Chocolate Raspberry Marquess Recipes

CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY MARQUESS

Steps:

• Place 12 (2 3/4-inch round by 1 1/2-inches tall) steel individual cake rings on a parchment lined sheet pan. (Alternately, you can use 1 large 9-inch round by 2 1/2-inch tall metal dessert ring). Cut 12 circles from the Chocolate Butter Sheet Cake and put 1 in the bottom of each metal ring. Using a pastry brush, moisten each cake with Raspberry Simple Syrup. Arrange 3 or 4 fresh raspberries inside the rings on top of the cake circles.
• Melt the chocolate and 7-ounces of the butter in the top of a double boiler, over gently boiling water; upper pan should not touch water. Remove from the double boiler but keep the mixture warm and liquid.
• Whip the cream until it comes to soft peaks that hold their shape. Refrigerate until needed.
• Whisk the remaining 2 ounces of butter with the eggs, sugar, and raspberry liqueur in a medium bowl. Place over gently boiling water; the bowl should not touch water. Cook, whisking constantly, for 5 to 10 minutes, until the mixture reaches 160 degrees on a thermometer. Immediately remove from the heat and with an electric mixer, whip at high speed for about 5 minutes, until cool to touch.
• Whisk the egg mixture into the melted chocolate and butter. Fold in the whipped cream, mixing until no streaks of white remain.
• Using a pastry bag or a large spoon, fill the prepared metal rings with the chocolate mousse, covering the raspberries. With a flat knife, scrape the mousse to make it level with tops of the rings. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours, until firm.
• To remove from mold, warm the sides of the rings by wrapping briefly with a hot towel, or use propane torch to heat sides so they release. Wrap a chocolate band around each torte, if desired. You can also decorate by arranging fresh raspberries, chocolate truffles, chocolate shards or chocolate leaves on top.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Brush the sides of a 12 by 16-inch sheet pan with melted butter or cooking spray, and dust lightly with flour with cooking spray. Line the bottom with a rectangle of parchment or waxed paper.
• Cream the butter in a bowl, using an electric mixer until it is very light and aerated. Add the egg yolks, a few at a time, stopping to scrape the bowl in between additions. Add the melted chocolate, scraping the bowl again, beating until the chocolate is incorporated.
• Whip the egg whites and cream of tartar in a clean bowl, using an electric mixer. When they are frothy, gradually add the sugar, whipping until soft peaks form. Fold the whites into the yolk mixture.
• Sift the flour onto the batter and gently fold it in. Spread evenly into the prepared pan. Bake 10 to 15 minutes, until the cake is just set and a light crust has formed on the top. Cool.
• Heat the sugar and water in a small saucepan, gently swirling the pan until the sugar dissolves. Cook just until the syrup is clear: do not boil. Stir in raspberry sauce and the liqueur, if using.
• In a blender or a food processor, puree the raspberries with the sugar, lemon juice, and liqueur. Strain through a fine sieve to remove the seeds. Refrigerate. .

CHOCOLATE-RASPBERRY COOKIES

Steps:

• Whisk 1 1/2 cups flour, 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 3/4 teaspoon baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. In a large bowl, beat 1 1/4 sticks softened butter and 1 cup light brown sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed, 4 minutes. Beat in 1 egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture on low speed. Stir in 3/4 cup chocolate chips and 1/2 cup each white chocolate chips and crushed freeze-dried raspberries. Roll into 1 1/2-inch balls; arrange on parchment-lined baking sheets and bake at 375˚ F until set, 12 to 15 minutes.

CHOCOLATE AND RASPBERRY BEER

Steps:

• Combine the raspberry liqueur, stout and raspberry beer in a pitcher. Stir gently to blend. Divide among 6 chilled beer glasses and serve.

CHOCOLATE & RASPBERRY BIRTHDAY LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Oil and line two round 20cm springform cake tins with baking parchment. Whisk the oil, sugar, eggs and milk in a bowl until smooth. Sieve the flour, cocoa and bicarb into another large bowl, then gradually mix in the wet ingredients.
• Divide the mixture between the tins and bake for 35-40 mins until the cakes are risen and spring back when pressed. Leave to cool in the tins for 10 mins, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• For the raspberry layer, stir the jam and the defrosted raspberries together. Once the cakes are cool, whip the cream with the sugar to soft peaks, then gently fold half the raspberry mixture through the cream to create a ripple effect.
• Spoon most of the reserved raspberry mixture over one of the cakes, then dollop on half of the cream. Smooth over with a palette knife, then place the other sponge on top. Swirl over the remaining cream and swirl the last of the raspberry mixture through it. Will keep in the fridge for two days.

CHOCOLATE MARQUISE

Steps:

• Break the chocolate into pieces and place in a heatproof bowl. Then assemble a bain-marie - do this by pouring a little water into a saucepan and placing the bowl over the water (making sure the water does not touch the bottom of the bowl). Set the pan over a gentle heat and warm the water until the chocolate has melted. Take off the heat and leave to cool a little.
• Meanwhile, place the butter and half the sugar into another large bowl. Using a tabletop mixer or electric hand whisk, beat until the mixture is really light and creamy, then beat in the cocoa powder.
• Separate the eggs (the whites can be frozen for another time) and put the yolks in a third bowl. Tip in the remaining sugar, then beat together until pale and creamy. To check if it's ready, make a figure-of-eight shape in the mixture with the beater - it should hold its shape for a moment. In a fourth bowl, whip the cream until thickened with soft peaks.
• Pour the melted chocolate into the butter mixture, and carefully stir through until it is well combined. Gently fold in the egg mixture. When this is amalgamated, stir in the whipped cream. Now line a 6.5 x 22cm tin with 3 layers of cling film, leaving a 10cm overhang.
• Spoon the mixture into a large piping bag with a large nozzle attached (see Gordon's steps, far right). Pipe a layer over the bottom of the tin, then cover this with a layer of After Eights (cut some in half to ensure they fit). Pipe over another layer of chocolate cream, followed by a layer of After Eights. Continue until you have 4 layers of chocolate mints and the tin is full, finishing with a chocolate cream layer. Fold over the cling film, then chill overnight or up to 2 days.
• Just before serving, place the marquise in the freezer for 10 mins to make it easier to slice. Place the tin, bottomside up, on a serving plate, slide off the tin, then peel away the cling film. If you have a blowtorch, quickly run the flame over the surface of the marquise to give it a glossy sheen. Alternatively, dip a palette knife in boiling water and smooth the surface that way. Use a serrated knife dipped in boiling water to cut the marquise into slices.