Orange Almond Torta with Dark Chocolate
Orange almond torta waiting to be topped with dark chocolate sauce
This is an easy to make torta that can be made in about one hour. I have served this in two different ways. First, I served it with a warm dark chocolate sauce and on a separate occasion I put chopped quality dark chocolate directly into the batter prior to baking. In this option, the chocolate settles to the bottom of the torta and you have a chocolate bottom cake that is a wonderful fusion of orange and chocolate. This torta is moist and not too sweet and uses olive oil rather than butter or margarine.
Ingredients
1/2 cup finely ground blanched almonds toasted
1 cup flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3 large eggs
3/4 cups of granulated sugar
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
Grated zest of one lemon
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup of high quality dark chocolate chopped to about the size of small chocolate chips (if desired) or melt one cup of chocolate with one tablespoon of butter and drizzle over each slice as you serve the torta
Equipment
Electric mixer
9 inch spring form pan greased (olive oil works great) and floured
Oven preheated to 350 degrees
To Make the Torta
Step 1: Combine the olive oil and sugar in in a large mixing bowl until it is well mixed ( about 1 minutes). I use the electric mixer for steps 2 thru 7.)
Step 2: Add the eggs to the oil and sugar mixture and mix on medium to high speed until they double in volume and are light yellow.
Step 3: Add the lemon zest, and vanilla to the oil, sugar and egg mixture and mix to just combine.
Step 4: Gently mix in the 1/2 cup of orange juice.
Step 5: Add the flour, ground almonds, chocolate (if used) and baking powder and mix gently until it is just combined. Don't over mix.
Step 6: Turn the batter out into the prepared spring form pan.
Step7 : Place a rack in the center of the oven and bake for approximately 30 to 35 minutes until a cake tester comes out clean and the torta is starting to pull away from the sides of the pan.
Serving Suggestions: While the torta is wonderful just topped with a little confectioners sugar, you can dress it up with some whipped cream and the warm dark chocolate sauce if you choose not to put the chopped chocolate into the torta.
Buon Appetito!
1/2 cup finely ground blanched almonds toasted
1 cup flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3 large eggs
3/4 cups of granulated sugar
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
Grated zest of one lemon
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup of high quality dark chocolate chopped to about the size of small chocolate chips (if desired) or melt one cup of chocolate with one tablespoon of butter and drizzle over each slice as you serve the torta
Equipment
Electric mixer
9 inch spring form pan greased (olive oil works great) and floured
Oven preheated to 350 degrees
To Make the Torta
Step 1: Combine the olive oil and sugar in in a large mixing bowl until it is well mixed ( about 1 minutes). I use the electric mixer for steps 2 thru 7.)
Step 2: Add the eggs to the oil and sugar mixture and mix on medium to high speed until they double in volume and are light yellow.
Step 3: Add the lemon zest, and vanilla to the oil, sugar and egg mixture and mix to just combine.
Step 4: Gently mix in the 1/2 cup of orange juice.
Step 5: Add the flour, ground almonds, chocolate (if used) and baking powder and mix gently until it is just combined. Don't over mix.
Step 6: Turn the batter out into the prepared spring form pan.
Step7 : Place a rack in the center of the oven and bake for approximately 30 to 35 minutes until a cake tester comes out clean and the torta is starting to pull away from the sides of the pan.
Serving Suggestions: While the torta is wonderful just topped with a little confectioners sugar, you can dress it up with some whipped cream and the warm dark chocolate sauce if you choose not to put the chopped chocolate into the torta.
Buon Appetito!