Chocolate chestnut bourbon torte

---------- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.05
  
       Title: CHOCOLATE CHESTNUT BOURBON TORTE
  Categories: Cakes
       Yield: 16 Servings
  
       6    Eggs; separated
       2    Egg yolks
   1 1/2 c  Sugar
     1/3 c  Sugar
       4 tb Bourbon
       2 ts Bourbon
   2 1/2 c  Pureed unsweetened
            - chestnuts
     3/4 c  Ground pecans
            Pecan pieces for garnish
       2 ts Instant coffee
       6 tb Chilled butter; cut into
            - small pieces
   1 1/2 oz Bitter chocolate; chopped
     3/4 lb Bittersweet chocolate
   3 1/2 c  Whipping cream
     1/2 c  Confectioners' sugar
  
   1. Make the cake: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 2 nine-inch
   cake pans. Beat 6 egg yolks well. Stir in 1 1/2 cups sugar and 1 1/2
   teaspoons bourbon, then blend in 2 cups chestnut purEe. Stir in ground
   pecans. Whip egg whites with a pinch of salt until stiff. Fold whites into
   the batter. Divide the mixture between the two cake pans and bake for 25
   minutes. Cool on a cake rack, then remove from the pans.
   
   2. Make the filling: Beat the 2 egg yolks with  1/3 cup sugar. Add instant
   coffee and 1 tablespoon hot water. Beat chilled butter into mixture, then
   add 1/2 teaspoon bourbon and remaining 1/2 cup chestnut puree. Stir in
   chopped bitter chocolate. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
   
   3. Melt bittersweet chocolate with heavy cream over low heat. Stir in 2
   tablespoons bourbon, transfer to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and
   refrigerate.
   
   4. To assemble the cake, spread the chilled chestnut filling atop one cake
   layer and cover with the other. Cover the torte with the chocolate icing
   and sprinkle the top with chopped pecan pieces. Chill before serving.
   Meanwhile, prepare a bourbon chantilly to pass at the table. Whip the 2
   cups of cream to soft peaks, gradually beat in the confectioner's sugar and
   then fold in 2 tablespoons bourbon.
   
   From Louisville chef and caterer Kathy Cary. Chicago Tribune 11/14/93.
  
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