Peanut Butter Torte

I know, I know...I blatantly and shamelessly copied the clever and creative bloggers that photoshop the title of the dessert on their photos but it looked like so much fun! I'm sorry...I promise it was just this one time!

(embarrassing.)

But, the Peanut Butter Torte. It was chosen by Elizabeth of Ugg Smell Food for this weeks Tuesdays with Dorie. It was really fun to make and it is a STUNNER! This baby would be gorgeous in a display case...it looks so tempting and sinful, really. I could see it being a huge crowd pleaser, too. But if I'm being honest... I have to say it wasn't my personal favorite. I really value the highest quality ingredients in the foods I cook and bake, and unnatural peanut butter and Oreos don't really make my heart flutter.

HOWEVER... I just got off the phone with the family I babysit for, who are all chowing down on it as I type and they LOVE it! So, it's definitely a hit :)

Peanut Butter Torte

1 ¼ c. finely chopped salted peanuts (for the filling, crunch and topping)

2 teaspoons sugar

½ teaspoon instant espresso powder (or finely ground instant coffee)

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg

½ c. mini chocolate chips (or finely chopped semi sweet chocolate)

24 Oreo cookies, finely crumbed or ground in a food processor or blender

½ stick (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted and cooled

Small pinch of salt

2 ½ c. heavy cream

1 ¼ c confectioners’ sugar, sifted

12 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

1 ½ c salted peanut butter – crunchy or smooth (not natural; I use Skippy)

2 tablespoons whole milk

4 ounces bittersweet chocolate finely chopped

Getting ready:

Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter a 9-inch Springform pan and place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment or a silicone mat.

Toss ½ cup of the chopped peanuts, the sugar, espresso powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and chocolate chops together in a small bowl. Set aside.

Put the Oreo crumbs, melted butter and salt in another small bowl and stir with a fork just until crumbs are moistened. Press the crumbs evenly over the bottom and up the sides of the spring form pan (they should go up about 2 inches on the sides). Freeze the crust for 10 minutes.

Bake the crust for 10 minutes, then transfer it to a rack and let it cool completely before filling.

Working with a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, whip 2 cups of the cream until it holds medium peaks. Beat in ¼ cup of the confectioners’ sugar and whip until the cream holds medium-firm peaks. Crape the cream into a bowl and refrigerate until needed.

Wipe out (do not wash) the bowl, fit the stand mixer with the paddle attachment if you have one, or continue with the hand mixer, and beat the cream cheese with the remaining 1 cup confectioners’ sugar on medium speed until the cream cheese is satiny smooth. Beat in the peanut butter, ¼ cup of the chopped peanuts and the milk.

Using a large rubber spatula, gently stir in about one quarter of the whipped cream, just to lighten the mousse. Still working with the spatula, stir in the crunchy peanut mixture, then gingerly fold in the remaining whipped cream.

Scrape the mouse into the crust, mounding and smoothing the top. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight; cover with plastic wrap as soon as the mousse firms.

To Finish the Torte:

Put the chopped chocolate in a heatproof bowl and set the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Leave the bowl over the water just until the chocolate softens and starts to melt, about 3 minutes; remove the bowl from the saucepan.

Bring the remaining ½ cup cream to a full boil. Pour the cream over the chocolate and, working with a rubber spatula, very gently stir together until the ganache is completely blended and glossy.

Pour the ganache over the torte, smoothing it with a metal icing spatula. Scatter the remaining ½ cup peanuts over the top and chill to set the topping, about 20 minutes.

When the ganache is firm, remove the sides of the Springform pan; it’s easiest to warm the pan with a hairdryer, and then remove the sides, but you can also wrap a kitchen towel damped with hot water around the pan and leave it there for 10 seconds. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Comments

[mary]

you should be embarrassed! no, i'm kidding...and to be honest, i am jealous of those people myself. your torte is beautiful in all of it's frightening processed and unnatural glory=) hey, at least it's a crowd pleaser and your reputation has not been tarnished.....see you in like 10 days!

[Caitlin]

Very pretty! I've been tempted to do the title on the pic thing too.. just a lil confession :)

[Octavine Illustration]

what a gorgeous blog you have! the peanut butter torte looks amazing and scrolling down i found all sorts of great treats i will beg my husband to make (he's the chef, i'm the menu planner!). cheers!~

[CB]

I LOLed about photoshopping the title on your picture. I think stealing the idea too but then I get lazy! Your torte looks delish. Bummer its not your favorite but at least your family liked it! :)
Clara @ I♥food4thought

[Heather]

Great job! Looks delicious!

[steph (whisk/spoon)]

sooo many people are putting titles on their pics now, i wonder if i should stop! just kidding...i have done it since my first recipe post, and i really like choosing a font that in my dorky view matches the dessert or the picture. and your torte is a stunner...i confess to enjoying a little highly processed junk every now and again!

[Kelly]

Your torte is absolutely gorgeous.

[Sarah]

Your torte turned out great! Fantastic job!

[Carrie]

I was also disappointed to read oreos and unnatural pb in the recipe... but I was really excited that we made the whipped cream in the recipe rather than just buying it (tastes so much better homemade)!

[Elizabeth Mackey]

Once again you did a wonderful job!! I'm with you on the ingredients though. For years I stopped eating peanut butter,because it gave me instant heart burn. Then I tried some organic peanut butter from Whole Foods 365 brand, and I'm in heaven now because it never gives me any problems. My daughter loves the chocolate/peanut butter combo,so maybe I'll try this one for her.

[Elizabeth Mackey]

Once again you did a wonderful job!! I'm with you on the ingredients though. For years I stopped eating peanut butter,because it gave me instant heart burn. Then I tried some organic peanut butter from Whole Foods 365 brand, and I'm in heaven now because it never gives me any problems. My daughter loves the chocolate/peanut butter combo,so maybe I'll try this one for her.

[kim]

your torte is so beautiful! i love how the edges are so clean and straight, it looks very professional :) also, i am glad to see other people agree with me about the skippy and oreos!!

[Shari]

Looks perfect, as usual!

[Tartelette]

Looks absolutely stunning! I love your header,simple and yummy!

[Dianne]

Your torte looks great and your photos are just wonderful!

[Anne]

I love your photos... I'm sure it was tasty notwithstanding the oreos! :)

[Cheryl]

Nice job! I agree, wasn't it a beautiful dessert???

[anamika: the sugarcrafter]

dear maple sugar
visiting your blog for the first time and am impressed by your work and very good visual appeal. very good work,indeed !

[Christi from Charm & Grace]

Not a big peanut butter fan myself (especially not the hydrogenated version... all natural for us), but the rest of my family would be drooling all over my computer right now if they saw this thing. I think I'll keep it to myself!

Gorgeous.

[Ashley]

Wow it looks beautiful! I didn't have time to make it but I will have to after finals!

[Cecilia]

I'm not a fan of peanut butter mixed with anything (I like it straight out of the jar), but your torte looks so yummy that I want a slice of it pronto.

I've never been a fan of titling food photos, but I think it works here. I think it's because the wording kind of blends in and doesn't precede the center of the picture--your torte.

[Melissa]

I always think of putting the title on my pictures, but then I'm too lazy...so congrats on not being lazy like me!!!

[Rebecca]

That top pic is hot! But doesn't this dessert remind you of something that would be at T.G.I. Friday's? I'm just saying.

[mari]

I have to agree with you Rebekka, this dessert didn't make my heart flutter at all. It's just way too over the top, but not in a decadent, I used the finest quality ingredients kinda way. I made mine and sent it to my boyfriend's office, they're computer games developers and will eat anything with sugar...LOL!

[Sophie A.]

I'm so sorry I haven't dropped by in so long! I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day. My hubby would really love this PB torte, it looks gorgeous. I always get this really warm feeling whenever I visit your blog! Your pictures are elegant but very cozy :D.