Ricotta Almond Torte

Photo: flickr user norwichnuts

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups ground toasted almonds

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

cooled

2/3 cup sugar

1/4 cup water

20 whole almonds (garnish)

2 3/4 cups Ricotta cheese

1/4 cup + 2 tbsp. sugar

1 tablespoon creme de cacao

1 tablespoon Amaretto liqueur

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup creme fraiche or lightly whipped cream

3 tablespoons grated chocolate

Preparation

CRUST: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter 9" springform pan. Grease small baking sheet. Combine ground almonds, 1/4 cup sugar and butter in large bowl and mix well. Press almond mixture into bottom and sides of prepared pan. Bake 10 minutes. Cool.

Combine 2/3 cup sugar and water in small heavy saucepan and cook over low heat until sugar is dissolved. Increase heat to medium high and cook until caramelized (mixture should be rich medium brown). Remove from heat and quickly dip and swirl whole almonds in caramel. Transfer to prepared baking sheet. Set aside for garnish. Quickly pour remaining syrup over crust. Let cool about 30 minutes.

FILLING: Combine Ricotta, sugar, creme de cacao, Amaretto and vanilla in processor and blend until smooth and creamy; do not over process. Gently blend in creme fraiche. Fold in chocolate. Transfer to crust and freeze torte for at least two hours. Just before serving, loosen crust from pan using sharp knife; remove springform.

NOTE; This recipe looks wonderful decorated with chocolate leaves.

LEAVES: Melt 3 ounces semi sweet chocolate and 1 teaspoon butter in top of double boiler. Stir until smooth. Using a spoon or spatula, generously coat UNDERSIDE of camellia (or other waxy type) leaves. Refrigerate or freeze until firm. Gently peel leaf from chocolate, staring at stem end.