Gluten Free Chocolate Hazelnut Raspberry Torte

Simply Delicious!!

• Ready In: 45 mins
• Serves: 10-12

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup hazelnuts, toasted, skinned, finely ground
• 1⁄2 cup sugar substitute
• 1⁄8 cup  strong coffee or 1⁄8 cup  espresso
• 4  ounces  semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 1⁄4 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  almond extract
• 2  teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1  tablespoon  rice flour
• 2⁄3 cup  raspberry spreadable fruit

• FOR THE CHOCOLATE GANACHE

• 4  ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 1⁄2 cup heavy cream
• 2  tablespoons  .unsalted butter
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 20  hazelnuts, for garnish

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F Place hazelnuts on a baking sheet, and toast for 8-10 minutes. Be careful that they don't burn. Remove from oven and place on a towel. Take another towel, place over nuts and rub gently to remove skins. Allow to cool, then place in a food processor and pulse untl finely ground. Be careful not to grind into a paste. Set aside.
2. Heat sugar, coffee and chocolate in a double boiler. Stir until chocolate melts. Set aside.
3. Place butter in mixing bowl and beat until fluffy. Add egg yolks, one at a time, mixing after each addition. Stir in chocolate mixture, almond and vanilla extract, and rice flour.
4. In a separate bowl beat egg whites, until stiff enough to hold a peak. Fold half the egg whites into the chocolate batter. Gently fold in the rest of the egg whites. Pour batter into a greased 8-inch cake pan. Bake for 30 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool.
5. Heat heavy cream, with butter, until just boiling. Turn off heat and add chocolate and vanilla, and allow to sit for 3-4 minutes, whisk until smooth.
6. Take cake out of refrigerator. Thinly spread two tablespoons of ganache over the cake, as a crumb coat. Spread raspberry jam over the top of the crumb coat. Refrigerate for 10 minutes. Place wire rack on a baking sheet. Place cake on rack and pour ganache over the cake. Evenly coat the cake using a spatula. Decorate the perimeter with whole hazelnuts, place on a plate, refrigerate until ready to serve.