Chocolate Almond Crumb Crust Recipes

Steps:

• For crust:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine cookie crumbs and 5 tablespoons butter in medium bowl. Stir until crumbs are evenly coated and beginning to stick together. Press crumb mixture in thin even layer onto bottom and up sides of 9-inch-diameter tart pan with removable bottom. Bake crust until set and beginning to crisp, pressing with back of fork if crust puffs, about 15 minutes. Cool crust completely on rack.
• For filling and topping :
• Sprinkle almond paste over crust. Gently press to even layer. Place chocolate in medium bowl. Bring cream to simmer in small saucepan. Pour cream over chocolate. Let stand 1 minute, then whisk until melted and smooth. Pour ganache evenly over almond layer. Chill tart until chocolate is cold and set, at least 4 hours and up to 1 day.
• Arrange raspberries, pointed side up, over top of tart. Stir jam and kirsch in small pan over low heat until blended and heated through. Brush glaze over berries. Sprinkle almonds around edge of tart. DO AHEAD: can be made 6 hours ahead. Chill uncovered.
• Using small sharp knife, loosen crust from pan sides. Push up pan bottom, releasing tart. Cut into wedges; serve cold.

Steps:

• Process almonds and wafers in a processor until fine crumbs form.
• Add in all remaining ingredients and process until combined.
• Press into 8 or 9-inch pie plate, or a 9-inch springform baking pan.
• Bake in a 350 degree oven (second-lowest rack) for 10 minutes.

Steps:

• Combine flour, sugar and nutmeg in a mixing bowl; stir well to mix and stir in sliced almonds.
• Stir in the butter evenly. Set aside for 5 minutes, then, using your fingertips, break the mixture into 1/4 to 1/2 inch crumbs. Set aside again while you prepare the filling.

Steps:

• Special equipment: a 9-inch springform pan
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the crust: Add the chocolate graham crackers and the almonds to a food processor. Process until finely chopped. Add the butter and salt and process to the consistency of wet sand. Press the crust into the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• For the topping: In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour and almonds. Using your fingers, work in the butter until the mixture has the texture of a crumble topping. Set aside.
• For the filling: Place the cream cheese, sugar and yogurt in a large bowl. Using an electric hand mixer, beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed with a rubber spatula. Add the eggs, almond extract, vanilla extract and salt; beat another minute on medium. Reduce the speed to low and beat in the chocolate until combined. Pour the filling over the crust and sprinkle evenly with the crumble topping.
• Bake until the center of the cake is just set, 45 minutes. Let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until completely chilled.
• Serve cold, with a dusting of powdered sugar if desired.

Steps:

• Make crust and topping:
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Beat together butter and brown sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes with a standing mixer or 3 minutes with a handheld. Reduce speed to low and mix in flour and salt just until a dough forms. Pat two thirds of dough evenly over bottom of a buttered 8- by 2-inch square metal baking pan. Bake crust in middle of oven until edge is golden, about 12 minutes. While crust is baking, work almonds into remaining dough with your hands until crumbs form, then reserve for topping. Cool crust in pan on a rack.
• Make filling while crust cools:
• Dissolve espresso powder in vanilla in a small cup. Beat together cream cheese and sugar with cleaned beaters at medium-high speed until creamy, about 2 minutes, then add egg and espresso mixture and beat well. Stir in chocolate chips.
• Pour filling onto cooled crust and crumble topping evenly over filling. Bake in middle of oven until edges are golden, about 30 to 35 minutes. Cool completely in pan on rack. Cut into 16 bars.