Choc Peanut Fondants With Chocolate Soil Cherries Recipes

CHOC-PEANUT FONDANTS WITH CHOCOLATE SOIL & CHERRIES

Steps:

• Make the soil first. Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Thinly slice the chocolate cake and lay on baking trays lined with baking parchment. Bake for 30 mins, turning the slices halfway, until crisp to the touch. Put in a food processor and whizz to crunchy crumbs. Will keep well for up to a week in an airtight tin.
• Make the fondants by brushing 6 dariole moulds well with melted butter. Chill for 1 min, then brush again. Put a spoon of cocoa powder in one and shake about so the whole inside is coated, then tip out the rest into the next and tap the bottom of the dariole to get out any excess. Repeat with all the darioles.
• Beat together the softened butter, peanut butter, sugar and vanilla to cream them, then beat in the eggs, followed by the flour. Stir in the melted chocolate and divide between the darioles. Chill for up to 24 hrs.
• To serve, heat oven to 200C/180C fan/ gas 6. Bake the fondants for 10-12 mins - the top will be set, but you should feel a soft middle when you prod it. Add a small pile of soil to each plate and top with a cherry - or put the soil in a mini bucket or flowerpot. Add a spoon of cherry compote to each plate and top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Finally, carefully turn each chocolate fondant out onto the plate - they should come out easily. Serve immediately.

CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRIES

Steps:

• Drain cherries and set on paper towels to dry.
• In a medium bowl, combine butter and corn syrup until smooth. Stir in confectioners' sugar and knead to form a dough. Chill to stiffen if necessary. Wrap each cherry in about 1 teaspoon of dough. Chill until firm.
• Melt confectioners' coating in a heavy saucepan over low heat. Dip each cherry in by its stem, and place on waxed paper lined sheets. Chill until completely set. Store in an airtight container in a cool place. Best after 1 or 2 weeks.

FONDANT FOR CHOCOLATE CHERRIES

Steps:

• Sift confectioners' sugar several times into a bowl to eliminate all lumps.
• Beat butter, corn syrup, and salt with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the sifted confectioners' sugar until thoroughly incorporated.
• Turn fondant out onto a work surface generously dusted with confectioners' sugar. Knead until smooth and workable, 5 minutes; cut dough in half. Wrap each piece of dough in plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes.

CHOCOLATE-COVERED CHERRIES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the sugar, butter, milk and extract. Knead until smooth and pliable. Shape into 1-in. balls and flatten each into a 2-in. circle. , Wrap one circle around each cherry and lightly roll in hands. Place with stems up on waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Cover loosely and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. , In a microwave, melt chocolate and shortening; stir until smooth. Holding on to the stems, dip cherries into chocolate; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper until set. Store in a covered container. Refrigerate 1-2 weeks before serving.