Chocolate Beggars Purse Recipes

CHOCOLATE BEGGAR'S PURSE

Steps:

• Coat bottom and sides of 9x9-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Combine brownie mix, oil, water and eggs. Beat 50 strokes. Bake according to directions on box, 350 for 30 minutes. Cool. Cut into 8 squares.
• On a lightly greased baking sheet, separate dough into 8 rectangles. Firmly press perforations to seal. Place one brownie in the center of each rectangle.
• Stir peanut butter and sugar in small bowl to blend.
• Top brownies with 1 heaping tablespoon chocolate frosting and 1 tablespoon peanut butter mixture.
• Pull four corners of dough to center of chocolate mixture. Twist firmly to form top of purse.
• Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes, or until lightly golden. Let cool at least 15 minutes before serving, but serve slightly warm.
• When serving, cut each "purse" in half, displaying the inside. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and drizzle with chocolate syrup.

CHOCOLATE-PEANUT BUTTER PHYLLO PURSES

Steps:

• For brownies:
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Butter 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Line bottom of pan with parchment paper. Melt chocolate and butter in heavy medium saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Using electric mixer, beat egg yolks and 1/4 cup sugar in large bowl until thick and pale. Stir chocolate mixture into yolk mixture. Using clean dry beaters, beat egg whites in another large bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining 1/2 cup sugar and beat until stiff but not dry. Carefully fold egg whites into chocolate mixture. Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Press down edges until even with middle of brownies. Cool completely. Using 2 1/4-inch-diameter cookie cutter, cut out 12 rounds. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Store in single layer in airtight container at room temperature.)
• For ganache:
• Bring 1/4 cup whipping cream and vanilla extract to boil in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat. Add chopped chocolate and whisk until completely melted. Refrigerate ganache until firm, about 1 hour. (Ganache can be prepared up to 2 days ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated.)
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly butter rimmed baking sheet. Stir peanut butter and 4 teaspoons sugar in small bowl to blend. Cut each phyllo sheet in half crosswise to form twelve 13x81/2-inch strips. Place 1 phyllo strip vertically on work surface. Brush with melted butter. Place second phyllo strip horizontally across first, forming cross; brush with butter. Stack 2 brownies in center of pastry. Top brownies with 1 tablespoon ganache and 1 tablespoon peanut butter mixture. Gather ends of phyllo strips together over brownies to form purse. Twist ends closed. Brush purse with melted butter and place on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining ingredients to form total of 6 purses. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.) Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Serve with ice cream.

SWAN TERRACE CHOCOLATE BEGGAR'S PURSES WITH RASPBERRIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F.
• Brush filo sheets with melted butter, repeat until you have 2 stacks, each one with 4 sheets of buttered filo dough.
• Cut each stack in half so you now have 4 stacks.
• Place a piece of chocolate cake sprinkled with Grand Marnier in the center of each stack.
• Place a ganache ball on top of each cake circle.
• Next, divide one pint of raspberries on top of the four ganache balls.
• Wrap each one in the filo dough so that it looks like a pouch-type purse, and brush the outsides with the remaining melted butter.
• Bake for 5 minutes.
• Present on individual plates garnished with the remaining raspberries, ice cream, chocolate sauce, chocolate decoration, mint sprigs and powdered sugar.
• Serve at once.