Truffle Torte

Sherrie-pie's Note:

Delia Smith says this is the best chocolate dessert she's eaten in years. The recipe was given to her by the chef at the Athenaeum Hotel in Piccadilly, London. Oh, and she says it is easy to make. It can be made a few days in advance and it freezes well. You can buy liquid glucose at a chemist. This needs overnight chilling. It's very rich, so serve small portions. The system won't allow amaretti biscuits, but that's what they are.

• Total Time: 35 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 5 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 1 torte

• 5 tablespoons liquid glucose
• 5 tablespoons rum
• 450 g chocolate
• 570 ml double cream, at room temperature
• 75 g amaretti, crushed finely

To serve

• cocoa powder, for dusting
• chilled single cream, for pouring

Directions:

1. Line a 23 cm cake tin, lined with silicone paper. Brush the sides and base lightly with groundnut oil.
2. Sprinkle the crushed biscuits all over the base of the tin.
3. Next break the chocolate into sections and put it in a heat proof bowl, with the liquid glucose and the rum. Fit the bowl over a pan of barely simmering water, then leave it until the chocolate has melted and become smooth. Stir, then take off the heat and leave the mixture to cool for five minutes or so until it feels just warm.
4. In a separate bowl, beat the cream until only very slightly thickened.
5. 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.
6. Tap the tin gently to even the mixture out, cover with clingfilm and chill overnight.
7. 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.
8. To serve, dust the surface with sifted cocoa powder and, if you like, mark the top into serving sections. Serve with cream. If you like, add a couple of tablespoons of amaretti liqueur to the cream.

Reviews

[Rainbow*Bubbles]

This torte really is amazing! My mum makes it for any dinner party/event she goes to and everyone loves it. When me and my brother were little, we used to really look forward to when Mum had people round because we could eat the leftover torte (it's very, very rich so you can only eat a little at a time, which makes you feel good because you're not eating loads!). It's easy to make- I used to help Mum make it when I was growing up. Delia's recipes are normally really good, but this is the best!

[Jo C]

I can't remember which of Delia's books this was in, but I've made it several times. It is very good and very easy. Liquid glucose is easier to find these days, often it's in the health food section of supermarkets. If you like chocolate, give this recipe a try. you can't go wrong!