Chestnut Tartlet 小栗子撻

These bite sized mini tarts are perfect to be served at a party without the hassle and mess of cutting a whole tart. Many people seem to enjoy finger foods more! The tart crust can be prepared one to two days ahead of time and the filling can be piped in the same day of serving.

Chestnut Cake Roll 栗子蛋糕卷

It's been a while since my last post on making cakes. I couldn't believe it's been that long--on July 16, 2012, the post on Match Mousse Cake was my last cake recipe. Almost a year has passed! Does it mean that I have not enjoyed having cake for the past 10 months? No way! It just means that there are other recipes or dishes that I would like to post more of. 

If you browse my recipe index, you would find 32 posts under the category of "cakes". That is quite a number. They are all my beloved cakes.

If you are a regular reader, you would notice that I am a chestnut lover. This is my 4th post relating to chestnuts already. Just like chocolate, I can't get enough of it. 

Mont Blanc 蒙布朗

It is not the fine writing pen you are thinking of (if you Google the term, it is what comes up on the first page). It is the highest mountain in the Alps. A pastry chef (not sure he was French or Italian. Probably French.) was inspired by it to create this famous dessert in the fifteenth century. It has a cake base with Chantilly cream in the middle, topped with a creamy chestnut puree. Since it has a long history, many different versions or variations are available. The Japanese have made it with pumpkin and taro puree. However, I still prefer to make the original with yummy chestnut puree.

Chestnut Cake with Bavarian Cream 小型栗子蛋糕

I must be nuts...more chestnut. After the mango fever this summer, I am nuts about chestnut in the winter. After the previous chestnut cake and the chocolate chestnut cake , I am onto another recipe with Bavarian cream. Instead of a big 8 or 9 inch cake this time, a mini version like petite four is made. Although there is more work involved, it is very worthwhile. It is what making desserts is all about: dedication, hard work and "heart" work. If you put your heart into it, it will blossom into something that is enjoyable. Then all the hard work is rewarded.

Chestnut Cake 栗子蛋糕

Last year I made a Chocolate Chestnut Cake for my birthday. Although it is not my birthday yet, I made this chestnut cake with a different recipe for my friend's birthday. This is a three-layer butter cake made with chestnut puree. In addition, I put whipping cream with chestnut puree inbetween the layers and also for decoration.

Chocolate Chestnut Cake 朱古力栗子蛋糕

I'm glad that my birthday is in winter because it is the season for chestnuts. Chestnut cream cake is my favorite cake second to chocolate cake. I can't really find a bakery that makes good chestnut cake around my area. It either doesn't have much chestnut in it or the chestnut doesn't taste like chestnut at all  : (

I've tried making my own chestnut puree, but it is just too much work: crack open the outer skin, boil the chestnut and remove the inner skin (that's the most tedious part) then puree it...