Hazelnut-Praline Torte

Name: Hazelnut-Praline Torte
Ingredients: 1.25 cups hazelnuts, toasted, finely ground; 1.75 cups walnuts, toasted, finely ground; 1.5 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted, plus more for dusting; 9 large eggs, separated, room temperature; 1.25 teaspoons salt; 0.75 cup granulated sugar; 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract; 2.25 cups sifted cake flour (not self-rising); Hazelnut Syrup; Caramel-Cream Filling; Praline

3.1

(97)

1 Review

By

Martha Stewart Test Kitchen

Updated on January 16, 2019

Servings:

12

Hazelnut sponge cake and caramel cream stack up in a torte.

Ingredients

1 ¼ cups hazelnuts, toasted, finely ground
1 ¾ cups walnuts, toasted, finely ground
1 ½ cups confectioners' sugar, sifted, plus more for dusting
9 large eggs, separated, room temperature
1 ¼ teaspoons salt
¾ cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 ¼ cups sifted cake flour (not self-rising)
Hazelnut Syrup
Caramel-Cream Filling
Praline

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two 10-by-15-inch rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper, allowing 2 inches to hang over each short side; set aside.
Whisk nuts and confectioners' sugar in a bowl; reserve 1/2 cup, and set aside. Put yolks and remaining nut mixture into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until pale, about 3 minutes; transfer to a large bowl.
Put egg whites and salt into the clean bowl of the electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, and beat on medium speed until foamy. Raise speed to medium-high. Gradually add granulated sugar, and beat until stiff peaks form. Beat in the vanilla.
Fold egg whites into yolk mixture in two additions. Whisk flour and remaining nut mixture in a small bowl; fold into egg mixture in two additions.
Transfer half the batter to a pastry bag fitted with a 5/8-inch plain tip (such as Ateco #808). Starting in one corner of a prepared baking sheet, pipe batter in diagonal lines, filling sheet. Repeat with remaining batter in second baking sheet. Bake until pale golden, about 15 minutes. Lift parchment onto wire racks, and let cakes cool completely.
Using a serrated knife, trim edges of cakes to be straight. Halve cakes crosswise. Place one half on a serving plate. Brush with 1/4 cup hazelnut syrup. Spread 1 1/2 cups caramel cream over top. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup praline. Repeat to make two more layers of each. Top with remaining cake half. Refrigerate 2 hours (or overnight). Dust with confectioners' sugar, and garnish with praline.