“That’s insane”. Those were the only words I could utter when I tasted my friend Hande’s Walnut Wedges of Decadence (one of the best things I ate in 2011). She had brought her signature Thanksgiving dessert to our traditional turkey dinner, where normally a pumpkin pie (or, in my sick world, ambrosia) take the cake. But the disk of pâte brisée layered with walnuts, chocolate and a sort of caramel filling took us all by surprise. To look at it in the pan, it didn’t look like much more than a flat brown disk. But what it lacked in superficial impact, it made up for in its deranged and compelling flavor combinations, the kind that haunt your dreams. Bitter dark chocolate mingled with a strong caraway seed flavor; the brittle butter crust gave way to the nutty creamy sweet filling. Though I somehow doubt my attempts to replicate it will fall short, I’ll still try, using Hande’s recipe or the Delicious Days variation as a guide.
janie
January 4th, 2012 at 5:04 pm
Thanks Katie for sharing this recipe-it’s right up my alley-chocolate, nuts and that creamy filling-wow!
Leesie
January 4th, 2012 at 6:11 pm
Now that speaks to me and looks absolutely decadent!
Thanks for sharing. I will give it a try soon.
Leesie Bruzzo
twitter aka seaslife
Jake
January 5th, 2012 at 2:37 am
Ambrosia…. Hahahahah
Katie
January 6th, 2012 at 7:14 pm
@janie it is seriously so ridiculous. i was so happy when there were leftovers from thanksgiving dinner. i ate them til they were gone
@leesie do try it out and report back:)
@jake ambrosia is so gross, in theory and practice. but i just can’t help it. im obsessed with it. the whole family is.
Katie
January 9th, 2012 at 6:44 am
Reader Sheilah Kaufman asked for conversions of Hande’s recipe and i have done my best to summarize them here. Using a scale rather than measuring cups is preferable for a more accurate recipe, however.
all purpose flour, 1.5 cups or 6.4 oz
brown sugar, just under 2/3 cup or 3.9 oz
just shy of 1 stick of butter (110g out of a 113g stick) (very cold and cut into pieces/cubes)
salt, pinch
for the filling:
walnuts, 1 1/3 cups (toasted and coarsely chopped)
cream, 1 cup or 8 fluid ounces or half a pint (not positive about this one)
sugar, 1/2 cup
brown sugar, 1/3 cup
honey, 3 tbsp
butter, 3 tbsp
bourbon whiskey, 2 tbsp
orange peel, 3 tsp
caraway seeds, 1 tsp
aniseed, 1 tsp
salt, 1 tsp
for the topping:
dark chocolate (70%), 3.5 oz (broken into little pieces, or use chips)
Heat the oven to 350°F.
Nevine
January 9th, 2012 at 10:22 pm
I’ve been making the Delicious Days variation for a few years and it’s always a massive hit. It’s actually incredibly easy to make compared to how heavenly it tastes. Enjoy
Justine
January 30th, 2012 at 1:17 pm
After all of the travels I will get back in the kitchen to try this! Thanks Hande!