Barefoot Contessas Hot Chocolate Recipes

CREPES AND HOT CHOCOLATE SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt, and set aside. In a small saucepan, warm the milk over low heat. Add the warmed milk and butter to the flour mixture, followed by the eggs and the rum. Use an immersion blender to mix the batter until thoroughly combined. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rest at room temperature for at least 1 hour, or in the refrigerator overnight.
• To make the crepes, spray an 8-inch saute pan with grapeseed oil spray, wipe it clean, and turn the heat to high. (You'll know the pan is ready when it just begins to smoke.) Using a 2-ounce ladle, ladle out crepe batter into the hot pan and tilt the pan to spread the batter into an even circle. After 45 seconds, when the top is dry, flip the crepe over and cook on the other side for 20 seconds, until it just starts to brown at the edges. Fold the crepe in half and transfer it to a sheet pan lined with foil. Repeat this process with the remaining crepe batter.
• Place one crepe on a plate and top with Hot Chocolate Sauce. Fold the sides over and repeat with another crepe on the same plate (you will have two crepes for each serving.) Repeat with the remaining crepes and serve.
• Place the chocolate in a large bowl and set aside. Combine the water, sugar, cocoa powder, and cream in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Pour the hot cream mixture over the chocolate, setting the saucepan aside, and whisk until smooth. Pour the chocolate sauce into a sieve set over the reserved saucepan and keep warm until ready to use.

WHITE HOT CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• In a saucepan on medium heat, heat the milk and half-and-half to just below the simmering point. Remove the pan from the heat and add the white chocolate. When the chocolate is melted, add the vanilla and whisk vigorously. Reheat very gently and serve with a vanilla bean as a stirrer in each cup.

BAREFOOT CONTESSA'S HOT CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Heat milk and half and half in a saucepan on medium heat to just below the simmering point.
• Remove the pan from the heat and add both types of chocolate.
• When they are melted, add the sugar, vanilla extract and espresso and whisk vigorously.
• Reheat gently and serve immedietly garnished with vanilla beans or cinnamon sticks.

MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Place the milk and sugar in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer. Off the heat, stir in the chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper with a wooden spoon and allow to steep for 3 minutes. Reheat the hot chocolate over low heat until it simmers.
• Strain the chocolate into a measuring cup and pour into mugs. Stir with cinnamon sticks, if desired.

BAREFOOT CONTESSA'S DOUBLE CHOCOLATE PUDDING

Steps:

• Beat the egg yolks and sugar until light yellow and thick in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, on medium-high speed.
• On low speed, add the cornstarch, cocoa powder, and salt.
• Bring the milk to a boil in a medium saucepan and, with the mixer on low, slowly pour the hot milk into the chocolate mixture.
• Combine well, then pour the mixture back into the pan.
• Cook the mixture over low heat, stirring constantly with a whisk or wooden spoon, until thickened.
• If the mixture begins to curdle, remove it from the heat and beat it vigorously with a wire whisk.
• Remove the pan from the heat, add the chocolate, butter, vanilla, and heavy cream, and mix until the chocolate and butter are melted.
• Pour into serving bowls.
• Place plastic wrap directly on the top of the pudding (to prevent a skin on top of pudding), and chill thoroughly.

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE - BAREFOOT CONTESSA - INA GARTEN

Steps:

• In a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, melt the two chocolates, coffee, coffee powder, Grand Marnier, Armagnac, and vanilla extract. Cool to room temperature. Beat in the softened butter.
• Meanwhile, place the egg yolks and the 1/2 cup of sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on high speed for about 5 minutes, until pale yellow; when you lift the beater, the mixture will fall back on itself in a ribbon. With the mixer on low speed, blend in the chocolate mixture. Transfer to a larger mixing bowl.
• Measure 1 cup of egg whites and freeze or discard the rest. Combine the cup of egg whites with a pinch of salt and 1 tablespoon of the remaining sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whisk on high speed until stiff but not dry. Mix half of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture; then fold the rest in carefully with a rubber spatula.
• In the same bowl of the electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whisk the heavy cream and the remaining 1 tablespoon of sugar until firm. Carefully fold the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture. Pour the mousse into a 2-quart serving dish. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for a few hours or overnight and up to a week.
• Decorate with sweetened whipped cream just before serving.