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CHOCOLATE, DATE & ALMOND TORTE - TM



Nice gluten-free cake. This recipe is for the Thermomix but it can be easily adapted by using a food processor. The cake is quite dense, and it is nice served with vanilla ice-cream or just some sour cream on the side. Excellent with a nice coffee.

Ingredients
95gr white sugar
95gr brown sugar
200gr dark chocolate, broken into pieces
200gr raw almonds
250gr pitted dates
1 Tbs cornflour
220gr (6) egg whites
50gr dark chocolate, extra for drizzling
1/4 cup flaked almonds, toasted
cherries or other fruit to decorate

Method
Preheat oven to 190C.
Grease a 22 - centimetre springform tin and line it with baking paper.


Place the white and brown sugar in the TM bowl. Process 10 seconds / speed 8. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside.
Place chocolate in TM bowl and process 4 seconds / speed 7. Set aside in a bowl large enough for the entire final mixture.
Place the almonds in the TM bowl and process 8 seconds / speed 7. Add to the bowl with the chocolate.
Place the dates in TM bowl and process 2 seconds / speed 7. Transfer to the chocolate and almond bowl.
Add the cornflour to chocolate, almond and date mixture and toss together.


Clean the TM bowl with a mixture of water and vinegar and dry thoroughly. Place the egg whites in TM bowl and insert the butterfly whisk. Whip 5 minutes / 37 degrees / speed 3.
Set the TM 4 minutes / 37 degrees / speed 4 and add the sugars gradually through the lid, taking the whole time to incorporate them.
Remove the butterfly whisk. Scrape the egg mixture onto the chocolate, almonds and dates, then fold everything together using a large spoon or spatula.  


Turn the mixture into the prepared tin and bake in the centre of the oven at 190C for 30 minutes, then lower the temperature to 160C fir a further 15 minutes.


Allow the torte to cool in the tin.


Once is cooled, transfer to a serving platter. Cover with the flaked almonds and then drizzle with the melted dark chocolate. (I melted the chocolate in the microwave for about 1 - 2 minutes).


Arrange the cherries or other fruit, if using, on top. Serve cut into wedges.


Serves 12 - 16

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