Chocolate cherry cake
Torta al cioccolata e amarene
This chocolate cherry cake combines a number of my favourite ingredients like chocolate, Amarene cherries, hazelnuts and marzipan. A sweet extravaganza that leaves you happy and satisfied after just one tiny piece.
Mazarin cakes made from marzipan in a shortcrust pastry are very popular in Scandinavia, though they are named after an Italian cardinal and diplomat who served as chief minister of France from 1642 to his death 19 years later. I have no idea why this collector of art and jewels should have a cake named after him 1000 km to the north, but he has probably been a food lover insisting on being served the crostata di mandorle, he grew up with even after he settled in France.
When you try this version you cannot really blame him.
Ingredients
For the shortcrust pastry
220 g flour
50 g sugar
120 g butter
1 egg
For the mazarin filling
100 g marzipan
100 g powdered sugar
100 g butter
2 tbsp flour
100 g ground almonds
2 eggs
For the icing
100 g chocolate
50 g Amarena cherries
50 g hazelnuts
Preparation
Mix flour and sugar for the shortcrust pastry
Chop the cold butter in flour and rub it in until it resembles breadcrumbs
Use the egg and if necessary a little water to bind the dough together.
Roll the pastry out between two layers of clingfilm
Remove one layer of clingfilm and use the other to place the pastry in a greased pie tin
Line the pie tin with the pastry and cut off the edges.
Now prepare the filling
Mix marzipan with powdered sugar.
Add butter flour and ground almonds.
Stir in one egg at a time.
Fill the shortcrust pastry with marzipan filling.
Bake the pie at 175 C/ 350 F for 20-25 minutes.
Chop and melt the chocolate over a hot water bath.
Roast the hazelnuts in a war oven for 5 minutes until you can rub off the skin.
Spread melted chocolate over the cake and decorate with hazelnuts and Amarena cherries.
Delectable alternatives to the chocolate cherry cake
I’m sure the decoration and topping could be handled more skillfully , but I promise it does not subtract from the taste of this chocolate cherry cake
Sounds sinful and divine!