HOLIDAYS 2014: PECAN TORTE (LIKE MY MOM USED TO MAKE)(click here to print)

Ingredients

 

PECAN TORTE

• 2 cups pecans
• Coconut oil or grass-fed butter for greasing pan
• 6 free-range eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• Sweetener equivalent to 1 tablespoon sugar
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• Coconut oil or grass-fed butter for greasing pan
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 2 teaspoons instant coffee crystals
• ¼ cup pecans for garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line a 9” x 13” baking pan with buttered parchment paper.
2. Blitz the pecans with a hand blender to get them to a fine grind. You could also use a food processor. If you can find pecan flour, then use about 1¾ cups.
3. Separate the eggs, whisking the whites to soft peaks in a glass bowl and setting aside.
4. Add egg yolks, vanilla, sweetener, and cinnamon to the ground pecans. If this mixture is too stiff, add water a little at a time and beat well until it has loosened up enough to ‘take’ the whites.
5. Then fold in the whisked egg whites (make sure you use a very clean metal or glass bowl).
6. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 25 minutes, checking frequently. It’s done when it’s risen, golden-brown, and a sharp knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.
7. While it’s baking, divide the cream into two thirds and one third. Add the coffee crystals to the two thirds of it and whip it. Whip the remaining third in a clean dish. Stick both in the fridge to chill.
8. The cake should be done now. Allow the sponge cake to cool completely. Divide it into three or four layers depending on desired height.
9. When cool, sandwich two layers with the plain whipped cream. (Coconut whipped cream would do for non-dairy peeps).
10. Then top that with half the coffee cream, add the top layer and use the rest of the coffee whipped cream, and decorate with more pecans.
11. Slice into 10 slices and serve.

Note:

Use the best-quality instant coffee crystals you can find. Trader Joe’s is very good. Nescafe Clasico is widely regarded as one of the very best instants on the market.  serves 10, 6 carbs