Chocolate Mousse Bombes 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.)

WHITE CHOCOLATE AND RASPBERRY FROZEN MOUSSE BOMBES RECIPE

Steps:

• To Prepare the Mold: Place the dome mold sheet onto a sheet tray. Using a pastry brush, paint the melted, tempered chocolate evenly on the surface of each of the mold cavities, making sure that the chocolate goes straight to the edge. Place the molds in the fridge to set.
• To Prepare the Cake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Make an X with butter on the surface of a sheet tray, and line the tray with parchment. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on high speed, cream the butter and sugar until they are light and fluffy, scraping down the sides of the bowl periodically. Add the eggs and yolks one at a time and mix well after each addition. Sift dry ingredients together, turn the mixer down to low speed, and add half of the dry ingredients, followed by half the buttermilk. Mix on low until just incorporated, then add the rest of the dry ingredients and buttermilk and mix until just incorporated. Remove the bowl from the stand mixer and finish mixing by hand with a large rubber spatula, then pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly with an offset spatula. Bake for 15-20 minutes, rotating halfway through, until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean and the cake begins to pull away from the sides of the pan. Allow the cake to cool for 15 minutes in the pan, then run a knife around the edge and place a piece of parchment and an inverted sheet tray on top and turn the cake upside down onto the new parchment. Pull the parchment off the top gently and allow the cake to rest for 10 minutes before cutting cake circles with a cutter that is the same size as the cavities of the mold.
• To Prepare the Mousse: In a large bowl set over boiling water, melt the white chocolate. Add the 2 ounces of cream a little at a time, stirring until the mixture becomes smooth and warm to the touch. Melt the bloomed gelatin in the microwave (stop every 15 seconds to check it) and stir to add it to the mixture. Whisk the egg yolks and the salt together, then add them to the chocolate mixture a little bit at a time, whisking as you go to prevent them from cooking into chunks. Whisk the mixture for 1 minute over the double broiler, then remove it from the heat and place in the fridge to cool to room temperature, a point where the mixture is neither warm nor cold (about 20 minutes). At this point, the chocolate mixture will be firmer. Whisk to make it smooth and supple. Add 1/4 of the cold whipped cream to the chocolate mixture and stir to lighten it. Add the remaining cream and fold gently to incorporate it.
• To Assemble the Bombes: Place the mousse in a piping bag. Remove the chilled mold from the fridge. Pipe the mousse into each of the shells, taking care to only fill it just to the top. Place a raspberry or two into each bombe and smooth mousse over the top. Place a circle of cake over each and gently press the cake into the mousse. Put the mold on a sheet tray in the freezer and allow it to freeze for at least 4 hours.
• To Make the Sauce: Place the frozen raspberries and sugar in a saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally. The raspberries will begin to melt, then they will liquefy. Stir to help break them up in the pot. When the fruit begins to simmer, remove from heat and force the juice through a fine mesh strainer. Discard the seeds, chill the sauce.
• For Serving: Set out plates for portioning. Place a tablespoon of sauce on the plate, then drag the spoon through the spot to create a design. Loosen the edges of the bombes from the molds and turn the cavities inside out to unmold the bombes. Allow them to sit for 20 minutes so the cake can thaw, then carefully place the bombes on the plates and serve.

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

Steps:

• Place the butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Break the chocolate into small pieces directly into the bowl. Microwave it in 20-second intervals, stirring between each bout of heat, until the chocolate is about 75% melted. Stir, allowing the residual heat in the bowl to melt the chocolate completely. (Alternatively, place the chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl and place over a saucepan containing about 1 inch of barely simmering water. Stir with a wooden spoon until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth.) Let the mixture cool for a few minutes, then whisk in the egg yolks one at a time, mixing until smooth after each addition. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer or electric hand mixer, beat the egg whites on medium-high speed until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and beat until soft peaks form (the peaks should be just starting to hold, and will melt back into themselves after a second). Gradually beat in ¼ cup of the sugar and continue beating until stiff peaks form (the peaks will stand straight up when the beaters are lifted from the mixture). Using a large rubber spatula, fold the egg white mixture into the chocolate mixture until uniform. Set aside.
• In another bowl, beat the heavy cream on medium-high speed until it begins to thicken up. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar and the vanilla and continue beating until the cream holds medium peaks (when you lift the beaters or whisk out of the bowl, the peaks will slightly droop down, but they won't lose their shape entirely). Fold the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture. Be sure it is fully incorporated but don't mix any more than necessary. Divide the mousse between 6 individual glasses, cover, and chill until set, at least 2 hours.
• Up to a few hours before serving, whip the cream until it begins to thicken up. Add the sugar and whip to medium peaks. Dollop the whipped cream over the mousse and top with chocolate shavings.
• Make-Ahead Instructions: Mousse can be made up to 1 day ahead of time. Cover with plastic wrap and keep chilled in the refrigerator. Add whipped cream topping and chocolate shavings up to a few hours before serving.
• Note: Chocolate mousse is made with raw eggs. If that is a concern, try to find pasteurized eggs. Pasteurized eggs have been briefly exposed to heat to destroy any potential bacteria. Whole Foods usually carries them but call your local store to be sure before making a special trip. (Note: eating raw eggs is not advisable for pregnant women, babies, the elderly, or anyone with a compromised immune system.)

HOT CHOCOLATE BOMBS

Steps:

• Put 12 silicone semi sphere moulds (ours were 7cm) flat on a baking tray. Using a pastry brush, brush the chocolate over the inside of the moulds until they're all covered - don't worry about being too precise.
• Tip the moulds upside down and shake the excess chocolate onto some baking parchment, and scrape the top using a palette knife. Place back on the baking tray, and in the fridge for 10 mins to set completely. If your remaining melted chocolate has hardened, give it a quick burst in the microwave to melt.
• Brush the second layer of chocolate in the moulds so they're evenly covered. Place flat on the baking tray again and leave to set in the fridge for 1 hr or overnight. Once set, carefully remove from the mould by peeling back one side and get ready to assemble by getting your hot chocolate and marshmallows.
• Place a frying pan over a high heat for 1 min until hot. Remove from the hob and place one of the chocolate spheres down on it for a second. Fill with 1 tsp of the hot chocolate powder and 1 tbsp of the marshmallows. Briefly place another one of the chocolate spheres down on the warm frying pan, and press both spheres together to form a filled ball. Repeat until you have six filled hot chocolate bombs.
• To decorate, dust them all over with edible gold lustre. Heat up a mug of milk and stir in the hot chocolate bomb to serve.

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

Steps:

• Bring an inch of water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Combine the cream and chocolate in a large heatproof bowl. When the water boils, turn the heat to low so the water is barely simmering or just steaming. Set the bowl over the saucepan and melt the chocolate, gently stirring with a whisk now and then.
• While the chocolate melts, whisk the egg whites in a clean bowl using a stand mixer or electric hand mixer on medium speed. When the whites are foamy, add the sugar in a slow stream while whisking. Continue whisking until stiff peaks form. The whites should look glossy but not dry, and, when you lift the whisk from the mixture, a peak should form in the bowl and hold.
• Once the chocolate has melted completely, turn off the heat but leave the bowl over the saucepan. Holding the bowl with a kitchen towel, add the egg yolks one at a time, whisking after each addition. If the mixture looks broken, remove the bowl from the saucepan, cool for a minute, then add 1 tablespoon cream and whisk just until shiny and smooth. Whisk in the vanilla. (Don't worry if it still doesn't look completely smooth. It will come together in the next step.)
• Add a quarter of the beaten whites to the chocolate mixture and stir gently with a flexible rubber spatula until incorporated but still a little streaky. This will make it easier to fold in the remaining whites to create an airy mousse by gradually lowering the temperature of the chocolate (tempering) and making the mixture loose.
• Add the rest of the whites and fold them in by running the spatula from 12 o'clock on the bowl to 6 o'clock, then scooping up the chocolate on the bottom and gently folding it over the whites as you move toward 9 o'clock. Rotate the bowl 90 degrees and repeat. Continue folding just until the last streak of white disappears. It's OK if there are a few lumps of whites left. It's better to not deflate the batter by folding too much.
• Scoop into a pretty bowl or into individual cups or bowls for serving if you'd like. Otherwise, keep it in the mixing bowl. Refrigerate the mousse uncovered until cool, then cover and refrigerate for at least 4 more hours and preferably 24. The covered mousse can be refrigerated for up to 5 days.
• If you'd like to serve the mousse with whipped cream, whisk heavy cream until soft peaks form. A cup or two of heavy cream is plenty for this amount of mousse. Serve the mousse cold, straight from the refrigerator, with the whipped cream.

BOOZY CHOCOLATE BOMBES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Butter 6 x 150ml ovenproof pudding moulds and put a disc of baking parchment in the base of each.
• To make the sponge, put the butter, chocolate and coffee in a bowl over a pan of simmering water. Gently heat until melted, add the vanilla and stir to combine. Set aside to cool a little. Sift the flour, cocoa and bicarb into another bowl, then scatter in the sugar, breaking up any clumps of sugar with your fingers. Mix the eggs and yogurt in a jug. Add the chocolate mixture and the egg mixture to the flour, and stir everything with a spatula until there are no visible lumps of flour. Divide the mixture between the 6 moulds, put on a baking tray and cook in the centre of the oven for 30 mins or until a skewer pushed into the cakes comes out clean. Leave to cool for 10 mins, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely. Can be made up to 5 days ahead, wrapped well in cling film and stored in a sealed container; or freeze for up to 6 weeks.
• While the cakes cool, make the chocolate mousse. Melt the chocolate in a small bowl over a pan of simmering water. Leave to cool for 5 mins, then stir in the egg yolk. Whisk the egg white in another bowl until stiff, add the sugar and continue to whisk until glossy and thick. Pour the cream into a third bowl and lightly whisk until thick. Tip the cream into the chocolate and stir to combine. Add the beaten egg white and, using a metal spoon, fold together until there are no streaks of egg white remaining. Chill until needed.
• Line each pudding mould with cling film. Remove the tops of the cakes with a small serrated knife to create a flat surface. Carefully split the cakes into 2 or 3 layers through their middles. Reassemble the cakes in the pudding moulds, soaking each layer of sponge with the liqueur and layering with chocolate mousse. Cover the cakes with any overhanging cling film and press down gently. Chill the cakes for at least 3 hrs or for up to 2 days before serving.
• Melt the white chocolate in a small bowl over a pan of barely simmering water. Turn each cake out and unwrap. Drizzle the top of each with a little white chocolate, letting it drizzle down the sides. Decorate using a small sprig of real or artificial holly. Leave the white chocolate to set for 20 mins before serving.