If you want a show-stopping dessert this is it. If you want a quick and easy treat this is NOT it. Luckily I had a party this week so I was in need of a fabulous dessert. With lots of dishes and ingredients, this week’s Tuesdays with Dorie selection, the Cherry-Fudge Brownie Torte, certainly fit the bill.
It’s a souped-up brownie with a hint of spice from coarsely-ground black pepper and liquored-up dried tart cherries. I love liquored-up dried fruit recipes because you get to set them on fire. Fun times.
The torte is topped with a vanilla-flavored creamy mascarpone mousse. I decorated the top with sprinkled cocoa powder and chopped and whole chocolate-covered cherries.
The torte was so successful that it disappeared before I could try it. My guests loved it and really dug the surprise of the black pepper.
The pizza party was also a success. All the guests had a fabulous time and can’t wait for my next party in January. Unfortunately, I didn’t take good pictures during the party. I was so busy rolling out dough and watching the oven. It was interesting to see the different ways people topped their pizza. Some were very methodical and took a along time creating their pizza, others were very haphazard.
The Dessert Spread, before party
I made 6 different types of pizza dough (which I divided into 5 oz individual pizza size ) and 4 different sauces. I provided some toppings and guests were told to bring their favorite toppings. We baked most on my pizza stone, but we also made a few pan-style.
The Dessert Spread, after party
Thank you to April of Short + Rose for hosting this week’s selection. In addition to being a fabulous baker, she is also an avid gardener and crafter. I love reading about everything that comes out of her garden. If you would like the recipe for the torte visit her blog or buy the book.
Pink Stripes 
How wonderful !! The cake looks stunning and the desserts too ! I’m sure the pizza was fun an good !!
Sounds like a fun and delicious party! Love how you decorated the brownies.
Glad your pizza party turned out good! And WOW on your torte. Bummer you didn’t even get to try it, it LOOKS fabulous!
I love cherry flavored anything!
Too bad you didn’t get to try it, but that proves it was delicious! I really like how you decorated it. Great job with the dessert spread for the party too!
The cake is simply gorgeous! Glad to hear your pizza party was a success and you did a great job with the desserts!
Your cake looks delicious! I love, love, love those chocolate covered cherries…
Il est franchement de toute beauté ! c’est vraiment très réussi 🙂
Thank you SO much for baking with me this week! I’m so glad everyone like it too, it looks amazing. I’m kicking myself for not thinking of decorating my top with cherries. And what a fantastic looking dessert spread, wow!
That was some party! And judging from the amount of desserts leftover, it appears as though your guests liked what you made!
Sounds like a great party! I was digging the black pepper surprise as well…
mmmmm. looks great!
Your brownie torte looks absolutely gorgeous. So pretty. Love the decorations. Your party sounds like it was fantastic. I love pizza parties.
Your torte looks amazing!
You definitely need to invite me over to one of your parties! 😉
Your torte is a definite show stopper. WOW WOW.
So fun to hear about your party (although you really should have slept afterwards 😛 ), and I bet they loved that torte! Make your own pizza parties are just so much fun.
ok, first of all your brownie torte looks amaaaazing! Second, that dessert spread is incredible!!! I bet your guests were completely wow’d!!! Sounds like it was a great night!
Your pizza party sounds like great fun.
I really liked this torte, too, and plan on making it for Thanksgiving. It’s not a super easy recipe, but I figure I can make the brownie cake part and the mascarpone mousse a day ahead of time (which always helps) and just assemble it the morning of the holiday.
Wow that is one fancy lookin torte! sounds delicious.
Amazing! What a beautiful cake. I’m not surprised that it disappeared. Your pizza party sounds like a fun, though work-filled, idea. Glad everyone enjoyed.
What a fun party! I loved this one!
really–you didn’t get to try it? shame, becasuse it looks fabulous! love the decked out decoration!
That looks excellent and MAN! What spread of desserts! I want in on the next party. 🙂
~ingrid
Your cake looks so professional. I wish I could decorate like you. It looks like something you buy at a very expensive bakery.
your torte looks very black forrestish. what a shame you didnt get a taste – it was delicious!
Wow! Your torte looks fabulous. Definitely a showstopper!
Chocolate covered cherries – nom, nom, nom. It looks superb. Love the dessert spread at the pizza party too.
your cake looks great- what a good idea to top it with those chocolate covered cherries! it sounds like your pizza party was a huge success- I’m jealous, I’ve always wanted to do a party like that but I think I’d be too disorganized to get everyone’s pizza baked in a timely fashion! sounds like great fun!
What a fun party, Wendy! Your torte looks divine and perfect!
I’d like an invite to one of those shindigs! 😉
I think that is a very cool party idea (if a little labor-intensive for you). All those crusts and sauces sound fabulous, and I’ll bet there were some amazing combinations in your oven. I love the way your torte looks – it’s show-stopping all on its own, but in combination with the rest of the things on your dessert table? Simply amazing!
Beautiful torte, the decorating job is stunning. That sounds like a fun party with lots of yummy yummy food!
Your party pics looked awesome and love pizza party idea. I may have to steal that one.
Bummer your friends snagged it all but I am pretty sure if I was there you would have found me hiding with the whole torte devouring it.
Your party looks so fun. I love the flames shot..I am not coordinated enough to take pictures and have fire in my kitchen at the same time :).
beautifully executed! love the cherries on the top:)
it would be great if you could send in this beauty for my sweet celebrations event on my blog!:)
Sounds like a great party! Your torte looked lovely.
You host my kind of party! Look at that dessert selection! Your tort is gorgeous and I am so sorry you missed out on tasting it, because it was wonderful. What a great photo of the magnificent flambé. It was quite a fire, wasn’t it?
The torte – heck, the whole dessert spread – looks fabulous.
In the Homer style I’ll just say… arghhhh… chocolte covered cherries on top! Arghhhhh… (drool)
Holy cow, you’re not kidding about this being a show stopper of a dessert – your torte looks amazing! Sounds like the pizza party was a major success, so fun too! =)
I love how you decorated the torte. I finally made mine last night and hope to post it tonight. I liked the mousse topping best of all!
Gorgeous! How do I get invited to one of those parties….
I am so glad your party was such a hit. Not surprised. The torte looks amazing, again glad it worked well for your guest. Maybe I’ll make it afterall. Hmmm haven’t been a big cherry/chocolate fan historically. Its worth a try though right?
AmyRuth
Fabulous dessert and I just have to make one for myself! Great party you throw!
I skipped this, not intentionally, just life got in the way and I had waited until the last day to make it, so I just threw in the towel and convinced myself to just get over it. However, now that I see yours, I can so see this on a dessert buffet during the Christmas holidays, the colors are perfect. yep, doing that. It was such fun to get to hear and see your dessert buffet for your party…I am sure your guests all felt very special being presented with all this.
so pretty! I wanted to find a nice way to decorate mine like you did but ran out of time/energy.
Your party sounds like it was so much fun! I adore pizza 🙂 I’m amazed by the dessert spread – everything looks wonderful, people must have been psyched when they saw it. The torte is especially gorgeous! I missed this one but maybe another time I’ll get around to trying it.
I’m so glad that your party was such a huge success! Your torte is just stunning.
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