Scotch and Chocolate

It's pretty much a guarantee that if we're friends, I will bake your favorite dessert for you on your birthday, if you're in decent proximity to me. Since it was my birthday on Monday, I got to bake for me! Almost everyone loves chocolate, except for the people who are allergic and the insane. Jk. <3 Anyway, one of the best cookies I have ever tasted comes from a little bakery where I used to live in Weaverville, NC called Well-Bred Bakery. They have many amazing cookies and desserts and other savory items but their chocolate orange cookie is by far my favorite. They also have cream puffs as big as your head. No really, bring four friends and you'll all still take some home for later. I would love to think that I could replicate their cookie recipe but it would probably take many attempts and I wouldn't be enjoying it in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. However, I was inspired when I thought of the richness of dark chocolate and sweet orange in torte form, with a little scotch thrown in for good measure. I mean, scotch and chocolate...what's not to love?

I looked up a basic recipe for a flour-less chocolate torte and went from there. Here is Emril's recipe for his chocolate torte that a started with:

1/2 lb butter

1 lb semi sweet chocolate coarsely chopped

1/4 c of amaretto (I omitted this)

8 large eggs

1/4 c of sugar

1 tsp of vanilla

1/2 tsp of salt

confectioner sugar or cocoa powder for garnish

(I ended up making a ganache for the top instead.)

I added a 1/4 c of orange juice, a tablespoon of orange zest and a half cup of Jameson.

The ganache I attempted was simple:

4 ounces of heavy cream

7 ounces of semi sweet or dark chocolate coarsely chopped

1 and 1/2 tablespoons of corn syrup

1/2 tsp of vanilla

I also made a pistachio graham crust.

1 c of graham crumbs
1/4 c of melted butter
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c of chopped pistachios

If you are curious of the process and specific directions let me know and I'll post them too. Here are some photos for you to enjoy!

Ingredient assembly

Make shift double boiler

choppin' chocolate

pistachio-graham crust

before baking

you better believe there was bowl licking

too much left over = mini tortes!

So freakin' delicious. These we ate warm right out of the oven because we couldn't stand it.

Melting chocolate and cream.

like butta only better. 

I miss you florida citrus. 

garnished!