Chocolate Mousse Craig Clairborne Recipes

WHITE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

Steps:

• Place chocolate in metal mixing bowl. Place bowl over, not in, basin of simmering water. Let stand, stirring occasionally, until chocolate melts.
• Combine sugar and water in a saucepan, and bring to a boil. Cook about 4 minutes or to the soft-ball stage (see note).
• Meanwhile, put egg whites into the bowl of an electric mixer and start beating. When eggs are fairly stiff, reduce speed and gradually add sugar syrup while beating. Continue beating until the bottom of the bowl cools to room temperature.
• Pour and scrape melted chocolate into the mixture and blend thoroughly.
• Blend rum and vanilla. Add to chocolate mixture, and beat well to blend.
• Whip cream until stiff. Add about a third of the whipped cream to the chocolate mixture and stir to blend. Add remaining cream and fold it in. Spoon or pour the mixture into 6 to 8 serving dishes or parfait glasses, and chill until set. Garnish each serving with berries or candied violets or chestnuts.

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE WITH FRESH GINGER

Steps:

• Mix the ginger with one tablespoon of the sugar and set aside. Let stand for 30 minutes or longer.
• Melt the chocolate in a saucepan with the butter and rum over very low heat. Blend thoroughly. Add the ginger mixture and stir.
• Put the egg whites in a mixing bowl and reserve until ready to use. Place the yolks in another bowl and place over simmering water. Add six tablespoons of sugar and beat vigorously with a whisk until pale yellow. Add the vanilla and continue to whisk until well blended. Add this to the chocolate mixture and blend well.
• Beat the egg whites with the remaining three tablespoons of sugar until stiff. Fold this mixture into the chocolate mixture. Beat the cream until stiff and fold this in. Scrape the mixture into a serving bowl and refrigerate. Chill.

CREAMIEST CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

Steps:

• Place chocolate in a metal bowl over a pan of simmering water. Stir occasionally until mostly melted, then remove from heat, and stir until smooth. Set aside to cool slightly.
• In a separate bowl, whip heavy cream to medium stiff peaks, but do not allow it to become grainy. Set aside.
• In a separate bowl, whip egg whites with salt until soft peaks form. Sprinkle in the sugar, and continue whipping to medium stiff peaks. Fold in egg yolks and kirshwasser.
• Fold in the melted chocolate until completely incorporated, then fold in whipped cream until evenly blended. Spoon into dessert cups, and chill until firm, about 1 hour.