Chocolate Caramel Pecan Torte

By The Canadian Living Test Kitchen

38 people added this to their Recipe Box

This recipe makes 16 servings

Ingredients

4 4oz ozunsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour 2-1/4 2-1/4cups cupsall-purpose flour
2-1/4 cups packed brown sugar 2-1/4 2-1/4cups cupspacked brown sugar
1 tsp baking soda 1 1tsp tspbaking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 1/2tsp tspbaking powder
1/4 tsp salt 1/4 1/4tsp tspsalt
1 cup sour cream 1 1cup cupsour cream
1/2 cup butter , softened1/2 1/2cup cupbutter, softened
3 eggs 3 3eggeggs
1 tsp vanilla 1 1tsp tspvanilla
2 cups pecan pieces 2 2cups cupspecan pieces
Caramel
1-1/2 cups granulated sugar 1-1/2 1-1/2cups cupsgranulated sugar
2/3 cup whipping cream 2/3 2/3cup cupwhipping cream
1/4 cup butter 1/4 1/4cup cupbutter
Toppings
2-1/2 cups whipping cream 2-1/2 2-1/2cups cupswhipping cream
3/4 3/4cup cupchocolate, Shards (instructions below)
1/3 cup pecan halves , toasted1/3 1/3cup cuppecan halves, toasted

Preparation

Grease three 9-inch round metal cake pans; line bottoms with parchment paper. Set aside.

In heatproof bowl set over saucepan of hot (not boiling) water, melt chocolate; let cool slightly.

In large bowl, whisk together flour, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Beat in sour cream and butter until thick batter forms. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition; beat in chocolate and vanilla. Beat for 2 minutes, scraping down side of bowl occasionally. Gradually stir in 1 cup (250 mL) water.

Divide evenly among prepared pans; sprinkle pecans over tops. Bake in centre of 350°F (180°C) oven until cake tester inserted in centre comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool in pans on racks for 15 minutes. Turn out onto racks and peel off paper; let cool completely. (Make-ahead: Wrap in plastic wrap and store for up to 1 day.)

Caramel: In heavy saucepan, stir sugar with 1/3 cup (75 mL) water over medium heat until dissolved, brushing down side of pan with pastry brush dipped in cold water. Bring to boil; boil vigorously, without stirring but brushing down side of pan, until dark amber, about 10 minutes.

Holding pan at arm's length and averting face, add cream; whisk until smooth. Whisk in butter until smooth. Let cool. (Make-ahead: Refrigerate in airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat slightly before using.)

Toppings: Whip cream. Place 1 cake layer, pecan side up, on cake plate. Drizzle with 2 tbsp (25 mL) of the caramel. Spread 1 cup (250 mL) of the whipped cream over top. Drizzle with 2 tbsp (25 mL) of the caramel, being careful not to let any drip down side. Repeat layers once.

Top with remaining cake layer. Spread remaining whipped cream over top and side, smoothing surface. Drizzle 2 tbsp (25 mL) of the caramel over top. Garnish with chocolate shards and pecan halves. Serve with remaining caramel.

Additional information :

Chocolate Shards
In heatproof bowl set over saucepan of hot (not boiling) water, melt 4 oz (125 g) semisweet chocolate. Spread evenly on baking sheet; refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.

Place baking sheet on damp towel; let stand for 3 minutes. Bracing pan against body, slowly scrape metal spatula through chocolate toward body to make shards. Refrigerate pan for 3 to 4 minutes if chocolate gets too soft. (Make-ahead: Refrigerate in single layer in airtight container for up to 2 days.)

Makes 1-1/2 cups.