Almond Cookie Cups With Chocolate Mousse Recipes

ALMOND COOKIE CUPS WITH CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350ºF. Spray 2 baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray.
• In medium bowl, stir together flour, sugar and salt. In another medium bowl, whisk together all remaining cookie ingredients except 3 tablespoons almonds. Add to flour mixture, whisking until smooth.
• For each cookie, spoon 1 1/2 tablespoons batter onto baking sheet; spread evenly to 6-inch round, eliminating any holes. Make only 2 cookies per baking sheet, placing at least 1 inch apart. Sprinkle each cookie with 1/8 of the sliced almonds.
• Bake one sheet at a time 6 to 8 minutes or just until tops are dry and light brown, with golden-brown edges. Immediately place cookies in 6-oz. custard cups. Place second custard cup over cookies to form cup shape.
• OR, you can cover the back of muffin tins with the warm cookie to get the same effect. Remove from molds; set on cooling rack. Cool completely. Repeat using remaining batter.
• To make chocolate mousse, place chocolate in heatproof medium bowl. Bring 1 inch water to a boil in medium saucepan. Remove from heat. Place bowl of chocolate over saucepan (bowl should not touch water). Let stand until melted. Stir. Remove from heat; set aside to cool.
• In small heavy saucepan over medium-low heat, whisk together 1/2 cup of the cream, corn syrup and egg yolks. Cook, whisking constantly, 5 to 6 minutes or until mixture is thick, covers back of spoon and reaches 160ºF. on instant-read thermometer. (Be careful not to overcook.).
• Strain yolk mixture into chocolate. Immediately whisk briskly, making chocolate shiny and satin-smooth. Cool to 80ºF. to 85ºF. (Mixture should feel comfortable to the touch.).
• In large bowl, beat remaining 1 cup cream at medium-high speed until soft peaks form. Fold cooled chocolate mixture into whipped cream. Cover; refrigerate up to 8 hours. Bring to room temperature before serving.
• o serve, place tulip cups on individual dessert plates. Fill each with chocolate mousse; sprinkle with toasted almonds.
• TIP *To toast almonds, place on baking sheet; bake at 375ºF. for 6 minutes or until deep golden brown.

CHOCOLATE AND AMARETTO MOUSSE IN ALMOND LACE BOWLS

Steps:

• For the chocolate and amaretto mousse: Heat the cream in a small pot over medium heat. Once it starts to steam, remove from the heat and whisk in the chocolate until melted. Let cool. Carefully add the cooled chocolate cream, 2 tablespoons at a time, into a bowl with the egg yolks, mixing continuously. Stir in the amaretto. Beat the egg whites and sugar in a bowl to form a meringue, and then fold into the chocolate mixture. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour. For the almond lace bowls: Combine the butter, corn syrup and sugar in a pot over medium heat until simmering. Whisk together the flour and almonds, and then stir into the butter mixture, 1 minute. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate covered, 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Scoop tablespoons of batter and roll into balls. Place 3 inches apart on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet (only 4 balls per row), and bake until golden, 10 minutes. Let cool until they can be touched, but are still warm enough to be pliable. Place on top of a small inverted bowl to shape, and then let cool until hardened completely, 2 minutes.
• Transfer the chocolate mousse to a piping bag and pipe into the almond lace bowls. Garnish with toasted almonds.

CHOCOLATE ALMOND MOUSSE NAPOLEONS

Steps:

• Place one phyllo sheet on work surface; keep remaining phyllo sheets covered with plastic wrap and damp towel. Brush phyllo with melted butter; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sugar. Top with second phyllo sheet. Brush with butter; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sugar. Repeat with third phyllo sheet, butter and sugar. Cut stack into twelve 3-in. squares. Transfer stacks to a greased baking sheet, about 1 in. apart. Repeat with remaining 3 phyllo sheets, butter and sugar. Bake at 350° for 8-9 minutes or until golden brown. Watch carefully. Cool on wire racks., For filling, heat cream in a saucepan over medium heat until cream begins to simmer, about 160°; remove from the heat. Whisk in chocolate and extract until smooth; refrigerate until chilled. In a bowl, beat cream mixture until soft peaks form. Refrigerate until serving., For glaze, combine the confectioners' sugar, vanilla and salt. Add enough cream to achieve a spreading consistency. Spread over 8 squares of phyllo. Drizzle with melted chocolate chips. Set aside until serving., To serve, spread about 1/4 cup chocolate almond mousse over a square of phyllo. Add a second phyllo square and more mousse. Top with one of the glaze squares. Repeat with remaining phyllo, mousse and glazed phyllo. Serve immediately.

ALMOND COOKIE CUPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Set 2 small custard cups or ramekins on work surface, bottom side up. Stir first 4 ingredients in small bowl to blend. Mix in almonds.
• Separately drop 2 level tablespoonfuls batter onto prepared baking sheet, spacing 6 inches apart. Using moistened fingertips, press each to 2-inch round. Bake cookies until deep golden (cookies will spread to about 5-inch diameter), about 7 minutes. Let cool on sheet until set enough to lift without tearing, about 1 minute. Using metal spatula, lift hot cookies 1 at a time and drape over cups, gently pressing to cup shape; cool. Remove from cups. Refrigerate baking sheet 2 minutes to chill quickly. Repeat with remaining batter, making 2 cookies at a time. (Cookies can be made 4 days ahead. Carefully enclose in resealable plastic bags and freeze.)