Almond Chocolate Torte

Almond Chocolate Torte
Ingredients
Cake Ingredients
 ½ cup butter softened, shortening, or vegetable oil
 1 cup sugar
 4 eggs, separated
1 teaspoon vanilla
 1 teaspoon almond extract
 1 cup toasted almonds, finely chopped or crushed as desire
¾ cup sifted all-purpose flour
 ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
 ½ teaspoon baking powder
 ½ teaspoon baking soda
 ¾ cup milk
 Chocolate Almond Filling Ingredients
1 (14 oz) can sweetened  condensed milk
2 squares (1 oz each)  unsweetened baking chocolate ( or 6 tablespoons unsweetened
Cocoa + 2 tablespoons butter) 
¼  cup crushed toasted almonds, or 1 tsp almond extract
Directions
Cake Directions
* Preheat an oven to 350 F (175 c)
 * Beat on  medium speed sugar and butter for two minutes
* Add egg yolks, vanilla and almond extract and mix together.
* Add milk and mix
 * Combine dry Ingredients flour, almond, cocoa, baking soda and baking powder together
*On low speed add dry ingredients to first mixture gradually
 * In another bowl on high speed, beat egg whites until soft peaks form
 * Fold egg whites into reserved mixture and mix it with wood spoon
* Pour the mixture into two greased and floured 9 x 1½ inch round Cake Pan
* Bake each pan for 18 - 20 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean
* Cool 10 minutes, remove from pans, cool completely on wire rack 
Frosting Directions
* Put condensed milk in a pot on medium heat ,add chocolate squares (or melt  butter on low heat, add cocoa and mix for a minute without boiling, add condensed milk )
* Cook and stir until mixture thickens, about 7 – 10 minutes
* Remove from heat, cool 10 minutes.
* Stir in almond , cool completely
Application
* Split each layer in half horizontally so that we get four layers Cake
*Fill and frost layers  with chocolate  frosting
* Garnish as desired with whipped cream or shredded chocolate
* Store covered in refrigerator. Yield 12 servings