in pan on wire rack for 15 minutes (center will dip during cooling). Loosen torte sides from the pan, then remove the sides of the pan. Cool about 2 hours or until completely cool. I chilled it after it completely cooled down…it was fabulous…& looked just like Gretchen’s torte…much to my delight!!
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To serve, sift powdered sugar over the torte. Cut torte into wedges.
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Makes 8-10 servings. Adapted From Better Homes & Gardens Holiday Baking.
Deeba @ PAB
About me: I am a freelance food writer, recipe developer and photographer. Food is my passion - baking, cooking, developing recipes, making recipes healthier, using fresh seasonal produce and local products, keeping a check on my carbon footprint and being a responsible foodie! I enjoy food styling, food photography, recipe development and product reviews. I express this through my food photographs which I style and the recipes I blog. My strength lies in 'Doing Food From Scratch'; it must taste as good as it looks, and be healthy too. Baking in India, often my biggest challenge is the non-availability of baking ingredients, and this has now become a platform to get creative on. I enjoy cooking immensely as well.
49 Comments
Lakshmi Venkatesh
Wow! I have been visiting ur blog very often. And sure you are very amazing at baking. Like all ur recipes so much.
Manggy
Nice makeover Deeba… Hee hee 🙂
MeetaK
yes the blog design is great! but the cake is what has me drooling! Hugs!
Pearlsofeast
wow new look, it is amazing and the cake too is awesome.Good luck Deeba
Núria
I love the new design Deeba!!! He, he I still leave that kind of comment sometime… but I do mean it! The thing is that I rarely ever have the time to cook recipes I see in other blogs.
This Tarta (that’s how we would call it here) looks sooooooo good that I would dare to bake it! The oven and I are becoming good friends ;D
Happy cook
I love your new design of the blog, beautiful.
Love the cake too.
Bellini Valli
I love the new design Deeba. Excellent job ladies:D The torte is a delicious way to celebrate:D
Aparna
Your blog looks really good. I like these lighter colours better, shows off your creations well. 🙂
Of course, you had to celebrate and with chocolate. Beautiful.
Snooky doodle
this is surely a recipe I must try both me and my boyfriend like walnuts and chocolate. and it looks so so delicious. Thanks for recipe.
Maria
What a wonderful looking cake!!
Zaara
Lovely looking torte – hope I can muster up the guts to make it (have been on an eating binge here as a result of SEVERAL bookmarked recipes!!!). Did you work in the airline industry before – welcome to the club I was going to say if you did!
arundati
lovely colours and nice new look….congratulations!! nice torte too…:)
mimi
the torte looks delish, two chocolate yummies in a row! and LOVE the new blog look – it works with your gorgeous photos so well!
Mike of Mike's Table
The torte and the redesign both look excellent! I was never 100% on the cake/torte distinction either. I just started calling rich chocolate cake-like things tortes, lol
Hanaâ
Deeba,
Your site looked great already but wow, this is awesome. Great makeover!!!
Hanaa
Susan/Wild Yeast
I love both the new site and the torte!
anudivya
Hey! New look for your blog! Looks nice.
So does the torte.
Curry Leaf
Love the blog make over.I am drooling at the torte.Nice post,Nice blog and scrumptious Torte.I love your baked goodies-too nice.Cheers
Aran
i love the new look of your blog! it really compliments you photos deeba.
Arfi Binsted
oh i love your new headbanner, deeba!! it’s so pretty. and yes. like i said: you’re the queen of chocolate baking! everything about chocolate can be found in here. yum!
Bunny
This is beautiful Deeba,I also like your new blog design!
noble pig
Love the new design, very worthy of this beautiful torte!
Proud Italian Cook
Beautiful makeover on your blog Deeba! Love the peaceful colors.
This torte is just another beautiful creation! Your desserts are to die for. Your family must jump for joy when they see what you’ve whipped up!
Purnima
Deeba, you had the lovely opportunity of meeting Mother Teresa!! Just awesome!! Treasure those coins!They sure are blessings!
Cake – wow..its just awesome! Wt walnuts looks yummy!The crochette looks great! The photos awesome wt lovely crockery set in the background..each snap worth gazing over n over! (I loved the earlier layout, maybe as I related PAB-DEEBA-with that visual image! THe black background, wt me clicking away in the RHS bar on red words! The huge range of recipe snaps on the header…hmm..
Ooh..I will miss that..)
Navita
Hey Deeba,
How have you been? Your blog looks great with the makeover!
And as for the Torte’ it looks great (as usual). Will try that (sooner than later)…lol…I never say I will try (unless I want to and know I will)…lol…
I am from Calcutta (my birth place),and my schooling was done from Loreto Convent(where Mother Teresa actually first began her great work..). I have been fortunate enough to work for her cause, several times in my life.
Reading your post, made me remember all that once again.
Thanks!
Peabody
That looks sinful and delish.
Jennifer Ludgin
OMG that looks amazing!!! 🙂 I have to try it 🙂
Kitchen Flavours
BLog looks gr8 in this new look. The pale chocolate color of the blog speaks a lot about your food intrests and tastes. It matches with the post dear. Chocolate walnut torte looks tempting and fabulous. Keep rocking.
Nazarina A
Hi Deeba,
Good Morning! A friend of mine who was slowly loosing his sight, went to India to Mother Teresa for her blessings. He ended up staying there for quite a while and listening to all his stories, She is one person that I would so love to send a gift to! LOL!Let me tell you, he now drives!!!
Your chocolate and walnut torte not only spells delish to the infinity but also a “pastryotic” health factor( okay I know I just made up this word ha! ha!) . The omegas and the dark flavanoids can so jump start a dreary day like mine today!!!
Alexa
I love the new design. It really gives clarity and highlights the beauty of your pics. This torte is a great way to celebrate. It looks absolutely sinful and perfect.
Helene
I would love to be your neighbor and taste your delicious looking desserts.
Gigi
the blog design is beautiful! But the cake is stunning! I can’t wait to try this soon.
Rosie
What a wonderful make-over Deeba for your blog! This torte is a wonderful way to celebrate.
Rosie x
Darius T. Williams
Such a great way to celebrate…really!
-DTW
http://www.everydaycookin.blogspot.com
noobcook
What a delicious looking torte! Thanks to you, I now know the difference between a cake and a torte ;p Congrats on your blog’s new look … it looks fabulous 🙂
Laurie
Wow.. what a wonderful torte! I love the new look of your blog Deeba.. very nice! And before I forget.. your brown and white china is gorgeous!!! 🙂
familiabencomo
Simply beautiful – you, the torte & your blog.
Tanti baci,
Amy
Kalai
Love the makeover! That torte is the perfect, decadent way to celebrate, Deeba! 🙂
Cynthia
I am totally in love with the new look and it deserves a celebration indeed! I love how the torte matches the colour scheme too 🙂
Hope you and the family are well.
Love the Foodbuzz Apron shots!
Clumbsy Cookie
BEAUTIFUL! The blog looks great, Hannah did a great job!!! Very elegant! And that chocolate torte, woman that heaven! Your pictures are pure food porn!!!
Mansi
the new look is absolutely wonderful Deeba! love the colors – it kind of gels with your personality!:)
the torte looks ravishing too! can I come over for the celebrations?? leftovers will work fine for me:)
nicisme
I don’t care what the difference is, I just wanna slice of it right now!!
Blog is looking great, super makeover!
diva
wow. that’s just beautiful!! and also, nice looking blog. i’ve noticed the changes 🙂 x
Gretchen Noelle
Thanks so much for trying out this recipe and for linking to my blog. I am glad you enjoyed this delicious treat!!
Jeanne
I’ve recently discovered flourless or near-flourless tortes and am in love! I made one with blackberries a while back, but I’m definitly going to try this one too!
“It’s got memories crocheted into to it” – what a wonderful line 🙂
meeso
Bookmarked! I am making this for sure! Chocolate and walnuts, what’s not to love!
Susan from Food Blogga
Not only is this a most luscious cake but I love the beautiful crocheted? doily it’s on.
Marija
Deeba, congratulations on DMBLGIT!
lisa (dandysugar)
The new blog design looks great Deeba! Your posts have such beautiful pics along with so much detail! That chocolate walnut torte looks amazing. And Congrats too! Great job.