Ingredients
- 12 hazelnuts
- 10 eggs
- 10 springform (pan)
- 8 egg whites
- 6 egg yolks
- 3 round baking (pan)
- 1 lb belgian bittersweet
- 2 c sugar
- 1 1/2 c flour
- 6 oz belgian bittersweet
- 5/8 c whipping cream (garnish)
- 3/8 c egg (white)
- 1/2 c almonds
- 4 tb cocoa powder
- 1 tb butter
- 1 slice almonds
lightly touched and a toothpick comes out clean. Cool thoroughly. Remove from pan. Mousse: Melt chocolate in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Remove pan from the heat and cool. Beat in the egg yolks, one at a time. Beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Lightly fold a quarter of the beaten egg whites into the chocolate. Fold in the remaining egg whites, lightly but thoroughly. Chill. Ganache: Heat chocolate and cream together in the top of the double boiler over simmering water until the chocolate melts. Blend well. Assembly: Spoon half the ganache over the meringue layer in the pan and smooth evenly over the surface. Cut the chocolate Genoise into two 1/4" slices, reserving the rest of the cake for another use. Place one slice over the ganache and meringue layer. Cover with about half the mousse. Top with the second layer of cake. Spoon the remaining mousse over the cake and chill until set, at least four to six hours. Just before serving, spoon remaining ganache on the cake. Carefully line the sides of the cake with chopped toasted almonds. Decorate the top with hazelnut roses by placing the whole hazelnuts evenly around the top of the cake, then place almond slices around each hazelnut to resemble petals.