Chocolate Coeurs A La Creme Recipes

COEUR A LA CREME

Steps:

• Stir the cream and 1/3 cup of the sugar together in a large bowl. Beat the sweetened cream until soft peaks form. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites to soft peaks. Continue beating, adding the remaining 1/3 cup sugar 1 tablespoon at a time, until the whites form stiff, glossy peaks. Fold the cream mixture and beaten egg whites into the yogurt. Fold in the vanilla.
• Line 1 large or 6 individual coeur a la creme molds or a large sieve with a double thickness of damp cheesecloth, allowing the excess to hang over the edge.
• Fill the prepared mold(s) with the cream mixture and set over a large plate to drain. If using a sieve, set the sieve over a bowl. Fold the excess cheesecloth over the cream. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 24 hours.
• Unwrap and invert the mold(s) onto a serving plate or plates. Remove the cheesecloth. Or, if using the sieve, invert onto a large plate and use an ice cream scoop to spoon individual servings into dessert bowls. Surround the coeur a la creme(s) with raspberry coulis and a few fresh raspberries.

CHOCOLATE COEURS A LA CREME

Steps:

• Using an electric standing mixer, fitted with wire attachment, add the heavy cream. Whip the cream to soft peaks. Set the cream aside. Change the wire attachment to a paddle attachment. In another bowl, cream the cream cheese, 1/2 cup melted chocolate, and orange liqueur. Mix thoroughly, scraping down the sides of the bowl, occasionally. Fold the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture.
• Line 6 small heart-shaped ceramic molds with dampened cheesecloth, allow the cheesecloth to hang over the sides of the mold. Fill each mold with the chocolate filling. Fold the overlapping cheesecloth over the filling, covering tightly. Place the molds on a baking sheet and refrigerate overnight, at least 12 hours. Remove the hearts from the molds and discard the cheesecloth.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Dip each strawberry in the 1 cup melted chocolate, about 3/4 of the strawberry. Place the strawberries on the baking sheet and chill the berries until the chocolate is set, about 4 to 6 hours. Serve the hearts on individual plates with the strawberries and cookies.

COEUR A LA CREME

Steps:

• Rub the cheese through a sieve to make smooth. Whip the heavy cream to stiff peaks with the sugar and fold into the cheese. Add lemon zest if using. Beat the egg whites to stiff peaks and fold them in to the mixture as well. Turn the mixture into cheesecloth-lined heart molds (these are porcelain with perforated bottoms, available in specialty kitchenware shops.) Set on a rack set in a casserole dish or on a baking pan, cover and refrigerate overnight to drain.
• Just before serving, unmold. Serve with more sweetened heavy cream poured over, and berries.
• Cook's Note: If you do not have a coeur a la creme mold, simply line a fine mesh sieve with cheesecloth and set over a bowl. It may not be heart-shaped but it will taste just as delicious.
• Food Network Kitchens suggest caution in consuming raw and lightly-cooked eggs due to the risk of Salmonella or other food-borne illness. To reduce this risk, we recommend you use only fresh, properly-refrigerated, clean, grade A or AA eggs with intact shells, and avoid contact between the yolks or whites and the shell. For recipes that call for eggs that are raw or undercooked when the dish is served use shell eggs that have been treated to destroy Salmonella, by pasteurization or another approved method.

COEURS A LA CREME

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place one sheet of phyllo dough on a clean, dry work surface; cover remaining sheets with a damp kitchen towel. Using a pastry brush, brush phyllo lightly with melted butter. Place 2 teaspoons confectioners' sugar in a fine sieve; dust phyllo with sugar. Top with a second sheet of phyllo dough. Brush with melted butter; dust with sugar. Continue this process with the remaining 5 sheets of phyllo dough.
• Fold the stack in half, forming a 7-by-6 1/2-inch rectangle; transfer to baking sheet. Chill until the butter solidifies, about 10 minutes.
• Using a coeur a la creme mold as a guide, cut out 4 hearts from the layered phyllo dough with a paring knife; remove excess dough from the baking sheet, and discard.
• Bake phyllo hearts until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack until cool. Store in an airtight container.
• Cut out four 6-inch squares of cheesecloth. Dampen squares with water, line the coeur a la creme molds, and set aside.
• Place cottage cheese and 1 tablespoon sugar in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Process until smooth, about 2 1/2 minutes. Add cream cheese; pulse until smooth, about 1 minute. Add yogurt, and pulse 15 seconds. Divide cheese mixture evenly among molds, about 3/4 cup per mold. Fold the overhanging cheesecloth over the tops. Place molds on an unlined baking pan, and transfer to refrigerator. Allow mixture to drain 4 hours or overnight.
• If using, cut pomegranate in half, and reserve 2 tablespoons seeds for garnish. Transfer the remaining seeds to the bowl of a food processor; puree 30 seconds. Transfer puree to a fine sieve set over a medium bowl. Using the back of a ladle, push down on pulp to extract juice. Whisk remaining teaspoon sugar into juice.
• When ready to serve, place the reserved phyllo hearts on plates. Lift cheesecloth from molds, and invert the cheese hearts onto the phyllo hearts; remove cheesecloth. Drizzle the juice over the assembled hearts. Garnish desserts with pomegranate seeds and rose petals, if using; serve immediately.

WHITE CHOCOLATE COEUR A LA CREME

Steps:

• Line six 1/2 cup heart molds or one large heart mold with enough dampened cheesecloth to overhang edges and enclose the filling completely. Using an electric mixer set at medium speed, beat the cream cheese with the confectioners' sugar and 1/4 cup of the cream in a large bowl. Add the melted white chocolate and beat until completely smooth. Set aside. Using an electric mixer set at medium speed, whip the remaining cream in a medium bowl until it forms stiff peaks. Fold the cream into the white chocolate mixture. Tap the molds on countertop, fold cheesecloth over top, and refrigerate on a baking sheet six hours to overnight. FOR RASPBERRY PUREE: In a food processor fitted with a metal blade, puree the raspberries with sugar. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer to remove seeds, if desired. FOR APRICOT PUREE: In a food processor fitted with metal blade, puree the apricots with their juices and the amaretto. TO SERVE: Place a generous serving of raspberry puree on one side of each plate. Put two small dollops of apricot puree on the raspberry puree and, using a small knife, draw completely through each dollop to make a heart shape. Unmold the coeur a la creme and set beside the purees. Recipe created exclusively for Cooking.com by Ruth Manchester, The Bramble Inn and Restaurant, in Brewster on Cape Cod, Massachusetts.