*  Exported from  MasterCook  *

                         RUSSIAN CHOCOLATE TORT

Recipe By     :
Serving Size  : 6    Preparation Time :0:00
Categories    : Desserts                         Chocolate

 Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  1       c            Softened butter
  2       c            Sugar
  4                    Eggs--seperated
    1/2   c            Heavy cream
  1       c            Mashed potatos
  1       c            Ground almonds
  4       oz           Unsweetened
                       -chocolate--melted
  1       t            Pure vanilla extract
  2       ts           Rum
  1       t            Cinnamon
  1 1/2   c            Unbleached white flour
  2       ts           Baking powder
                       FROSTING:
  3       tb           Butter--softened
  1 1/2   c            Powdered sugar--sifted
  2       tb           Strong, warm freshly brewed
                       -coffee
  1       oz           Unsweetened
                       -chocolate--melted
  1       tb           Strong, dark rum
    1/2   ts           Pure vanilla extract
                       FILLING:
    1/2   c            Raspberry butter OR jam OR
                       -1/2 cup stewed dried
                       -apricots--pureed
 16                    Whole almonds or 1/2 cup
                       -slivered almonds.

 CAKE:

 Preheat oven to 325 F. Generously butter and flour a
 10-inch springform pan.  Cream together the butter and
 sugar. Beat in the egg yolks, one at a time, and then
 add the next 4 ingredients, beating until smooth. Mix
 in the vanilla and rum.  Sift together the cinnamon,
 flour and baking powder and add to the batter, mixing
 well.

 Beat the egg whites until stiff--BUT NOT DRY--and fold
 them into the batter. Pour the batter into the pan and
 bake for 1 1/2 hours or till a knife inserted in the
 center comes out clean.  Allow the cake to cool for
 about 15 minutes in the pan, then slide a knife
 between the sides of the cake and the detachable side
 of the springform pan. Remove the pan.

 While the cake is cooling, prepare the frosting. Cream
 together the butter and powdered sugar. Add the rest
 of the ingredients and beat till smooth. When the cake
 is cool, carefully slice it in half horozontally and
 spread the jam or cooked apricots between the layers.
 Reassemble the cake and spread the frosting on the top
 and sides.  If you wish--decorate with almonds.



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