This is a layered torte — 14 cinnamon-scented cookies layered with chocolate whipped cream. It’s another clasic from the Telerama days—I first made it for Doug’s birthday in 1992. It was a great success became the “fancy dessert” of choice anytime Doug was involved in a celebration. It takes a bit of effort and a good deal of time, but it is worth it!
Delectable Cookie Torte
2 c sugar
1.5 c butter, softened
2 eggs
2 T cinnamon
2.5 c flour
3 sq. semisweet choclate
4 c whipping cream
3/4 c cocoa
Cookies: Tear off 14 sheets of waxed paper. Onto one, trace the bottom of a 9” cake pan. Stack the sheets up, and cut out along the traced circle.
In a large bowl, mix sugar, butter, eggs, cinnamon and 2 cups of flour with a mixer on low speed until blended. Increase speed to medium and beat three minutes or until very light and fluffy. With a spoon, stir in the remaining flour to make a soft dough.
Moisten 1 or 2 large cookies sheets with a damp towel so that the waxed paper will stick to them. Place one or 2 circles on the sheets and spread with about 1/3 cup of dough. Bake at 375 for 8 - 12 minutes or until lightly brown around the edges.
Allow to cool on tray for 5 minutes, then remove from tray with the waxed paper still on the cookies. Repeat process until all dough is used. At this point you can store the cookies until needed by stacking them and covering with plastic wrap.
Filling: Beat cream and cocoa until soft peaks form.
Construction: Carefully peel off the waxed paper from one cookie. On your nicest cake plate, place the cookie and spread with about 1/2 cup of whipped cream. Repeat with all the cookies, ending with cream on top. Grate the semisweet chocolate squares and pile on top of torte.
Next is the most frustrating part: chill the torte for three hours. This helps to soften the cookies and makes them easier to serve.
Variation: Substitute 1/2 of the white sugar with brown and add 1/2 bag of mini chocolate chips to the dough, omitting the cinnamon. Fill with plain (or chocolate) whipped cream and top with remaining chocolate chips. The dough does not spread as easily and you will have fewer cookies (10 or 11 instead of 14).
Posted by kuri at December 22, 2005 10:30 AMyes, this thing totally rocked. i can still taste it.
Posted by: doug on January 11, 2006 01:09 PMIt won’t be too long before you can teach your children to make it for you, Doug. They will love the whipped cream bit, I always did. ;-)
Posted by: Kristen on January 12, 2006 11:16 AMThat sounds positively yummy. Will defintiely try it.
Posted by: MM on January 20, 2006 05:45 AM