Rocky Road Truffle Cake

For brownie layer, preheat oven to 350 °F (180 °C). Grease an 8-inch (20 cm) square pan and line with parchment so that paper hangs over sides of pan. Melt chocolate in a bowl over a pot of gently simmering water, stirring constantly. Cool chocolate to room temperature and stir in butter by hand until smooth. Stir in sugar gently and add eggs, one at a time, until blended. Stir in vanilla. Gently mix flour and salt into chocolate base and stir in walnuts. Scrape batter into prepared pan and bake for 19 to 22 minutes, until cake takes on a dull colour and feels firm when touched. Allow to cool completely.

For marshmallow layer, line an 8-inch (20 cm) square pan with parchment and dust generously with cornstarch. Sprinkle gelatin over ¼ cup (50 ml) of cold water, stir and set aside for 5 minutes. Melt gelatin over low heat and keep warm. Bring remaining ¼ cup (50 ml) water, sugar and glucose syrup to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until sugar reaches 245 °F (118 °C) on a candy thermometer, 7 minutes. While sugar is cooking, whip egg whites with electric beaters or in a mixer fitted with the whisk attachment until foamy. When sugar reaches proper temperature, pour it carefully in a stream down the side of the bowl while mixing on medium speed. Once incorporated, pour in melted gelatin and vanilla and whip mixture on high speed until thick and white, about 4 minutes. Pour marshmallow into prepared pan, sift with cornstarch and let set for at least 2 hours before unmolding.

For Truffle Ganache, heat cream to just below a simmer and pour over chopped chocolate. Let sit 1 minute, then stir slowly until evenly blended. Stir in butter until melted in. Let cool for at least 30 minutes, or chill until ready to assemble.

For assembly, remove brownie from pan in 1 piece by lifting parchment overhang. Brush top of brownie with a layer of fluid ganache (if ganache sets up, just re-warm to melt). Brush excess cornstarch off marshmallow and turn over onto brownie. Peel off parchment from marshmallow carefully. Drizzle top of cake with remaining ganache and top with walnut halves. With a hot knife, cut dessert into 9 or 16 squares and arrange on a platter.

Rocky Road Truffle Cakes will keep for 1 day refrigerated or 2 days covered at room temperature.