Chocolate Chestnut Cakes

Chestnuts are very low in fat (~1%), very low in sodium and are free of gluten, oil and cholesterol. Chocolate, on the other hand, is not! But brought together they make the basis for these delicious cakes.

If you are having a hard time finding chestnut puree, check your local delicatessens.

INGREDIENTS:
3 eggs
85 gm caster sugar
50 gm (1/3 cup) cornflour
25 gm (¼ cup) Dutch-process cocoa, plus extra for dusting
1 tsp cream of tartar
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 tbsp plain flour
40gm unsalted butter, melted
½ cup thickened cream
¼ cup sweetened chestnut purée

For the chocolate sauce:
200 gm dark chocolate, chopped
50 gm unsalted butter


PREPARATION:
1. Whisk eggs and sugar until mixture holds a trail. Sift cornflour, cocoa, cream of tartar, bicarbonate of soda and flour over egg mixture and, using a spatula, gently fold in, then add melted butter and fold in until combined. Spoon mixture into two 18x26cm baking paper-lined swiss roll pans and bake at 180C for 12 minutes or until cakes spring back when lightly touched. Stand cakes for 3 minutes before turning out onto wire racks to cool.

2. Using an electric mixer, whisk cream until soft peaks form, then stir in chestnut purée until combined. Using a 7cm-round pastry cutter, cut 12 rounds from sponge, then spread 6 rounds with chestnut cream, top with remaining rounds and refrigerate for 5 minutes or until firm.

3. For chocolate sauce, melt chocolate in a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, add butter and stir until smooth.

4. Serve cakes, dusted with cocoa and drizzled with chocolate sauce. Cakes will keep, refrigerated, in an airtight container for up to 3 days.


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Mango Cheesecakes

This citrus-ey cheesecake is very creamy and light; the individual serve makes them look extra special. If fresh mangoes are out of season or are otherwise difficult to get, substitute with canned mango pulp. Serve with a lime wedge to further the hint of the tropics.

INGREDIENTS:
125 gm shortbread biscuits
1 tsp ground ginger
30 gm butter, melted
250 gm mascarpone
300 gm cream cheese, softened
90 gm golden caster sugar
120 gm mango flesh, coarsely chopped
2 eggs
1 egg yolk
2 limes, juice only
2 mangoes

PREPARATION:
Preheat oven to 150C. Process biscuits and ground ginger in a food processor until finely ground, add butter and mix to combine. Press biscuit mixture into the bases of six 7.5cm-diameter x 6cm-high ring moulds. Place on a baking paper-lined oven tray and refrigerate until required.

Combine mascarpone, cream cheese, sugar, mango flesh, eggs, egg yolk and lime juice in a food processor and process until smooth, then spoon mixture over biscuit base and smooth top. Bake for 20 minutes or until just set. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until completely cold.

To serve, remove cheesecakes from moulds. Thinly slice mango and layer in overlapping slices over top of cheesecake. Serve immediately with lime cheeks.

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