Almond Cookie Cups With Chocolate Mousse Recipes

WORLD'S EASIEST CHOCOLATE MOUSSE IN A COOKIE BOWL

Steps:

• For the mousse: Use the double boiler method to melt the chocolate. Fill a pot with approximately 2 inches of water and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat.
• Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl on top of the pot, making sure the bowl does not touch the water in the pot. Heat, stirring with a spatula, until the chocolate is melted, smooth and shiny. Allow to cool for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, pour the cream into a bowl and whip with a handheld mixer until soft peaks form. Carefully fold the chocolate into the cream until fully incorporated. Add the mousse to a pastry bag or resealable plastic bag. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to set.
• For the cookie bowls: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray nonstick cooking spray into the cups of a 12-cup standard muffin tin.
• Press about 2 1/2 tablespoons of cookie dough into each cup of the muffin tin, pressing the dough in the bottom and up the sides. Bake until the edges are golden brown but the centers are still soft, 14 to 16 minutes. If the centers of the cookie cups don't fall a bit when you remove the tin from the oven, use the bottom of a measuring cup or a small bowl to press the centers down. Cool in the tin for 5 minutes.
• When ready to enjoy, pipe the mousse into each cookie bowl and top with berries and shaved chocolate if desired.

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE CUPS

Steps:

• Coat a 12-cup muffin pan with cooking spray and put a cookie in the bottom of each cup. Whisk the eggs, sugar, salt and water in a large heatproof bowl. Bring a few inches of water to a simmer in a medium saucepan and set the bowl on top (do not let the bowl touch the water). Cook, whisking, until pale, fluffy and very thick (like a thick pudding), 25 to 40 minutes, depending on the size of your bowl. Remove from the heat and whisk in the melted chocolate; let cool.
• Beat 1 1/4 cups heavy cream with the sour cream in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form. Gently fold into the cooled chocolate mixture until no white streaks remain, then divide evenly among the muffin cups. Cover and refrigerate until set, 12 hours or overnight.
• Run an offset spatula around each mousse cup to loosen and slide the spatula under the cookie; remove the mousse cups. (If they're too soft to remove, freeze briefly.) Beat the remaining 1/2 cup heavy cream in a large bowl with a mixer until soft peaks form, then dollop onto the mousse cups and sprinkle with shaved chocolate.

CHOCOLATE ALMOND MOUSSE CANNOLI

Steps:

• Put the chocolate in a medium bowl. Heat the heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium heat until just beginning to simmer. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and allow to stand for 1 minute before stirring with a rubber spatula until smooth and combined. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the mixture and allow to cool to room temperature. Once cooled, add the powdered sugar and whip to soft peaks with a hand mixer.
• In a second medium bowl, whisk the ricotta and amaretto until smooth and combined. Gently fold in half of the chocolate whipped cream to incorporate. When just a few streaks remain, add the remaining chocolate cream. Continue to fold until completely combined.
• Spoon the mousse into a 1-gallon resealable plastic bag and massage it toward one corner. Snip off the corner. Insert the snipped tip of the bag into the middle of a cannoli shell and gently squeeze to fill the shell, pulling out as you go. Repeat on the opposite end of the shell. Dip each end in the chopped almonds, then press a cherry into both ends. Repeat with the remaining shells.
• Serve immediately or chill in the fridge for up to an hour. Sift some powdered sugar over the top before serving.

ALMOND-COCONUT CHEWY CHOCOLATE COOKIES

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, and salt.
• In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter with brown sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add egg and vanilla; beat on medium speed just to combine. Reduce speed to low and slowly add flour mixture, beating until combined. Fold in chocolate and almonds. Shape dough into a 1-inch-thick disk, tightly wrap in plastic, and refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place coconut in a shallow dish. Scoop 2 tablespoons (about 1 ounce) dough and form into a ball; roll in coconut to coat. Repeat with remaining dough. Place balls on parchment-lined baking sheets, 1 inch apart; press each lightly to flatten. Bake until cookies are cracked but still slightly soft, 16 to 18 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes on sheets, then transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 5 days.

CHOCOLATE AND AMARETTO MOUSSE IN ALMOND LACE BOWLS

Steps:

• For the chocolate and amaretto mousse: Heat the cream in a small pot over medium heat. Once it starts to steam, remove from the heat and whisk in the chocolate until melted. Let cool. Carefully add the cooled chocolate cream, 2 tablespoons at a time, into a bowl with the egg yolks, mixing continuously. Stir in the amaretto. Beat the egg whites and sugar in a bowl to form a meringue, and then fold into the chocolate mixture. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour. For the almond lace bowls: Combine the butter, corn syrup and sugar in a pot over medium heat until simmering. Whisk together the flour and almonds, and then stir into the butter mixture, 1 minute. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate covered, 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Scoop tablespoons of batter and roll into balls. Place 3 inches apart on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet (only 4 balls per row), and bake until golden, 10 minutes. Let cool until they can be touched, but are still warm enough to be pliable. Place on top of a small inverted bowl to shape, and then let cool until hardened completely, 2 minutes.
• Transfer the chocolate mousse to a piping bag and pipe into the almond lace bowls. Garnish with toasted almonds.

ALMOND COOKIE CUPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Set 2 small custard cups or ramekins on work surface, bottom side up. Stir first 4 ingredients in small bowl to blend. Mix in almonds.
• Separately drop 2 level tablespoonfuls batter onto prepared baking sheet, spacing 6 inches apart. Using moistened fingertips, press each to 2-inch round. Bake cookies until deep golden (cookies will spread to about 5-inch diameter), about 7 minutes. Let cool on sheet until set enough to lift without tearing, about 1 minute. Using metal spatula, lift hot cookies 1 at a time and drape over cups, gently pressing to cup shape; cool. Remove from cups. Refrigerate baking sheet 2 minutes to chill quickly. Repeat with remaining batter, making 2 cookies at a time. (Cookies can be made 4 days ahead. Carefully enclose in resealable plastic bags and freeze.)

ALMOND COOKIE CUPS WITH CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350ºF. Spray 2 baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray.
• In medium bowl, stir together flour, sugar and salt. In another medium bowl, whisk together all remaining cookie ingredients except 3 tablespoons almonds. Add to flour mixture, whisking until smooth.
• For each cookie, spoon 1 1/2 tablespoons batter onto baking sheet; spread evenly to 6-inch round, eliminating any holes. Make only 2 cookies per baking sheet, placing at least 1 inch apart. Sprinkle each cookie with 1/8 of the sliced almonds.
• Bake one sheet at a time 6 to 8 minutes or just until tops are dry and light brown, with golden-brown edges. Immediately place cookies in 6-oz. custard cups. Place second custard cup over cookies to form cup shape.
• OR, you can cover the back of muffin tins with the warm cookie to get the same effect. Remove from molds; set on cooling rack. Cool completely. Repeat using remaining batter.
• To make chocolate mousse, place chocolate in heatproof medium bowl. Bring 1 inch water to a boil in medium saucepan. Remove from heat. Place bowl of chocolate over saucepan (bowl should not touch water). Let stand until melted. Stir. Remove from heat; set aside to cool.
• In small heavy saucepan over medium-low heat, whisk together 1/2 cup of the cream, corn syrup and egg yolks. Cook, whisking constantly, 5 to 6 minutes or until mixture is thick, covers back of spoon and reaches 160ºF. on instant-read thermometer. (Be careful not to overcook.).
• Strain yolk mixture into chocolate. Immediately whisk briskly, making chocolate shiny and satin-smooth. Cool to 80ºF. to 85ºF. (Mixture should feel comfortable to the touch.).
• In large bowl, beat remaining 1 cup cream at medium-high speed until soft peaks form. Fold cooled chocolate mixture into whipped cream. Cover; refrigerate up to 8 hours. Bring to room temperature before serving.
• o serve, place tulip cups on individual dessert plates. Fill each with chocolate mousse; sprinkle with toasted almonds.
• TIP *To toast almonds, place on baking sheet; bake at 375ºF. for 6 minutes or until deep golden brown.

ALMOND COOKIE CUPS

Steps:

• In a small bowl combine the flour and almonds. Set aside.
• In a medium medium saucepan bring the brown sugar, corn syrup and butter to a full boil over medium heat. Remove from heat. Stir in flour mixture and vanilla.
• Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper. For each cookie cup, drop about 3 tablespoons of batter about 5 inches apart onto the cookie sheet (bake 3 or 4 at a time).
• Bake in a 350º oven for 10-12 minutes or until bubbly and deep golden brown (cookies will form irregular shapes).
• Let stand on cookie sheet about 2 minutes. When cookies are firm, but still pliable, place them on inverted custard cups to form small bowls. Cool to room temperature.
• To serve fill the cups with ice cream, sorbet, mousse, or whatever dessert you would serve in a bowl where you can eat the 'bowl' too!

ALMOND COOKIE CUPS WITH SAUTERNES-POACHED APPLES AND FROZEN SAUTERNES MOUSSE

Steps:

• Whisk wine, sugar and yolks in medium-size stainless steel bowl until well blended. Set bowl over saucepan of simmering water (do not allow bottom to touch water) and whisk until thermometer registers 170°F and mixture is thick enough to fall in heavy ribbon when whisk is lifted, about 5 minutes. Remove from over water; whisk until mixture is cool, about 3 minutes. In another medium bowl, whisk cream until medium-firm peaks form. Fold cream into wine mixture in 2 additions. Cover mousse; freeze until firm, at least 4 hours. (Can be made 4 days ahead; keep frozen.)
• Bring wine, water and sugar to boil in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add apples. Simmer until apples are just tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand until mixture is cool, about 45 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer apples to plate. Boil syrup until reduced to generous 1/2 cup, about 6 minutes. Return apples to syrup. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Chill. Rewarm over low heat.)
• Place 1 Almond Cookie Cup on each of 6 plates. Fill each with scoop of mousse. Top with apples, syrup and nuts.