Indulge in a symphony of flavors with our Almond Praline Cake, a masterpiece that captivates the senses. This exquisitely crafted cake features layers of moist almond sponge delicately infused with praline paste, creating a harmonious balance of nutty and caramelized sweetness. Each tier is lovingly adorned with a rich and velvety mascarpone frosting, adding a creamy, tangy counterpoint to the cake's indulgent texture. As a crowning glory, shards of decadent chocolate bark adorn the cake's surface, offering a symphony of textures and flavors that dance on the palate. This culinary masterpiece is a testament to the art of pastry, a perfect centerpiece for any special occasion or a delightful treat to savor at any time. Alongside the Almond Praline Cake recipe, this article also offers a delectable selection of additional recipes to tantalize your taste buds. Discover the secrets to creating the perfect Mascarpone Frosting, a versatile frosting that pairs beautifully with various cakes and pastries. Learn how to craft Chocolate Bark, an easy yet impressive confection that adds a touch of elegance to any dessert. And for those seeking a delightful accompaniment to their Almond Praline Cake, explore the recipe for a refreshing and zesty Orange Glaze, a vibrant sauce that adds a burst of citrusy flavor to this already extraordinary cake.
Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!
ALMOND LAYER CAKE WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE FROSTING
This dreamy white cake is made for almond lovers. For even extra nutty flavor, decorate your cake with some crunchy Jordan almonds.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Time 1h30m
Yield 8 to 10 servings
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter two 9-inch-round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper; butter the parchment and dust with flour, tapping out the excess. Pulse 2 cups flour, the baking powder, salt and almonds in a food processor until the nuts are finely ground into a powder, 2 to 3 minutes. Whisk the egg whites, milk, and vanilla and almond extracts in a medium bowl until combined.
- Beat 1 stick butter and the granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to low; beat in the flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with the milk mixture, beginning and ending with the flour, until just combined.
- Divide the batter between the prepared pans and smooth the tops. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer to racks and let cool in the pans. (The cakes can be frozen, wrapped in plastic wrap, for up to 2 weeks. Unwrap and thaw at room temperature.)
- Make the frosting: Microwave the white chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in 20-second intervals, stirring, until melted; set aside. Beat the cream cheese, butter, confectioners' sugar and vanilla in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 4 minutes. Gently fold in the melted white chocolate with a rubber spatula. (The frosting can be refrigerated, covered, for up to 2 days. Beat with a mixer to soften just before frosting the cake.)
- Assemble the cake: Loosen the edges of the cakes with a knife, then invert 1 layer onto a platter and peel off the parchment. Spread 1 to 1 1/2 cups frosting on top. Remove the other layer from the pan, peel off the parchment and carefully place on top of the first layer. Cover the top and sides of the cake with a thin layer of frosting (this is the "crumb coat"; it doesn't have to be perfect). Chill 15 minutes, then cover with the remaining frosting and decorate with nonpareils.
ALMOND PRALINE
Use this recipe to top our Apple Praline Tart.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes
Yield Makes one 10-by-15-inch sheet
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place almonds on a baking sheet, and toast until golden brown and fragrant, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven, and set aside to cool.
- Butter a 10-by-15-inch rimmed baking sheet. Spread toasted almonds in an even layer on pan. Place sugar and water in a medium saucepan; stir to combine. Place over medium-high heat; bring to a boil, brushing down sides of pan with a pastry brush dipped in water to prevent crystals from forming. Once sugar is dissolved, cook without stirring until sugar is deep amber. Add lemon juice; immediately pour over almonds, coating with a thin layer. If caramel doesn't cover all the nuts, tilt pan slightly to distribute, or stir in nuts with a wooden spoon, being careful not to touch caramel or hot pan. Cool completely. Gently twist pan to release praline. Break into pieces. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
CHOCOLATE ALMOND BARK
Provided by Geoffrey Zakarian
Categories dessert
Time 2h15m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Butter a baking sheet or use a silicone baking mat (preferred).
- Bring about 1 inch of water to a simmer in a medium saucepan with a bowl fitted to sit just above the simmering water. Add the chocolate. When the chocolate is melted, remove the bowl from the heat and stir in the almonds. Spread on the baking sheet in a thin uniform layer. Let set for 5 minutes, then sprinkle with the salt. Chill in the refrigerator until firm, at least 2 hours.
- Break the bark into 1- to 2-inch pieces. Store in a cool, dry place, stacked between layers of foil or parchment in an airtight container. The bark will keep, tightly sealed in your pantry, for up to a week.
ALMOND PRALINE CAKE WITH MASCARPONE FROSTING AND CHOCOLATE BARK
This recipe is a bit time consuming, without doubt. However, the final product is to die for!! Once decorated this cake is soo beautiful. This was published in Bon Appetit, March 2007 edition. This cake should be done a day before.
Provided by Marz7215
Categories Dessert
Time P2DT1h
Yield 1 cake, 12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- For ganache filling:.
- Simmer cream and sugar in medium saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar. Add chocolate; whisk until smooth. Chill until just spreadable, about 6 hours.
- For almond cake:.
- Preheat oven to 350°F Butter three 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides. Line bottoms with parchment paper; dust pans with flour. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in bowl. Using heavy-duty mixer, blend brown sugar and butter in large bowl. Beat in almond paste 1 piece at a time, then beat until smooth. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in extracts. Fold in dry ingredients. Divide batter among pans; smooth tops. Bake cakes until tester inserted into centers comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on rack.
- For almond praline:.
- Line baking sheet with foil. Stir sugar and 1/4 cup water in heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat; boil without stirring until deep amber, swirling pan and brushing down sides with wet pastry brush occasionally. Mix in nuts. Pour onto foil; cool. Peel foil off praline. Chop praline coarsely. DO AHEAD Praline can be made 1 day ahead; store airtight at room temperature.
- For mascarpone frosting:.
- Beat all ingredients in large bowl just to soft peaks (do not overbeat or mixture will curdle).
- Run knife around pan sides to loosen cakes. Turn cakes out; peel off paper. Place 1 cake layer on platter. Spread half of ganache over; sprinkle with 1/4 cup praline. Top with second cake layer. Spread remaining ganache over; sprinkle with 1/4 cup praline. Top with third cake layer. Spread frosting over top and sides of cake. DO AHEAD Cake can be made 1 day ahead; cover with cake dome and chill. Store remaining praline airtight at room temperature.
- For chocolate bark:.
- Line baking sheet with foil. Melt chocolate in small bowl set over saucepan of simmering water. Stir until smooth. Remove from over water. Drizzle all but 1 tablespoon chocolate over foil in thick (about 1-inch-wide) zigzag lines (chocolate will pool in spots). Sprinkle 3 tablespoons praline over chocolate; chill bark until firm, about 1 hour.
- Press praline around bottom 2 inches of cake; sprinkle more atop. Peel foil off bark; break into pieces. Press edges into frosting atop cake. Remelt 1 tablespoon chocolate over simmering water, stirring often. Using spoon, drizzle chocolate over cake. DO AHEAD Chill up to 4 hours. Serve cold or at room temperature.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 1059, Fat 73.8, SaturatedFat 30.7, Cholesterol 228.6, Sodium 296.3, Carbohydrate 93.6, Fiber 9.6, Sugar 61.9, Protein 19.2
CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH MASCARPONE AND PRALINE
Steps:
- Make praline:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- In a baking pan toast nuts in one layer in middle of oven 10 minutes, or until almonds are lightly colored and hazelnut skins are blistered. Wrap nuts in a kitchen towel and let steam 1 minute. Rub nuts in towel to remove any loose hazelnut skins (do not worry about skins that do not come off) and cool completely.
- Line a baking sheet with foil. In a small heavy saucepan bring sugar and water to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Boil syrup, without stirring, washing down any sugar crystals that cling to side of pan with a pastry brush dipped in cold water, until it begins to turn golden. Swirl pan until syrup is deep golden and remove from heat. Stir in nuts and pour praline onto baking sheet, spreading evenly. Cool praline completely and break into pieces. Transfer praline to a sealable plastic bag and with a rolling pin coarsely crush.
- Make cake:
- Preheat oven to 300°F. Generously butter a 9-inch round cake pan (at least 2 inches deep) and line bottom with wax or parchment paper. Butter paper and dust pan with flour, knocking out excess.
- Finely chop chocolate. In a small saucepan combine cocoa powder, butter, oil, and water. Bring mixture to a boil, stirring until smooth, and remove pan from heat. Add chocolate and sugar, whisking until smooth, and transfer to a bowl. Cool chocolate mixture completely and whisk in egg. Sift flour and baking powder over chocolate mixture and whisk until just combined. Whisk in buttermilk and pour batter into cake pan, spreading evenly. Bake cake in middle of oven 45 to 50 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean, and cool in pan on a rack 5 minutes. Run a thin knife around edge of pan and invert cake onto rack. Discard paper. Cool cake completely and transfer to a plate. In a bowl stir together mascarpone and sugar. Spread mixture over top of cake and generously sprinkle with praline.
Tips:
- To achieve the perfect almond praline, use a heavy-bottomed saucepan to prevent burning. Stir the mixture continuously to ensure even cooking and a rich, golden color.
- For the mascarpone frosting, use full-fat mascarpone cheese for a creamy and luxurious texture. Beat the mascarpone and heavy cream until stiff peaks form, then add powdered sugar and vanilla extract for sweetness and flavor.
- When assembling the cake, spread a thin layer of frosting between each layer to ensure that the cake is evenly coated. This will also help to keep the cake moist and prevent it from drying out.
- To make the chocolate bark, use high-quality chocolate for a rich and decadent flavor. Chop the chocolate into small pieces so that it melts evenly and quickly.
- When decorating the cake, press the chocolate bark pieces into the sides and top of the cake, creating a beautiful and elegant finish. You can also add additional decorations such as fresh berries, chopped nuts, or sprinkles to add color and texture.
Conclusion:
This almond praline cake with mascarpone frosting and chocolate bark is a truly stunning and delicious dessert that is perfect for any special occasion. The combination of flavors and textures is divine, and the cake is sure to impress your guests. With careful preparation and attention to detail, you can create a masterpiece that will be remembered for years to come.
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