Chocolate Truffle Loaf With Raspberry Sauce Recipes

CHOCOLATE-RASPBERRY TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Put 12 ounces of the chocolate in a bowl. Whisk together the cream and corn syrup in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Pour over the chocolate and whisk until thoroughly combined and smooth. Whisk in butter until smooth and glossy. Add the raspberry liqueur and mix well.
• Pour the chocolate into a deep pan and chill. When the chocolate is firm, scoop out small truffle balls, using a melon baller or other small scoop. (Dip scoop in very hot water before each scoop, patting each time onto a towel to avoid getting water into the chocolate mixture.) Chill truffles slightly, and then perfect the circular shape by rolling quickly in palms of your hands. Store the truffles in the refrigerator until ready to finish.
• To finish the truffles: Melt the remaining 8 ounces of chocolate in a bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, stirring occasionally. Set the bowl aside and let cool slightly, stirring occasionally, until just cooler than body temperature.
• Put enough cocoa powder in a bowl to form a small pile. Wearing rubber gloves and working with 1 truffle at a time, rub some of the melted chocolate all over the truffles and roll quickly in your hands until smooth. Drop the truffles into the cocoa powder, roll to coat completely, and transfer to a platter. Store in a cool, dry place.

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE LOAF WITH RASPBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Line 8 1/2 by 4 1/2 inch loaf pan with plastic wrap.
• In a small bowl mix 1/2 cup cream with egg yolks until blended.
• In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine chocolate, 1/2 cup corn syrup and butter, and cook five minutes or until chocolate and butter melt, stirring constantly.
• Add egg mixture; cook three minutes longer, stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
• In a medium sized bowl with electric mixer at high speed, beat remaining 1 1/2 cups cream, confectioner's sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form.
• With rubber spatula, fold cream mixture into chocolate mixture until no streaks remain. (Wait until chocolate mixture is cooled sufficiently or the cream will separate, and you don't want that.).
• Pour into prepared pan. Refrigerate overnight or chill in freezer for three hours.
• For raspberry puree: Puree thawed raspberries in their liquid in a blender or a food processor. Run puree through a wire strainer to separate seeds and strain puree into a small bowl. Stir in remaining 1/3 cup corn syrup to the puree.
• Garnish truffle loaf with fresh raspberries and mint leaves if desired, and serve with raspberry puree.

CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY MOUSSE TRUFFLE CAKE, RASPBERRY-CASSIS SAUCE

Steps:

• MAKE THE CHOCOLATE SOUR CREAM CAKE:.
• Preheat oven to 350ºF.
• Lightly butter the bottom and sides of two 9x2" round cake pans. Line the bottoms of the pans with parchment paper. Dust the sides of the pans with flour and tap out the excess.
• Sift together flour, baking soda and salt onto a piece of waxed paper.
• Place chocolate in microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on medium(50%power)1 minute. Stir. Microwave 1 minute more or until chocolate softens.
• Stir until smooth. Let cool.
• Beat butter and shortening in mixing bowl until creamy, using electric mixer at medium speed.
• Add brown sugar.
• Continuing to beat, gradually add granulated sugar over a 4 minute period.
• Continue beating for another 1-2 minutes or until mixture is a light texture and off-white in color. Beat in vanilla.
• Beat eggs with fork until frothy. At medium speed while continuing to beat, slowly add beaten eggs to batter.
• Add sour cream aand beat until smooth. Beat in melted chocolate until blended. Scrape down sides and bottom of bowl with rubber spatula.
• At low speed, beat in flour mixture alternating with milk, beginning and ending with flour, mixing until just blended. Mix batter for 10 more seconds.
• Divide batter between prepared pans and smooth top.
• Bake 35-40 minutes or until center springs back when gently pressed with a finger.
• Cool in pans on wire racks for 5 minutes.
• Run a thin-bladed knife around the edges of layers to loosen. Invert the cake layers onto wire racks.
• Peel off the paper circles and leave them loosely attached to the bottom of the cake layers. Reinvert the layers onto other racks so that they are right side up.
• Cool cake layers completely.
• MAKE THE RASPBERRY SYRUP:.
• Combine water and sugar in small saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar is completely dissolved.
• Raise heat to medium-high and bring syrup to boil. Remove the pan from heat and stir in the raspberry brandy and Grand Marnier.
• Keep syrup covered until ready to assemble the cake.
• MAKE THE CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY MOUSSE:.
• Put chocolate in food processor fitted with the metal chopping blade. Cover and process 30-45 second or until finely ground.
• Combine frozen raspberries and 1/3 cup sugar in a noncorrosive medium saucepan. Cook over medium-heat, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves and raspberries soften.
• Press raspberry mixture through a fine meshed sieve into noncorrosive saucepan. Discard seeds. Cook raspberry pureé over medium-high heat until it reduces to 1/3 cup.
• Pour hot pureé over ground chocolate.
• Combine egg yolks, 3 tablespoons sugar and salt in small bowl. Whisk vigorously until well blended.
• Scald 3/4 cup heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium heat. While whisking constantly, temper egg yolk mixture into saucepan of hot cream.(To temper eggs; stir a little of the hot cream into eggs to warm "temper" them. The warmed eggs are then stirred into the remaining hot mixture. Tempering helps to prevent eggs from curdling).
• Continue to cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture starts to thicken. (Do not allow the custard to overcook or the custard will be grainy.).
• With the motor of the food processor running immediately pour the hot custard through the feed tube. Process for 15-25 seconds or until chocolate is completely melted.
• With a spatula, scrape down the side of bowl.
• Add raspberry brandy, Grand Marnier and vanilla. Process briefly until blended.
• Turn chocolate/raspberry mixture into large bowl.
• Whip remaining heavy cream in chilled bowl just until it starts to thicken and barely forms soft peaks, using electric mixer at high speed.(Do not overwhip cream or mousse will be grainy.).
• Using a rubber spatula gently fold one-third of whipped cream into chocolate/raspberry mixture to lighten it. Fold in remaining whipped cream.(Do not OVERFOLD the mousse.) Keep the mousse at room temperature while preparing cake layers.
• ASSEMBLE THE TRUFFLE CAKE:.
• Line the inside of 2 quart round glass bowl with plastic wrap. Remove paper circles from bottoms of cake layers. Using a long serrated knife, slice each cake layer in half horizantally.
• Trim one cake layer into 6-1/4" circle. Generously brush with some of the raspberry soaking syrup. Place the cake circle into the bottom of the prepared bowl. Spoon slightly less than half of the chocolate raspberry mousse over the cake and spread it evenly with a spatula.
• Trim a second cake layer into 7-1/2" circle and generously brush with soaking syrup. Place cake circle on top of the mousse and press it down gently. Cover with remaining mousse.
• Brush a third layer cake with remaining syrup and press it gently on top of the mousse.
• Wrap the bowl in plastic-wrap and chill the truffle cake overnight.(Reserve the leftover cake layer for another use. It may be frozen for up to 1 month.).
• MAKE THE RAPBERRY-CASSIS SAUCE:.
• Combine frozen raspberries, red currant jelly and sugar in noncorrosive medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is completely dissolved and the berries are soft. Do not let mixture boil.
• Strain raspberry mixture a fine-meshed sieve into a bowl. Discard seeds. Pour raspberry pureé back into noncorrosive medium saucepan.
• Put arrowroot in small cup. Slowly stir in water until mixture is smooth. Stir arrowroot paste into raspberry mixture.
• Cook raspberry mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a gentle boil. Continue to boil for 30-60 seconds or until sauce is translucent.
• Do not boil more than 1 minute or the sauce will become watery. Remove pan from heat. Cool sauce to room temperature and stir in Crème de Cassis, to taste. Transfer sauce to a bowl; cover and refrigerate.
• MAKE THE TRUFFLE FROSTING:.
• Put chocolate in food processor fitted with metal chopping blade. Process for 30-45 seconds or until finely ground.
• Heat cream, corn syrup and salt in small saucepan over medium heat to a gentle boil.
• Pour cream mixture over chocolate in food processor. Add vanilla. Let the mixture stand for 30 seconds to melt chocolate. Process briefly until mixture is smooth. Turn into a small bowl and cover surface with plastic wrap.
• Let mixture stand at room temperature for about 1 hour or until stiff enough to frost truffle cake.
• ASSEMBLE THE TRUFFLE CAKE:.
• Remove the plastic from the top of the truffle cake bowl. Invert bowl onto cake plate and remove bowl and plastic wrap from the top of the cake.
• Using a small metal cake spatula, cover the cake with an even layer of truffle frosting.
• Create decorative swirls in the frosting using the back of a soup spoon.
• Lightly dust the cake with cocoa powder.
• Store the truffle cake in refrigerator under a cake dome for up to 4 days.
• TO SERVE:.
• Spoon a pool of raspberry-cassis sauce onto a dessert plate. Lay a slice of cake on top of sauce. Garnish with fresh raspberries.

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE LOAF

Steps:

• Line 8 x 4 inch (1. 5 L) loaf pan with plastic wrap.
• Mix 1/2 cup whipping cream with egg yolks.
• Set aside.
• Heat chocolate, corn syrup and butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat until chocolate is melted, stirring constantly.
• Add egg mixture; cook 3 minutes or until thickened, stirring constantly; cool to room temperature.
• Beat the remaining whipping cream, icing sugar and vanilla, until stiff peaks form; gently stir in chocolate mixture until no streaks remain& pour into prepared pan.
• Refrigerate overnight (my preference) or freeze 3 hours.
• Invert Chocolate Truffle Loaf onto serving plate; remove pan and peel off plastic wrap.
• Serve plain, with a wee dollop of whipped cream or with raspberry sauce.

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE CAKE WITH RASPBERRIES

Steps:

• Make cake:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. and butter a 10-inch springform pan.
• Chop chocolate and cut butter into pieces. In a double boiler or a metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water melt chocolate and butter with sugar, stirring until smooth (sugar will not be dissolved). Remove top of double boiler or bowl from heat and cool mixture to room temperature. Transfer mixture to a large bowl.
• Separate eggs, putting yolks in a small bowl and whites in a large bowl. Add yolks 1 at a time to chocolate mixture, whisking well after each addition. With an electric mixer beat whites until they just hold soft peaks. Sift flour over chocolate mixture and with a whisk fold flour and half of whites into mixture gently but thoroughly. With a rubber spatula fold in remaining whites gently but thoroughly.
• Pour batter into pan, smoothing top, and bake in middle of oven 40 to 45 minutes, or until a tester comes out with moist crumbs adhering. Cool cake completely in pan on a rack. Cake may be made up to this point 2 days ahead and kept in an airtight container at room temperature.
• Make ganache:
• Chop chocolate and in a double boiler or a metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water melt chocolate, stirring frequently until smooth. Remove top of double boiler or bowl from heat. While chocolate is melting, in a small saucepan bring cream just to a simmer and add espresso. Add cream mixture to chocolate with butter and liqueur and stir until smooth.
• Assemble cake:
• Remove side of pan and cut cake into 8 wedges. Invert wedges (so that top sides will be flat) onto a large rack set over a large shallow baking pan, spacing them at least 1 inch apart. Pour enough warm ganache evenly over wedges to coat them and let stand 5 minutes.
• Scrape excess ganache from baking pan into bowl of ganache and pour ganache over wedges again, making sure they are coated completely. (Remaining ganache may be chilled, covered, and reheated for using as a chocolate sauce.) Let wedges stand at room temperature until ganache is set, at least 1 hour, and up to 6.
• Just before serving, pick over raspberries and cover top of each wedge with raspberries.

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE LOAF

Steps:

• Line 8x4-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap. Place chocolate, butter and corn syrup in large saucepan; cook on medium heat until chocolate is completely melted, stirring constantly. Beat 1/2 cup of the cream and the egg yolks in large bowl until well blended. Gradually stir into chocolate mixture. Cook 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Cool to room temperature.
• Beat remaining 1-1/2 cups cream, sugar and vanilla in medium bowl with electric mixer on medium-high speed until soft peaks form. Add to chocolate mixture; stir gently until well blended. Pour into prepared pan.
• Refrigerate overnight or freeze 3 hours. Unmold onto serving plate; remove plastic wrap. Cut into 12 slices. Place 1 slice on each dessert plate; top with 2 Tbsp. of the Raspberry Sauce and about 1 Tbsp. of the raspberries.

ALMOND ICE CREAM TERRINE WITH CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES AND RASPBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Make truffles:
• Bring cream and butter to boil in heavy small saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chocolate; whisk until smooth. Whisk in amaretto. Pour into small bowl. Freeze until firm enough to form into balls, about 50 minutes.
• Line baking sheet with foil. Using teaspoon, scoop out level teaspoonfuls of chocolate mixture. Drop onto baking sheet. Freeze until firm, about 20 minutes. Using hands, roll chocolate into balls; return to baking sheet and freeze. (Can be made 1 week ahead. Cover and keep frozen.)
• Make ice cream:
• Combine cream, milk and sugar in heavy large saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Bring to boil. Add chopped almonds. Cover and let steep 2 hours.
• Pour cream mixture through fine strainer set over bowl; discard solids in strainer. Return cream mixture to same saucepan. Bring to simmer. Whisk yolks in large bowl to blend. Gradually whisk hot cream mixture into yolks. Return mixture to saucepan. Stir over medium-low heat until custard thickens and leaves path on back of spoon when finger is drawn across, about 3 minutes (do not boil). Cool slightly. Mix in almond extract. Transfer to bowl and chill custard until cold, at least 3 hours or overnight.
• Line 9x5x3-inch glass loaf dish with plastic wrap, overlapping sides by 2 inches. Process custard in ice cream maker according to manufacturers instructions. Transfer ice cream to prepared dish. Press truffles into ice cream, spacing apart. Cover terrine and freeze until firm, at least 8 hours or overnight.
• Make sauce:
• Puree thawed raspberries in processor. Pour through strainer set over bowl, pressing with back of spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard solids in strainer. Whisk sugar and amaretto into sauce. Cover and chill. (Terrine and sauce can be prepared 2 days ahead. Keep terrine frozen. Keep sauce refrigerated.)
• Turn terrine out onto platter. Peel off plastic. Cut terrine into 3/4-inch-thick slices. Serve with sauce and fresh berries.