Chocolate Caramel Mousse Parfaits Recipes

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL FROZEN PARFAITS

Steps:

• Bring milk and 1/2 cup cream just to a boil in a small heavy saucepan, then remove from heat and keep warm, covered.
• Bring water and 1/2 cup sugar to a boil in another small heavy saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved and washing down any sugar crystals on side of pan with a pastry brush dipped in cold water. Boil syrup, without stirring, gently swirling pan, until mixture is a deep golden caramel. Remove from heat and carefully add warm cream mixture (mixture will steam vigorously and caramel will harden). Cook over low heat, whisking, until caramel is dissolved.
• Whisk together yolks, remaining 1/4 cup sugar, and a pinch of salt in a metal bowl, then add hot caramel mixture in a slow stream, whisking. Transfer custard to saucepan. Cook custard over moderately low heat, stirring, until thickened and registers 170°F on thermometer (do not let boil).
• Pour custard through a fine-mesh sieve into bowl of standing mixer, then beat at high speed 10 minutes (mixture will be completely cool, thick, and pale). Beat in melted chocolate and vanilla.
• Whisk remaining cup cream in another bowl until it just holds stiff peaks, then whisk about one fourth of cream into chocolate mixture to lighten. Fold in remaining cream gently but thoroughly and divide mixture among paper cups, smoothing tops. Cover each cup with foil and freeze parfaits at least 12 hours.
• To serve, carefully tear off each paper cup and invert parfaits onto plates.

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL MOUSSE

Steps:

• In a 3-4 qt saucepan over low heat, stir sugar and water until it looks clear.
• Increase heat to high and boil without stirring until dark golden brown (about 10 minutes).
• Occasionally brush sugar crystals down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush.
• When mixture begins to caramelize around edges of pan, gently swirl pan to ensure even caramelization.
• Remove from heat and immediately and slowly add 3/4 cup cream (mixture will bubble up).
• Stir gently until smooth.
• Let cool 5 minutes and then stir in chocolate until well blended.
• Transfer mixture to a large bowl and let cool to room temperature (about 1 hour) Stir in Frangelico (if using).
• In another bowl whip 1 cup of cream to firm peaks.
• Gently fold 1/3 of cream into the chocolate mixture, then fold in remaining cream until no white streaks remain.
• Spoon mousse into dessert cups/glasses and chill for 1 hour or up to 1 day.
• Garnish with berries or chocolate shavings if desired.

CHOCOLATE-MOUSSE PARFAITS

Steps:

• Whisk together eggs and sugar in a heatproof bowl set over (but not in) a pot of simmering water until doubled in volume and a thermometer registers 160 degrees (6 to 8 minutes). Remove from heat. Add chocolate, cocoa, espresso powder, and salt. Stir in butter until melted. Let cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, whip cream to stiff peaks. Stir one-third of whipped cream into chocolate mixture until lightened, then fold in remaining whipped cream. Divide half of mousse between two glasses; sprinkle with crushed cookies. Top with remaining mousse and refrigerate until set, at least 1 hour and up to 1 day. To serve, top with lightly whipped cream and more cookie crumbs.

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL MOUSSE

Steps:

• Put sugar in a heavy pan, and turn heat to medium. When sugar warms and begins to liquefy, add 1/2 cup water. Cook, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, until mixture bubbles, then becomes foamy, then dry again. Keep cooking until it liquefies again, stirring often and breaking up any chunks that form. When it is all dissolved and brown, remove from heat, and stir in butter a bit at a time. Standing back to avoid spattering, add 1 cup cream, then stir until blended. Let sit until cool enough to touch.
• Meanwhile beat remaining cream until it holds soft peaks; refrigerate. Melt chocolate over very low heat or in a double boiler or microwave.
• Mix melted chocolate into caramel. Add 1/3 of the whipped cream to caramel, and stir to combine. Add remaining whipped cream and gently fold, just until combined. Pour into a bowl and refrigerate until set, about 4 hours.
• Scoop mousse with a spoon dipped in a hot water. Serve alongside a piece of orange confit.