Chestnut And Whiskey Mousse With Chocolate And Walnut Biscuit And Chocolate Sauce Recipes

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.)

CHOCOLATE-CHESTNUT MOUSSE

Steps:

• Bring chestnuts, milk, sugar, vanilla, and salt to a boil over high heat in a small saucepan. Reduce heat, bring to a simmer, and cook, stirring occasionally, until milk is reduced by one-quarter and chestnuts smash fairly easily against the side of the pot with the back of a spoon, 15-17 minutes.
• Meanwhile, finely chop 4 oz. chocolate. Using a peeler, shave remaining 1 oz. chocolate; set aside until ready to serve.
• Purée chestnut mixture in a blender on high speed until very smooth, about 2 minutes. Add chopped chocolate and 1 tsp. brandy and blend on high speed until chocolate is melted, about 30 seconds. Scrape into a large bowl and let cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally (if lumps form, stir vigorously until smooth), 15-20 minutes.
• Whip 2 cups cream with a whisk in another large bowl until it just barely holds soft peaks. Stir one-third of cream into chocolate mixture to lighten it, then fold in remaining cream just until incorporated. Transfer mousse to a large serving bowl, cover, and chill at least 2 hours or up to 1 day.
• Whip remaining 1 cup cream and 1/2 tsp. brandy with whisk in a large bowl to medium peaks. Garnish mousse with reserved chocolate shavings and serve with whipped cream alongside.
• Do ahead
• Mousse can be made 1 day ahead; cover and chill.

CHOCOLATE CHESTNUT TORTE WITH CHOCOLATE COGNAC MOUSSE

Steps:

• Make ganache:
• Bring cream and butter to a simmer in a 3- to 4-quart heavy saucepan, then reduce heat to low. Whisk in chocolate until smooth and remove from heat. Transfer ganache to a bowl and chill, covered, stirring every 30 minutes, until thickened but spreadable, about 2 hours. (If ganache becomes too stiff, let stand at room temperature until slightly softened.)
• Make cake layers while ganache chills:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter cake pans and line bottom of each with a round of parchment or wax paper. Butter paper and dust pans with flour, knocking out excess flour.
• Pulse chestnuts with flour, baking soda, and salt in a food processor until finely ground.
• Beat butter and brown sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes in a standing mixer or about 6 minutes with a handheld. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in vanilla (mixture will look a little separated). Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture and sour cream alternately in 3 batches, beginning and ending with flour and mixing until just combined.
• Divide batter evenly among pans and bake in middle of oven until pale golden and springy to the touch, about 30 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on racks, then invert onto racks and remove parchment.
• Make mousse and assemble torte:
• Melt butter and chocolate in a double boiler or a metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water, stirring until smooth, and stir in Cognac. Transfer to a bowl and chill, covered, stirring occasionally, until thickened to the consistency of softened butter, about 1 hour. (If mixture becomes too stiff, let stand at room temperature until softened.)
• Beat cream in a bowl with cleaned beaters until it just holds soft peaks, then chill, covered, while beginning to assemble torte.
• Put 1 cake layer on cardboard round on a rack set in a shallow baking pan (1 inch deep). Spread 1/2 cup ganache evenly over top of layer and sprinkle with all of chopped marrons glacés. Top marrons glacés with another 1/4 cup ganache and cover with another cake layer.
• Beat egg whites with a pinch of salt using cleaned beaters at medium-high speed until they just hold soft peaks. Add sugar and beat at high speed until whites just hold stiff peaks. Stir whipped cream into chocolate Cognac mixture, then stir in one third of whites to lighten. Fold in remaining whites gently but thoroughly. Spoon mousse immediately onto cake layer (it sets quickly), spreading evenly, then top with third cake layer. Chill torte, covered, until mousse layer is firm, about 1 hour. Keep remaining ganache at a spreadable consistency at room temperature, chilling, covered, if it becomes too soft.
• Glaze cake:
• Reserve 1 1/4 cups ganache in a metal bowl, then spread remainder over top and side of torte to seal in crumbs. Chill until firm, about 1 hour.
• Set bowl of reserved ganache over a saucepan of barely simmering water, stirring until ganache reaches a pourable consistency. Remove bowl from heat and cool 5 minutes. Pour ganache evenly over top of torte, making sure it coats all of side. Shake rack gently to smooth glaze (let excess drip into baking pan). Transfer cake on cardboard to a cake stand or plate using 2 large heavy metal spatulas and chill until set. Garnish just before serving.

CHOCOLATE-CHESTNUT MOUSSE

Steps:

• Put the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl; microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring, until melted, about 2 minutes. Blend the chestnut puree, almond extract, salt and 1 cup confectioners' sugar in a food processor until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and fold in half of the melted chocolate.
• Beat the cream and the remaining 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar with a mixer until soft peaks form. Reserve 1/2 cup for topping. Fold one-quarter of the remaining whipped cream into the chestnut mixture, then fold in the rest. Chill up to 8 hours.
• Divide the mousse among dessert glasses. Top with the reserved whipped cream. Remelt the remaining chocolate in the microwave, if necessary, then drizzle on top.
• Put the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl; microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring, until melted, about 2 minutes. Blend the chestnut puree, almond extract, salt and 1 cup confectioners' sugar in a food processor until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and fold in half of the melted chocolate.
• Beat the cream and the remaining 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar with a mixer until soft peaks form. Reserve 1/2 cup for topping. Fold one-quarter of the remaining whipped cream into the chestnut mixture, then fold in the rest. Chill up to 8 hours.
• Divide the mousse among dessert glasses. Top with the reserved whipped cream. Remelt the remaining chocolate in the microwave, if necessary, then drizzle on top.

CHESTNUT AND WHISKEY MOUSSE WITH CHOCOLATE AND WALNUT BISCUIT AND CHOCOLATE SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring the whiskey and the 3/4 cup cream to a boil. Remove from heat and add the gelatin leaves.
• Pour into a mixing bowl with the chestnut puree. Mix with a "La Feuille" (a paddle mixer). Mix until the mixture cools down. Fold the whipped cream into the chestnut whiskey mixture with a spatula, forming a mousse. Reserve in a plastic pastry bag.
• Preheat oven to 350 F.
• In a bowl mix the yolks and 12.5 oz. sugar to a ribbon. With a spatula fold in cocoa and chopped walnuts. Mix well. In a separate bowl whip egg whites with the 8 ounces of sugar, firm but not stiff. Fold egg whites into the yolk/sugar mixture. Bake on a sheet pan on parchment or silpad for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Bring water and sugar to a boil. Remove from heat. Add whiskey (no heat).
• Bring the water and the sugar to a boil in a large, stainless steel pot. Add the cocoa powder and whisk until smooth. Add the chopped chocolate, honey, bourbon, pepper, and espelette.
• Turn in sorbet or ice cream machine.
• Soak gelatin sheets in ice water. Bring water and sugar to a boil. Slowly wisk in cocoa powder, then the cream. Bring to a boil. Strain mixture of any lumps and cool down to 144 degrees F.
• Remove gelatin sheets from water, squeeze dry, and then mix into chocolate. Cool down completely.
• Assembly of Dessert:
• Cut 12, 1 1/2 and 3 inch discs out of the chocolate and walnut biscuit.
• Using 12 silicone dome molds, take the mousse and fill each mold a quarter of the way up.
• Take the 1 1/2 inch disc and put it into the mold, pressing it into the mousse until level with it.
• Take the mousse and fill the molds, filling till 1/2 inch from the top of the mold.
• Brush the discs heavily with the whiskey syrup. Set aside.
• Fully melt chocolate glaze inside of a pourable container. Cool down till chocolate is at room temperature or cool to the touch. Place completely frozen chocolate mousses on a wire rack.
• Slowly pour chocolate over each bomb till thoroughly coated. Put onto a sheet tray and refrigerate for an hour.
• Plating of Dessert:
• Brush some melted chocolate glaze onto a circular plate going from ten o clock to two o clock.
• Take the 3 inch disc and press it into the mold. Should be level with the mold.
• Freeze for 4 to 5 hours or until completely frozen.
• Place the chocolate mousse at ten o clock on the plate and the wedge opposite it at two o clock.
• Take one finished chocolate mousse and cut a wedge out of it.
• Take a quenelle of chocolate sorbet and place it at four o clock on the plate.

CHESTNUT MOUSSE

Steps:

• Bring chestnuts, milk, and salt to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Partially cover; cook until chestnuts are very soft and milk is reduced to 1/4 cup, about 15 minutes. Process mixture in a food processor until very smooth (if needed, add more milk, 1 tablespoon at a time).
• Pass through a fine sieve into a bowl; discard solids. Press plastic wrap directly onto surface. Refrigerate puree 1 hour.
• Stir together sugar and 1/3 cup water in a small saucepan until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; cook until syrup registers 238 degrees on a candy thermometer (carefully tilt pan to fully submerge thermometer tip).
• Meanwhile, put yolks in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. With mixer running on low speed, gradually pour syrup down side of bowl. Increase speed to high; beat until pale, fluffy, and cool, about 8 minutes.
• Whisk cream in a clean mixing bowl until soft peaks form; set aside.
• Stir egg mixture into puree; whisk until smooth. Gently fold in whipped cream. Chill, with plastic wrap directly on surface, at least 2 hours or overnight.

CHOCOLATE & CHESTNUT TRUFFLE TORTE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Grease a 25cm springform tin, then line the base and sides with baking paper. Whisk eggs and sugar until pale and thick.
• Sift the flour and cocoa together onto the mixture, then gently fold in, followed by the butter. Pour into the tin, ease to the edges, then bake for 8-10 mins until risen and firm to the touch. Cool in the tin.
• Meanwhile, beat the chestnut purée and egg yolks until as smooth as possible. Melt the chocolate in a bowl over a pan of simmering water with half the cream. Remove from the heat, then beat into the chestnut mixture.
• Whisk the egg whites until stiff. In a separate bowl, whip the remaining cream until it holds its shape. Fold into the chocolate mixture, then carefully fold in the egg whites. Drizzle the brandy, if using, over the sponge base, then pour the chocolate mix on top. Level the surface and chill for 5 hrs or overnight until firm. Chill for 2 days, or freeze for 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
• To serve, carefully remove from the tin, strip off the paper and slide onto a cake stand. Dust heavily with cocoa.