Coffee Nut Torte Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°. Line an 8" or 9" springform pan with parchment paper and coat with cooking spray. Combine 1/3 cup sugar and flours in a bowl. Whip 1/3 cup sugar and egg yolks in another bowl with an electric mixer about 5 minutes. Beat in zest, oil, lemon juice, and orange juice. Fold in dry ingredients. Beat egg whites and salt in a third bowl with an electric mixer until frothy. Beat in remaining 1/3 cup sugar until stiff peaks form. Fold 1/3 of egg-white mixture into batter. Fold in remaining egg white mixture in two parts, mixing well. Pour batter into pan. Bake 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from oven; cool. Invert pan, remove parchment, and turn cake right side up onto a plate. Topping: Combine honey, lemon juice, and vanilla in a bowl. Add berries; mix. Spoon topping on cake, dust with sugar, and slice into eighths.

Steps:

• Let eggs stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. In a large bowl, beat egg yolks and sugar for 10 minutes or until light lemon-colored. Beat in vanilla. Combine cake flour and baking powder; add to egg mixture alternately with water, beating well. Fold in walnuts., In another bowl and with clean beaters, beat the egg whites on high until stiff peaks form. Fold a fourth of the egg whites into batter; fold in remaining whites. , Pour into two greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., In a small saucepan, whisk the milk and pudding mix. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat. Pour into a bowl; press a piece of waxed paper or plastic wrap over pudding. Refrigerate for 30 minutes., In a bowl, cream the butter, shortening and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla and cooled pudding. Split each cake into two layers. Place one bottom layer on a serving plate; spread with about 3/4 cup filling. Repeat layers. Garnish with chocolate curls if desired.

Steps:

• Have all ingredients at room temperature.
• Line the bottom of an 8-inch square cake pan or a 9-inch springform pan with parchment or wax paper.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• In a heavy-bottomed 2-or 3-quart saucepan, combine 1/2 cup of the sugar and 1/2 cup water and bring to a boil, stirring constantly over medium heat. Continue boiling and stirring until all the grains of sugar have completely dissolved and the mixture forms a simple syrup. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the chocolate until melted and smooth. Set aside to cool.
• In a large bowl, beat the egg yolks with an electric mixer until light and thickened, about 4 minutes. Grind the walnuts with the remaining sugar and the matzoh meal in a food processor using the pulse motion and stir into the egg yolks. Add the cooled chocolate mixture and combine thoroughly.
• Using clean beaters, beat the egg whites in another bowl until they hold stiff peaks. Gradually fold the whites into the chocolate-walnut mixture, incorporating them gently but thoroughly so that no whites are visible. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until puffed and almost set but still a little gooey in the center. A wooden toothpick inserted 1 inch from the edge should come out clean.
• Remove the pan from the oven and let cool on a rack. When completely cool, unmold the cake by running a thin-bladed knife around the edges of the cake to release it from the pan (or release the springform); invert onto a platter. Peel off the parchment paper. Serve the torte at room temperature.
• If desired, lightly dust with Passover confectioners' sugar. For a lovely, simple presentation, place a doily or a stencil-handmade by you or, even better, your children-over the torte, then sprinkle with the sugar. Carefully remove the doily or stencil.
• Or glaze with the chocolate icing. Lay long strips of wax paper or foil on a cake plate or serving platter and place the cake on top. Pour the glaze over the top of the cake, letting it drip down the sides. Using a spatula, evenly spread the glaze over the top and sides. Now, pull out and discard the paper strips or foil strips--the plate will be clean and ready for serving. If you'd like, garnish with a few walnut halves attractively placed in the center of the cake. Refrigerate the cake for about an hour to set the glaze, but bring it to room temperature before serving.
• The plain or frosted torte is heavenly with generous dollops of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
• Passover Confectioners’ Sugar:
• In a blender, mini-food processor, or clean coffee grinder, whirl 1 cup minus 1/2 tablespoon regular granulated sugar until it is powdery. Place in a small bowl and stir in 1/2 teaspoon potato starch. Sift before using. (Recently commercial Passover confectioners' sugar, made without cornstarch, has appeared in some stores with large kosher-for-Passover sections. If available, by all means use it here.)
• Chocolate Icing:
• Melt the butter or margarine slowly in a heavy saucepan over very low heat. When half is melted, gradually whisk in the chocolate, stirring well as it melts. After all the chocolate has been added, stir in 2 tablespoons water and beat well until the glaze is completely smooth. Let the mixture cool about 5 minutes to thicken slightly.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 8-inch cake pans, and line base of each with parchment paper. In food processor, combine 1/2 cup walnut pieces and sugar. Process to a fine powder. Add butter, flour, baking powder, salt and eggs. Process to a smooth batter.
• Add 2 tablespoons milk to coffee mixture and pour this down feed tube with motor running. Mixture should be just soft enough to drop from a spoon; if not, add more milk. Divide cake batter between two pans. Bake until risen and springy to touch, about 25 minutes. Cool on a rack for 10 minutes, then remove from pan and place on rack. Remove parchment paper. Cool completely. You may want to level them if they domed in the oven.
• For frosting: Place confectioners' sugar and salt in food processor and pulse until lump-free. Add butter and process until smooth. Add coffee mixture down feed tube and pulse until well blended.
• Place one cake upside down on a plate or cake stand. Spread with about half the frosting. Place second cake right side up on frosting, and cover top and sides in a swirly pattern. Place a walnut half in center of cake, and gently press remaining halves into top of cake, around the edge.

Steps:

• Preheat a convection oven to 375 degree F. If using a regular oven preheat to 400 degrees F.
• Bring some water to a simmer in a medium pot over medium heat. Put 3/4 cup of the butter and 3/4 cup of the chocolate into a bowl that fits on top of the pot without the bottom of the bowl touching the water. Put the bowl onto the pot. When the butter and chocolate have melted, remove it from the heat and whisk in the powdered sugar.
• In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolks and eggs over the simmering water to warm the eggs. Fold in the chocolate mixture, then fold in the cake flour.
• Spray 6 (4-ounce) cake tins with nonstick cooking spray. Fill the tins to 1/2-inch from the top with the batter. Arrange the tins on a baking sheet and bake until they are set around the edges but are still liquid in the center, about 10 to 12 minutes. Check them after 10 minutes, don't overcook them or the center will not be liquid. Remove them from the oven and let them sit for 1 minute.
• While the torte is baking, put the remaining 1/4 cup butter and 1/4 cup chocolate chips into a bowl, melt them as before, and keep it warm. Beat the heavy cream in a large bowl until it forms soft peaks. Quickly beat in the coffee liqueur and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Slice the strawberries in half, leaving the stem on 1 half. Sprinkle the cut sides with sugar and caramelize them using a brulee torch.
• Brush a wide stripe of the melted chocolate across each serving plate. Arrange the caramelized strawberries above the stripe. Unmold each torte on top of the stripe on 1 side. Put a dollop of the whipped cream on the other side of the stripe. Top the whipped cream with the chopped nuts and a light dusting of cocoa powder. Garnish with mint sprigs and serve.

Steps:

• Crust: In a mixing bowl cream the butter, brown sugar, flour, and ground coffee together. Process until mixture is evenly fine textured. Add the nuts. In a separate bowl, combine the vanilla and coffee liquids together, then add them to the nut mixture. Process only until mixed, do not overprocess. Turn mixture into 9-inch pie plate, spread, and press evenly and lightly over the bottom and sides. Filling: Arrange apple slices around the edge of the crust-covered pan. Chop some pieces into cubes for the center. In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, and coffee, and pour over the apples. Dot the butter over the top. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Bake for 10 minutes, and then reduce the oven temperature to 350 F. Bake 15 minutes more, until the apple begins to bubble. Place puddle of sauce in plate and set torte slice on top of sauce and serve.
• Combine sauce ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 3 minutes. Stir until smooth and chill.

Steps:

• Place nuts in a food processor and grind until finely ground.
• In a bowl beat 1/2 cup of sugar and 1/4 cup of the butter until blended. Add the egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in the ground nuts, lemon juice, lemon peel and all but 2 tablespoons of the flour.
• In a deep bowl beat egg whites with a mixer on high speed until soft peeks form. Gradually beat in 1/4 cup sugar until the whites hold stiff, shiny peaks. Gently fold the whites into the yolk mixture.
• Spoon the batter into a buttered and floured 9-inch cheesecake pan with removable rim. Bake in a 350 degree oven until the torte is very lightly browned and the center feels just barely firm to the touch, about 20 to 25 minutes.
• To prepare the topping, in a medium sized pot melt remaining 1/2 cup butter over a medium heat. Add the remaining sugar, flour and nuts. Stir the mixture until bubbling. Immediately spoon the toffee topping evenly over hot torte, pushing nuts with a spoon to arrange decoratively. Return to oven and bake until nuts and topping are slightly more brown, about 15 to 20 minutes longer.
• Cool torte in the pan for 10 minutes, then run a knife inside the pan rim to release. Remove pan rim. Serve torte warm or cool.
• TIP: PAN ROASTING ALMONDS
• Spread shelled nuts in a single layer on a baking pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven, stirring often, until golden, about 15 minutes.

Steps:

• torte:
• Beat the egg whites until stiff but still moist. Beat the egg yolks until thick and lemon colored; fold into whites.
• Combine sugar, graham cracker crumbs, nuts and salt and fold in gradually (do not beat) in the combined eggs like angel food cake.
• Pour into well greased and floured 9" pie pan.
• Bake in a preheated oven at 325 degrees for 35-40 minutes.
• Cool in pan and cut into wedges. Top with ice cream and the caramel coffee sauce.
• caramel coffee sauce:.
• Put sugar in heavy saucepan; place over medium flame and stir constantly until sugar melts and becomes a golden brown liquid (about 8 minutes).
• Add coffee slowly stirring well as it steams and bubbles.
• Boil 5 minutes until syrup is smooth.
• Remove from heat; cool 2-3 minutes; gradually add evaporated milk and salt beating vigorously.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Using coarse grating disc (with large holes), grate walnuts in processor. Remove grating disc, leaving walnuts in processor bowl. Fit processor with metal blade. Using on/off turns, grind walnuts until finely ground but not pasty. Set aside 2 tablespoons ground walnuts for garnish.
• Butter bottom (not sides) of 9-inch-diameter springform pan. Using electric mixer, beat egg yolks in large bowl until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Gradually add 1/2 cup sugar, beating until well blended. Stir remaining ground walnuts into yolk mixture. Using clean dry beaters, beat egg whites in another large bowl until stiff but not dry. Fold whites into nut mixture in 2 additions. Transfer batter to prepared pan.
• Bake cake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool 5 minutes. Run knife between cake and pan sides to loosen; remove pan sides. Cool cake completely on rack (cake will fall in center). (Cake can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and store at room temperature.)
• Using electric mixer, beat cream, powdered sugar, coffee mixture, and vanilla in large bowl until peaks form. Spread coffee whipped cream onto top of cake. Sprinkle top with reserved ground walnuts; arrange walnut halves in center of cake. Cut cake into wedges.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5. Line the bottom of an 8 to 10-inch tin with a piece of greaseproof paper. Butter the bottom and sides then dust with flour. Place the nuts into a food processor and whizz up until finely ground. Then add the chocolate and cocoa and whiz for 30 seconds to break up the chocolate. Remove to a bowl and set aside. Add the butter and sugar to the food processor and beat until pale and fluffy. At this point add the egg yolks 1 at a time them mix together with the chocolate and nuts.
• In another bowl beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until they form stiff peaks. Gently fold the egg whites into the chocolate, butter and nut mix. Pour all the mixture into the tin. Bake in a preheated oven about 1 hour. To test if the torte is cooked, insert a cocktail stick or the tip of a knife for 5 seconds; when removed it should be reasonably clean. Serve with whipped cream, ice-cream or creme fraiche.

Steps:

• For filling:
• Press raspberries through fine sieve into small bowl. Press jam through same sieve into raspberry puree; discard seeds. Stir to blend well. Cover and chill overnight.
• For frosting:
• Combine 3/4 cup cream, white chocolate and coffee crystals in heavy medium saucepan. Stir over low heat just until chocolate melts, coffee dissolves and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat. Let stand until cool and thick, whisking occasionally, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Using electric mixer, beat 1 3/4 cups cream in large bowl until firm peaks form. Fold large spoonful of whipped cream into chocolate mixture to lighten. Fold chocolate mixture into whipped cream in 4 additions. Cover and refrigerate frosting until very firm, about 6 hours. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead; keep chilled.)
• For cake:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line three 9-inch diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides with parchment. Butter and flour parchment. Combine nuts, flour, 1/4 cup sugar, coffee crystals and salt in processor. Blend until nuts are finely ground.
• Using electric mixer, beat yolks and 1/2 cup sugar in large bowl until very thick, about 5 minutes. Beat in water and vanilla. Stir in flour mixture. Using clean dry beaters, beat egg whites in large bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add 1/2 cup sugar, beating until stiff but not dry. Fold into yolk mixture in 3 additions.
• Transfer batter to prepared pans. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 18 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on racks. Cut around pan sides to loosen cakes. Turn cakes out; peel off parchment.
• Place 1 cake on platter and second cake on piece of foil. Spread 1/3 cup filling over each; let stand 20 minutes to set up. Spread 1 cup frosting over each. Lift cake off foil; place atop cake on platter. Top with third cake. Spread remaining frosting over sides and top of torte. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome and refrigerate.)
• Garnish torte with fresh berries, if desired. Cut into wedges and serve.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Separate eggs. Allow egg yolks and egg whites to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Grease the bottoms of three 9 x1-1/2-inch round cake pans. Line pans with waxed paper; grease waxed paper. Set pans aside. In a medium bowl, stir together flour and baking powder; set aside.
• In a large mixing bowl, beat egg yolks, sugar and coffee with an electric mixer on low speed until combined. Beat on high speed about 5 minutes or until satin smooth. Add flour mixture and beat until combined; stir in nuts. Set aside.
• Thoroughly wash beaters. In a very large mixing bowl, beat egg whites on medium speed until stiff peaks form (tips stand straight). Gradually fold batter into beaten egg whites until combined. Pour into prepared baking pans.
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until cake tops spring back when lightly touched (centers may dip slightly). Cool cake layers on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove cake layers from pans; remove waxed paper. Cool thoroughly on wire racks.
• Meanwhile, make frosting: In a small saucepan, whisk milk into cornstarch. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat; cook and stir for 2 minutes more. If you like, stir in rum. Cover surface with plastic wrap. Cool to room temperature (do not stir).
• In a large mixing bowl, beat butter for 30 seconds. Add 2 cups powdered sugar; unsweetened cocoa powder, if you like; and vanilla. Beat with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add cooled milk mixture to butter mixture, half at a time, beating on low speed after each addition until smooth. Beat in 5 to 6 cups additional powdered sugar until spreading consistency.
• Spread 1/2 cup frosting on each layer; stack layers. Frost sides of cake with remaining frosting. If you like, garnish with chopped nuts. Loosely cover and chill cake for up to 3 days.

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Line the bottom of a greased 9-in springform pan with waxed paper; grease the paper and dust with cocoa. Set aside., Place hazelnuts and brown sugar in a food processor; cover and process until ground. In a second large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add 1 egg yolk at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the melted chocolate, espresso powder, extract and salt. Gradually add hazelnut mixture., In the first large bowl, with clean beaters beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold into batter. Spread into prepared pan. Place pan on a baking sheet., Bake at 375° for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Cool on a wire rack to room temperature. Remove sides of pan and invert onto a serving plate., Place chocolate in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chocolate; whisk until smooth. Cool, stirring occasionally, to room temperature or until ganache reaches a spreading consistency, about 30 minutes., Spread ganache over top and sides of cake; press almonds onto sides. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or until set.

Steps:

• Butter 3 Nine inch round cake pan and line the bottom of each one with a round of buttered parchment paper.
• Dust the pans with flour and shake out any excess.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a bowl with an electric mixer, beat the egg yolks with 3/4 cup of granulated sugar until the mixture is doubled in volume and forms a ribbon when the beaters are lifted (about 5 minutes).
• In a food processor or blender, pulse the walnuts with the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar until ground fine.
• Add the walnuts, the bread crumbs, the coffee and the rum to the yolks and fold gently.
• In another bowl, with clean beaters, beat the egg white just to stiff peaks.
• Gently and gradually fold the whites into the yolk mixture.
• Divide the batter among the three cake pans, spreading it evenly and giving each cake pan a good thump against the counter to make sure there are no air bubbles.
• Bake the layers 20 to 25 minutes, or until the sides pull away from the pans and the tops spring back when pressed gently.
• Cool in pans on racks for ten minutes.
• Run a sharp knife round the sides of the layers and carefully invert the layers onto the racks.
• Remove and discard parchment paper and allow layers to cool completely.
• Make the Coffee Whipped Cream:.
• In a large, chilled bowl, stir together 3 tablespoons of the cold heavy cream and the instant coffee until coffee is dissolved.
• Add remaining cream and confectioner's sugar and beat until cream forms stiff peaks.
• This will provide enough whipped cream to fill the two layers and to garnish the top.
• You can place the cream for the top in a pastry bag and decorate the top with rosettes.
• Garnish with the toasted walnut halves.

Steps:

• Place ladyfingers around the edge of a 9-in. springform pan. Line the bottom of the pan with remaining ladyfingers. Stir 1/2 cup toffee bits into the ice cream; spoon into prepared pan. Cover with plastic wrap; freeze overnight or until firm. May be frozen for up to 2 months., Just before serving, remove sides of pan. Garnish with the whipped topping and remaining toffee bits.

Steps:

• Toast almonds on a cookie sheet in 350 degree oven until edges turn golden brown.
• Add corn flake crumbs to almonds and divide in half.
• Cool.
• Whip cream until almost stiff and add confectioners sugar.
• Beat until stiff.
• Add coffee,vanilla and almond extract.
• In another bowl,beat egg whites until foamy,gradually add sugar and beat until stiff.
• Fold half the crumb mixture into egg white mixture and gently fold into whipped cream.
• Line 12 cupcake papers into cupcake tin and spoon mixture inches.
• Sprinkle remaining crumb mixture over tops.
• Freeze until firm.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg whites and extract. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. Fold in almonds and hazelnuts., Pour into three greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks., In a large saucepan, combine the evaporated milk, sugar, butter and egg yolks. Cook and stir over medium heat for 10-12 minutes until mixture reaches 160° or is thick enough to coat the back of a metal spoon. Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. Stir in coconut and nuts. Cool to room temperature., In a large bowl, beat the butter, cream cheese and vanilla until smooth. Gradually add confectioners' sugar. Beat in milk until light and fluffy. Spread filling between cake layers. Frost top and sides of cake. Garnish with pecans if desired. Store in the refrigerator.

Steps:

• For crust:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Grind nuts with ground cookies and toffee in processor. Add 5 tablespoons butter; blend until nuts are finely chopped. To moisten crumbs, if necessary, blend in 1 tablespoon butter. Using plastic wrap as aid, press mixture onto bottom an dup sides of 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 3/4-inch-high sides. Freeze 15 minutes.
• Bake crust until golden, about 12 minutes. Freeze crust.
• For ganache:
• Bring cream and corn syrup to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chocolate; whisk until melted and smooth. Cool to room temperature.
• For mousse:
• Whisk sugar, yolks, 1/3 cup water and espresso powder in large metal bowl. Set bowl over saucepan of simmering water (do not allow bowl to touch water); whisk until candy thermometer registers 160°F, about 3 minutes. Remove bowl from over water. Add nutmeg. Using electric mixer, beat egg mixture until cool and thick, about 5 minutes.
• Beat 2 1/2 cups cream, liqueur and vanilla in another large bowl until stiff peaks form. Fold cream mixture and toffee into egg mixture. Spoon half of mousse into crust. Drizzle 1/4 cup ganache over. Using tip of knife, swirl mixtures together. Carefully spoon remaining mousse over; smooth top. Cover and freeze torte overnight. Cover remaining ganache; chill.
• Rewarm remaining ganache over low heat, whisking just until slightly softened but not melted. If necessary, let stand until firm enough to pipe. Spoon ganache into pastry bag fitted with star tip. Run sharp knife around torte pan sides. Release pan sides. Pipe ganache in lattice design atop torte. Pipe ganache in star shapes around border. Garnish with almonds. (Can be prepared 1 week ahead. Freeze until lattice sets, then cover and keep frozen.)

Steps:

• For crust: Preheat oven to 350°F Grind nuts with ground cookies and toffee in processor.
• Add 5 tblsps butter, blend until nuts are finely chopped.
• To moisten crumbs, if necessary, blend in 1 tblsp butter.
• Using plastic wrap as aid, press mixture onto bottom and up sides of 9-inch-diameter springform pan.
• Freeze 15 minutes.
• Bake crust until golden, about 12 minutes.
• Freeze crust.
• For ganache: Bring cream and corn syrup to simmer in medium saucepan.
• Remove from heat.
• Add chocolate; whisk until melted and smooth.
• Cool to room temperature.
• For mousse: Whisk sugar, yolks, 1/3 cup water and espresso powder in large metal bowl.
• Set bowl over saucepan of simmering water (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water); whisk until candy thermometer registers 160F, about 3 minutes.
• Remove bowl from over water.
• Add nutmeg.
• Using electric mixer, beat egg mixture until cool and thick, about 5 minutes.
• Beat 2 ½ cups cream, liqueur and vanilla in another large bowl until stiff peaks form.
• Fold cream mixture and toffee into egg mixture.
• Spoon half of mousse into crust.
• Drizzle ¼ cup ganache over.
• Using tip of knife, swirl mixtures together.
• Carefully spoon remaining mousse over; smooth top.
• Cover and freeze torte overnight.
• Cover remaining ganache; chill.
• Rewarm remaining ganache over low heat, whisking just until slightly softened but not melted.
• If necessary, let stand until firm enough to pipe.
• Spoon ganache into pastry bag fitted with star tip.
• Run sharp knife around torte pan sides.
• Release pan sides.
• Pipe ganache in lattice design atop torte.
• Pipe ganache in star shapes around border.
• Garnish with almonds.
• Note: This torte can be prepared up to 1 week ahead.
• Freeze until lattice sets, then cover and keep frozen.

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Line three 9-in. round baking pans with waxed paper; set aside. , Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375°. In another bowl, beat egg yolks until slightly thickened. Gradually add 1/2 cup sugar, beating until thick and lemon-colored. Beat in vanilla. Combine nuts, crumbs, baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt; stir into yolk mixture until combined. , Add remaining salt to egg whites; with clean beaters, beat on medium until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time, beating on high after each addition until sugar is dissolved. Continue beating until soft glossy peaks form. Fold a fourth of the egg whites into batter, then fold in remaining whites. Divide among prepared pans. , Bake 20-25 minutes or until tops spring back when lightly touched. Invert pans; cool 20 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks; cool completely. Remove waxed paper., In a small bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners' sugar and vanilla; beat until stiff peaks form. Cover and refrigerate until assembling., In a large saucepan, melt butter and chocolate over low heat. Remove from heat. Stir in coffee, vanilla and enough confectioners' sugar to achieve frosting consistency. Spread filling between layers. Frost top and sides of cake. Garnish with pecans if desired.