Chocolate Mousse With Wine Soaked Cherries And Whipped Cream Recipes

BOURBON-SOAKED CHERRY-CHOCOLATE MOUSSE PIE

Steps:

• For the pie: The day before making the pie, put the cherries and bourbon in an airtight container and let set overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Line an 8-inch pie dish with the pie crust. Trim the excess off, crimp the edges and poke the bottom and sides with a fork. Place a piece of parchment or wax paper on the crust in the pie dish and fill three-quarters full with dried beans.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the beans and paper, return to the oven and finish baking until medium brown, another 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool completely.
• In a medium mixing bowl, add the cream cheese, sugar and cocoa powder and whip until light and fluffy. Add the cream, vanilla and salt and whip on low to combine. Turn to high and whip until light and fluffy and stiff peaks form.
• Drain the bourbon off the cherries (save the bourbon and make a nice cocktail for later). Reserve 5 to 6 cherries for decorating the top of the pie.
• Spoon half of the chocolate mousse into the cooled pie shell and spread evenly. Sprinkle half of the remaining cherries over the filling. Spoon the rest of the mousse over the cherries and smooth out. Top with the remaining cherries.
• For the topping: In the same mixing bowl, add the cream, sugar and vanilla and whip until stiff peaks form. Pipe or spoon on the topping and decorate with the saved cherries. Put in the fridge for at least an hour and up to overnight.

THE BEST CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

Steps:

• Whip 1 cup of the heavy cream to soft peaks in a medium bowl (see Cook's Note). Set aside.
• Add the egg, egg yolks, sugar, espresso powder, vanilla extract, salt and 1 tablespoon water to a medium heatproof bowl and whisk to combine. Set the bowl over a medium saucepan of gently simmering water (do not allow the bowl to touch the water). Whisk constantly until the mixture is pale, hot to the touch and has almost doubled in volume, about 4 to 6 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally with a rubber spatula, if necessary. Remove from the heat and continue whisking until cooled, about 2 minutes.
• Put the chopped chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl and set over the saucepan of gently simmering water (do not allow the bowl to touch the water). Stir occasionally with a rubber spatula until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Remove from the heat and gently stir for about 3 minutes to cool slightly.
• Whisk the egg mixture into the melted chocolate in 3 additions until combined. (The mixture may get very thick.) Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture in 3 additions until it is fully incorporated. It is important that the chocolate mixture is not warm to ensure that it combines smoothly with the whipped cream without seizing up.
• Divide the chocolate mousse among four 4-ounce ramekins and chill until firm, about 1 hour.
• Whip the remaining 3/4 cup cold heavy cream to stiff peaks. Top each chocolate mousse with whipped cream and serve. (For a softer texture, allow the ramekins to sit at room temperature while you whip the cream.)

ESPRESSO CHOCOLATE MOUSSE WITH ORANGE MASCARPONE WHIPPED CREAM

Steps:

• For the Mousse: In a small saucepan over medium heat stir together the milk with the sugar and the espresso powder until the milk is hot, but not boiling, and the sugar is dissolved. Place the chocolate chips in a blender.
• *Pour the hot milk over the chips. Run the blender on high until combined, a few seconds. Add the egg whites and run the blender on high until light, about 1 minute. Transfer the mousse to 4 small serving cups. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator until firm, about 3 hours.
• For the Cream: In the bowl of an electric mixer, stir together the
• mascarpone cheese and the orange juice until smooth. Add the cream,
• powdered sugar, and orange zest. Whip until the cream has soft peaks, about 1 minute. Whip the cream just before serving the mousse or cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
• * When blending hot liquids: Remove liquid from the heat and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes. Transfer liquid to a blender or food processor and fill it no more than halfway. If using a blender, release one corner of the lid. This prevents the vacuum effect that creates heat explosions. Place a towel over the top of the machine, pulse a few times then process on high speed until smooth.