Chocolate Walnut Mousse Cake Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan. Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and allspice. Set aside.
• In the top of a double boiler, heat chocolate, stirring occasionally, until chocolate is melted and smooth. Remove from heat and allow to cool to lukewarm.
• In a large bowl, cream together the shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg yolks one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the milk. Stir in walnuts.
• In a large glass or metal mixing bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold 1/3 of the whites into the batter, then quickly fold in remaining whites until no streaks remain. Pour batter into prepared pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter the bottom and sides of an eight-inch springform pan.
• Scatter the walnuts on a baking sheet and place in the oven. Bake until lightly browned and crisp, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Let cool. Set aside eight of the largest pieces for garnish. Chop the rest into small pieces.
• Put the chocolate squares and butter in a saucepan and set the saucepan in a skillet of simmering water. Keep the water at a simmer. Stir the chocolate and butter until the chocolate squares are melted.
• Whisk the egg yolks and sugar in a mixing bowl and beat until the mixture is light and lemon-colored.
• Add the chocolate mixture to the egg mixture, stirring to blend well.
• Beat the egg whites until stiff but not brittle. If the whites are too stiffly beaten, they will not fold in properly.
• Add half the egg whites to the chocolate mixture, and beat. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the remaining whites and the chopped walnut pieces.
• Pour three-quarters of the mixture into the prepared pan. Reserve the remaining chocolate mixture for the frosting.
• Place the pan in the oven and bake for 50 minutes to one hour. The cake is done when a knife, straw, toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
• When the cake is done, transfer it to a rack. Let it stand about 10 minutes. Remove the rim from the springform pan. Cool the cake thoroughly.
• Spoon a portion of the reserved chocolate mixture around the sides of the cake, smoothing it over. Build it up slightly around the top of the cake. Add the remaining mixture to the top of the cake and smooth it over.
• Hold a small sieve over the cake and spoon the cocoa into it. Sprinkle it evenly over the top of the cake. Chill briefly.
• Add the confectioners' sugar to the sieve and sprinkle it over the cocoa. Decorate with the reserved walnuts and the violets.

Steps:

• Lightly coat an 8-inch round cake pan with oil, and line with plastic, leaving a 4-inch overhang.
• Finely grind chestnuts in a food processor. Heat ground chestnuts, milk, 3 tablespoons sugar, and the salt in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until bubbles form at edge.
• Whisk together yolks, cornstarch, and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar in a medium heatproof bowl.
• Slowly add hot chestnut mixture to yolk mixture, whisking constantly. Return to pan; cook over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, until thick, about 2 minutes. Transfer to the bowl of a mixer. Add vanilla and butter. Beat on medium speed until cool, about 5 minutes. Stir half the chestnut mixture into melted chocolate.
• Beat 1 1/4 cups cream until soft peaks form. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold half the whipped cream into plain chestnut mixture and the other half into chocolate-chestnut mixture.
• Pour chestnut mousse into prepared pan. Cover with 12 chocolate wafers, working in a circular pattern. Top with chocolate-chestnut mousse and remaining 12 chocolate wafers. Fold plastic overhang over top to cover cake. Refrigerate overnight.
• Uncover cake; place a platter on top, flip, and unmold. Remove plastic. Beat remaining 1/4 cup cream until soft peaks form. Spread on top of cake. Garnish with chocolate shavings.