Truffle Torte
Serves 10
1lb (450g) dark chocolate (75% cocoa solids) – best quality possible
5 tablespoons liquid glucose 1 pint (570 ml) double cream at room temperature
5 tablespoons rum
To serve
cocoa powder for dusting
Chilled single pouring cream You will also need a 9 inch (23 cm) cake tin, lined with a circle of silicone paper (baking parchment), and the base and sides lightly brushed with groundnut oil.
Now, in a separate bowl, beat the cream until only very slightly thickened. Fold half into the chocolate mixture and then fold that mixture into the rest of the cream. When it is smoothly blended, spoon it into the prepared tin. Tap the tin gently to even the mixture out, cover with clingfilm and chill overnight.
Just before serving, run a palette knife round the edge to loosen the torte, then give it a good shake and turn the whole thing out on to a serving plate (don’t be nervous about this – it’s very well behaved). To serve, dust the surface with sifted cocoa powder and, if you like, mark the top into serving sections. Have some chilled pouring cream to go with it; if you have any, a couple of tablespoons of amaretto liqueur makes a wonderful addition to the cream.
The torte does freeze well, but since you can also make it a couple of days in advance, this doesn’t really seem necessary.
