Chocolate Hazelnut Mousse Cups Recipes

CHOCOLATE-HAZELNUT MOUSSE

Steps:

• Grind hazelnuts with 1 tablespoon sugar in processor until mixture forms paste. Melt chocolate in small metal bowl set over saucepan of simmering water, stirring until smooth. Remove from over water.
• Whisk egg yolks, 2 tablespoons water, Frangelico and 2 tablespoons sugar in large metal bowl to blend. Set bowl over same saucepan of simmering water and whisk constantly until thick ribbons form when whisk is lifted and thermometer inserted into mixture registers 160°F, about 6 minutes. Cool mixture slightly. Fold in chocolate and hazelnut paste.
• Using electric mixer, beat egg whites and pinch of salt in large bowl until soft peaks form. Stir remaining 2 tablespoons sugar and 3 tablespoons water in very small saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and boil until thermometer inserted into mixture registers 220°F, about 4 minutes. Gradually add hot syrup to whites, beating until firm peaks form and whites are cool. Fold into chocolate mixture in 2 additions.
• Beat 1/2 cup whipping cream in medium bowl until soft peaks form. Fold into mousse. Spoon mousse into 4 goblets, dividing equally. Chill mousse at least 1 hour and up to 1 day. Garnish each serving with whipped cream and toasted hazelnuts.

CHOCOLATE-HAZELNUT MOUSSE

Steps:

• 1. Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Arrange the hazelnuts on a small baking tray and bake until lightly browned, 10 to 12 minutes, turning the tray back to front after 5 or 6 minutes. Cool. Enclose the nuts in a clean towel and rub until as much of the skins as possible come off.
• 2. Place the nuts and hazelnut oil in the workbowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and process until a paste forms.
• 3. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, using a whisk or eggbeater, whip the heavy cream. Refrigerate, covered, until needed.
• 4. In a medium heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, melt the chocolate. Turn off the heat when almost melted and stir occasionally until completely melted. Scrape into the nut paste and process until thoroughly mixed. Set aside.
• 5. In a clean medium heatproof bowl, lightly whisk the egg yolks.

HAZELNUT CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

Steps:

• Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350°F. Arrange the hazelnuts in a single layer on a baking sheet and toast until golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Lay a tea towel out flat and transfer the hot toasted nuts onto it. Fold the edges of the towel over to cover the nuts and gently roll them to loosen the skins. Reserve about 1/4 cup nuts for the garnish and transfer the rest to the bowl of a food processor. Process the nuts, scraping the sides down, until a smooth paste forms, about 2 minutes.
• In a large bowl, mix the cream cheese with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until smooth. Add the liqueur and chocolate and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs. In a medium pot over moderate heat, combine the nut paste, the milk, and sugar. Warm to just below the boiling point, then slowly whisk a few splashes of the hot milk into the beaten eggs. Add the warmed egg mixture to the pot and return to moderately low heat. Stir constantly, until it thickens and holds a slight ribbon when stirred, about 2 minutes.
• Pour the hot egg-milk mixture into the bowl with the chocolate mixture and whisk until smooth. Nest the bowl in an ice water bath and stir until cool but still easy to stir, 5 to 8 minutes. (Or, chill the mixture in the refrigerator, stirring occasionally, until cool, about 45 minutes.)
• Using a large wire whisk or an electric mixer, whip the cream until it holds distinct peaks. Fold about one-third of the cream into the chocolate mixture to lighten it, then gently fold in the remaining two-thirds until just incorporated. Transfer the mousse to individual dishes or 1 large serving dish and chill, loosely covered, at least 1 hour. Before serving, roughly chop the reserved 1/4 cup toasted hazelnuts and use them to garnish each portion.
• The MOUSSE can be prepared and refrigerated, loosely covered, up to 1 day ahead.

CHOCOLATE-HAZELNUT MOUSSE-FILLED CUPS

Steps:

• With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, whisk cream until soft peaks form. Transfer to refrigerator; chill for 1 hour.
• In a clean mixing bowl, and with a clean whisk, beat yolks on high speed until pale and frothy. Meanwhile, bring sugar, corn syrup, and water to a boil in a small, heavy saucepan over high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Continue boiling for about 1 minute. With mixer on medium-low speed, carefully pour hot syrup down side of bowl. Beat on medium-high speed until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Beat in hazelnut praline paste. Stir in chocolate, vanilla, and a pinch of salt with a flexible spatula.
• Add one-third of the chocolate mixture to whipped cream; whisk to combine. Add remaining chocolate mixture, fold to completely combined. Pass through a coarse sieve into a large bowl; discard any solids.
• Transfer mousse to a disposable pastry bag or large plastic bag. Using scissors, snip a small hole in bottom of the bag or from one of the corners of the plastic bag. Pipe mousse into chocolate cups to fill; serve garnished with hazelnuts and shaved chocolate.