Short description:

Long description:

With layer upon layer of rich, dense cake and delicate buttercream subtly flavored with fruit, chocolate, or nuts, classic European tortes crown the pinnacle of Old World baking. Make them with the freshest produce of the fields and orchards of Texas—oranges, peaches, pecans, raspberries, blueberries, plums, apricots, figs, strawberries, and kiwis—and you will discover the New World's ultimate desserts.

In this cookbook, Master Baker Arthur L. Meyer presents forty-three original, kitchen-tested recipes for fruit, nut, and chocolate tortes, cassate, tarts and pies, cheesecakes, and other classic European desserts. The recipes take advantage of fresh Texas ingredients, and each recipe contains clear, easy-to-follow instructions that demystify the processes involved in creating these desserts.

In addition to the recipes, Meyer guides the home baker through the basic steps in producing tart and cheesecake crusts, fillings and icings, and other standard components of special desserts. Throughout the book, he gives tips on proper techniques and equipment drawn from many years of experience.

Table of Contents:

• Foreword by Alain LeNôtre
• Introduction
• Getting Started
• Basics
  • Pâté Brisé
  • Tart Dough
  • Cheesecake Crust Dough
  • Genoise
  • Chocolate Genoise
  • Basic Chocolate Cake
  • Buttercream Base
  • Chocolate Base
  • Chocolate Ganache
  • Old-Fashioned Chocolate Frosting
  • Crispy Pecans
• Fruit Tortes
  • Blueberry Lemon Yogurt Cake
  • Strawberry Mango Charlotte Russe Cake
  • Babba's Apple Cake
  • Hill Country Peach Pavé
  • Apple Walnut Torte
  • Banana Chocolate Chip Cake
• Nut Tortes
  • Native Pecan Praline Torte
  • Espresso Coffee Torte
  • Texas Wildflower Honey Spice Cake
  • Grand Marnier Torte
  • Pistachio White Chocolate Torte
• Chocolate Tortes
  • Texas Truffle Cake
  • Extra-Fat Chocolate Cake
  • Belgian Chocolate Torte
  • Chocolate Intemperance
  • Sachertorte
  • Chocolate Rum Pecan Torte
  • Chocolate Giandua Torte
• Cassate
  • Cassata Bella
  • Cappucino Cassata
  • Chocolate Cassata
  • Neapolitan Cassata
• Tarts and Pies
  • Clarksville Lemon Almond Tart
  • Linzertorte
  • Crostata di Nocino
  • Appeltaart
  • Jalapeño Pecan Pie
  • Bourbon Macadamia Pie
  • Fudge Pecan Pie
  • Apple Chevre Pie
  • Double Fudge Chocolate Cream Pie
• Cheesecakes
  • Manhattan Cheesecake
  • Pecan Acres Pumpkin Pecan Cheesecake
  • Macadamia White Chocolate Cheesecake
  • Frangelico Cheesecake
  • Italian Cheesecake
  • Mission Citrus Cheesecake
  • Raspberry Harlequin Cheesecake
• Other Desserts
  • Chocolate Terrine with Ginger Creme Anglaise
  • Huajillo Honey Mango Rum Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce
  • Thai Coconut Custard Cake
  • Fresh Strawberry Napoleons
  • Buche de Noel
• Appendix I. Icing and Decorating Techniques
• Appendix II. Miscellaneous Techniques
• Appendix III. Recommended Equipment