Killer Chocolate Mousse Recipes

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

Steps:

• Put the chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl and place over a saucepan containing about 1-inch of barely simmering water (or use a double boiler). Stir with a wooden spoon until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Remove the bowl from the heat and let cool slightly. Then grab a whisk and beat the egg yolks into the chocolate, 1 at a time, beating until smooth after each addition. Set aside.
• In another bowl, beat the egg whites until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and beat until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in 1/4 cup sugar and continue beating until stiff peaks form.
• In a chilled bowl, beat the heavy cream until it begins to thicken up. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar and the vanilla and continue beating until the cream holds soft peaks.
• Now that you've got the elements prepared, put it all together. Gently fold the egg whites into the chocolate mixture to lighten it. Then, fold in the whipped cream. Take care not over work the mousse or it will be heavy. Divide the mousse between 4 individual glasses, preferably Moroccan glasses. Cover and chill for several hours. Garnish with whipped cream and chocolate shavings before serving.

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.)

KILLER CHOCOLATE CAKE

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-by-13-inch glass or metal cake pan with the 1 tablespoon of room temperature butter.
• Whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Combine the buttermilk and vanilla in a medium bowl or a 2-cup liquid measuring cup.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or in a large bowl, if using a handheld mixer), cream the 1 cup of butter and the brown sugar on low speed until creamy and well combined. Increase the speed to medium-high and beat until light and airy, about 2 minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to medium-low and add the eggs one at a time, mixing well between each addition and scraping down the side and bottom of the bowl as needed. Once all 3 eggs are added, beat for 1 minute on medium speed to get the mixture nice and fluffy.
• Reduce the speed to medium-low and add the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk mixture in three batches, starting with the flour. Add the melted chocolate and mix on medium speed until well incorporated, stopping the mixer to scrape down the side and bottom of the bowl as needed.
• Use a rubber or offset spatula to scrape the batter into the prepared pan and even it out as much as possible. Bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean and the center of the cake resists light pressure, about 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool completely, at least 2 hours, before frosting.
• Make the frosting: Put the butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment (or in a medium bowl, if using a handheld mixer). Beat on medium-high speed until smooth. Turn off the mixer and sift the confectioners' sugar into the bowl and combine on low speed. Add the melted chocolate, soy sauce, and vanilla and beat on low speed until combined. Increase the mixer speed to medium-low and whip until glossy, 15 to 30 seconds.
• Use an offset spatula or butter knife to spread the frosting on top of the cooled cake. Cut into squares and serve.
• DO AHEAD: The cake will keep, loosely covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days. Let it sit out at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes before slicing and serving.

CHOCOLATE CANNOLI

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whip 1 egg with the sweet wine and 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Gradually add the flour (you may not need it all) until it comes together into a ball of dough. Knead for a few minutes, or until smooth and silky. Wrap in plastic wrap and leave to rest for 1 hour.
• Pour the sunflower oil into a large, sturdy pan on a medium-high heat, and leave it to get to 180 degrees C (350 degrees F) on a thermometer. Meanwhile, roll the dough into a large sausage about 4 centimeters (1 1/2 inches) in diameter. Keeping the rest of the dough covered with a clean, damp tea towel, slice off a 1/2-centimeter-thick (1/4-inch-thick) disc and roll into a ball, then flatten out on a flour-dusted surface to 2 millimeters (1/16 inch) thick. Lightly dust your metal cannoli tubes with flour (or use lightly oiled dried cannelloni tubes), then wrap a circle of dough around each, sealing the edges with beaten egg. Working in batches, carefully lower into the hot oil for just 1 minute, to get lightly golden. Remove to a plate lined with kitchen paper to drain for 3 minutes, then squeeze the moulds and gently slide off the cannoli. Repeat until you've used up all the dough.
• Melt the chocolate. Pound the hazelnuts in a pestle and mortar until fine. Drain the ricotta, then blitz in a food processor with the vanilla paste, honey, cocoa and grappa until just smooth. Spoon into a piping bag with a star nozzle, and twist the bag to give tension, then pipe the filling into the cannoli. Drizzle with chocolate, sprinkle with nuts and serve.

KILLER CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

Steps:

• Place the chocolate and a tiny pinch of sea salt in a heatproof bowl over a pan of gently simmering water, making sure the water doesn't touch the base of the bowl. Leave to slowly melt, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, in another bowl add the sugar to the egg yolks and beat until it has dissolved and is silky-smooth. Whisk the whites in a clean bowl with a tiny pinch of salt until they form soft peaks. Cook's Note: You should be able to hold the bowl upside down over your head without them falling out! In a third bowl, beat the cream until it forms soft peaks. Once the chocolate has melted, carefully lift the bowl out of the pan and put it to one side. Mix 2 1/2 ounces/ 75 ml of amaretto and the cocoa powder into your egg yolks then tip the whipped cream in and mix again. Fold through the melted chocolate until everything is well combined. Finish by tipping in the egg whites and keep folding gently, from the outside in, doing a figure-of-eight, until the mix is smooth and evenly coloured. Spoon or ladle the mousse into a big serving bowl or divide it between little glasses or cappuccino cups. Cover with cling film then pop in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours until set. Right before you're ready to serve your guests, dust some cocoa powder over the mousse. Pop the dried cherries in a small pan with the rest of the amaretto then top up with enough water to just cover the berries. Bring to the boil, then turn the heat off and leave to stand for a bit. Bash up the packets of sesame snaps in a pestle and mortar then open them and tip the contents into the mortar. Serve that next to your chocolate mousse with a bowl of those beautiful cherries on the side so everyone can dig in and customize their own mousse. It may look a bit rustic, but honestly, it's the best chocolate mousse I've ever tasted!