Buddhas Chocolate Mousse Shortcakes Recipes

BUDDHA'S CHOCOLATE MOUSSE SHORTCAKES

Steps:

• MOUSSE: Mix all mousse ingredients except semisweet chocolate until well blended and thick. Cover and refrigerate til needed.
• SHORTCAKES: Heat oven to 375°F In food processor process the dry ingredients briefly to mix. Scatter butter over top and pulse till it gets crumby.
• With motor running, add liquid and process till mixture pulls from sides of bowl. Drop 1/3 cupfulls of dough 2" apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake about 18 minutes till puffed and look dry. Cool completely on wire rack.
• AT SERVING TIME: Beat chilled mousse mixture with a mixer on high speed til soft peaks form. fold grated chocolate into mousse mixture.
• MAKE WHIPPED TOPPING: Beat heavy cream and powdered sugar in a med bowl with mixer on high til soft peaks form.
• Split shortcakes in half. Fill each with chocolate mouse and whipped cream. Sprinkle tops with some additional cocoa and garnish with chocolate curls.

CHOCOLATE SHORTCAKES WITH SOUR CHERRY TOPPING

Steps:

• For cherry topping: In small saucepan combine all topping ingredients and cook over medium-high heat, until cherries start to release their juice and the liquid thickens and becomes syrupy, 6-7 minutes; cool and refrigerate until needed (you can make this up to 1 day ahead).
• For shortcake biscuits: Preheat oven to 350F and set rack in middle of oven; combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl until blended; rub butter into flour mixture with your fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal; in a small bowl, whisk egg yolks with buttermilk to blend; add to flour mixture and stir just until evenly moistened; turn dough out onto a floured board and, with lightly floured hands, knead just until it comes together (if the dough is very sticky, sprinkle on some additional all purpose flour); pat out to about 1 1/4 inches thick and cut into rounds with a 3 inch cutter; gather dough scraps and pat out again to make remaining shortcake biscuits; set 2 inches apart on a large baking sheet; bake biscuits for approximately 25 minutes, or until golden-brown, and transfer to a rack to cool completely.
• For whipped cream: Beat cream, sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form.
• To assemble: Slice shortcake biscuits in half and set bottoms of biscuits on 6 dessert plates; dollop generously with whipped cream and distribute cherry topping evenly over the cream; place biscuit tops over cherries at a slight angle and sprinkle tops lightly with confectioners' sugar.

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKES WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

Steps:

• For shortcakes:
• Preheat oven to 425°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Blend flour, 3 tablespoons sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in processor. Add butter and process using on/off turns until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add 1/2 cup buttermilk and process just until moist clumps form. Blend in chopped chocolate using on/off turns.
• Turn dough out onto lightly floured work surface. Dust lightly with flour. Gently press dough to 1/2-inch thickness. Using 3 1/4-inch cutter, cut out shortcakes. Gather dough scraps and press to 1/2-inch thickness; cut out additional shortcakes for a total of 6. Transfer shortcakes to prepared baking sheet. Brush shortcakes with remaining 1 tablespoon buttermilk. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sugar.
• Bake shortcakes until golden and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool. (Can be prepared 8 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.)
• For topping:
• Toss strawberries, sugar and liqueur in large bowl. Let stand at room temperature until juices form, tossing occasionally, about 1 hour.
• Cut shortcakes horizontally in half. Place 1 shortcake bottom on each of 6 plates. Spoon 1/3 cup White Chocolate Mousse over each. Spoon some of strawberry topping over each. Cover each with shortcake top. Top each with spoonful of mousse, then more strawberry topping and serve.

CHOCOLATE SHORTCAKES WITH MIXED BERRIES AND RASPBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• In large bowl, combine strawberries, 1 cup raspberries and blackberries. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup sugar and 2 tablespoons liqueur; stir until all berries are coated. Cover; refrigerate at least 3 hours.
• Meanwhile, heat oven to 400ºF. Line air-cushioned baking sheet with parchment paper, or place 2 baking sheets together and line top sheet with parchment paper. (This helps control overbrowning the bottoms of these shortcakes.) In another large bowl, combine cake flour, all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup of the sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, cream of tartar, salt and espresso coffee powder; mix well.
• Add butter. Using pastry blender or 2 knives, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-size pieces of butter. Add buttermilk, 3/4 teaspoon vanilla and egg; stir until dough forms.
• Sprinkle work surface lightly with cake flour. Turn out dough onto flour. (Dough will be sticky.) With floured hands, gently knead 12 to 14 strokes. Pat dough into round 1 inch thick.
• Cut out shortcakes with floured 2 1/2-inch round cutter, pressing dough scraps together when necessary. Place on baking sheet; sprinkle tops with remaining 2 teaspoons sugar.
• Bake 14 to 16 minutes or until shortcakes are firm to the touch. Cool on wire rack at least 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in food processor, combine raspberries with their syrup and 2 tablespoons liqueur; puree until smooth. Place strainer over medium bowl; pour raspberry mixture into strainer. Press mixture with back of spoon through strainer to remove seeds; discard seeds. Cover; refrigerate until serving time.
• In large bowl, whip cream, sour cream, 2 tablespoons sugar and 3/4 teaspoon vanilla at medium-high speed until soft peaks form. Cover; refrigerate until serving time.
• To serve, split shortcakes in half horizontally. Place bottom halves on individual dessert plates. Top with cream and berries. Cover with shortcake tops. Pour some raspberry sauce onto plates around shortcakes. Serve with remaining sauce. Refrigerate leftovers.