Dark Chocolate And Almond Dream Recipes

DARK CHOCOLATE ALMOND ROCKS

Steps:

• Spread almonds in a large skillet; toast over medium heat until starting to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Pour almonds into a bowl.
• Melt chocolate in top of a double boiler over simmering water, stirring frequently and scraping down the sides to avoid scorching, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; pour in almonds and stir until evenly coated.
• Drop spoonfuls of chocolate-almond mixture onto a plate lined with waxed paper.
• Chill until set, about 10 minutes.

DARK CHOCOLATE WHOOPIE PIES WITH TOASTED ALMOND CREAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 F.
• Make the pies: In a medium heatproof bowl, combine the unsweetened chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate and butter. Fill a pot (relatively the same size as the bowl) about 1/3 full with water and place it over medium heat. When the water simmers, place the bowl of chocolate and butter over the simmering water and lower the heat. You want to melt the chocolate and butter gently together, stirring and scraping the sides (to avoid scorching).
• In another bowl, whisk together the sugar, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon and lemon zest. Set aside.
• Separately, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.
• When the chocolate and butter is melted, remove the bowl from the heat; stir to assure it's completely mixed and transfer to another medium bowl. This will accelerate cooling. Allow the chocolate to cool a few minutes. Whisk in the egg mixture. Whisk in the flour mixture. Only whisk until blended, over-mixing can affect the texture of the pies.
• Spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray (alternatively, use a piece of fitted parchment sprayed with nonstick spray). Drop the batter in large spoonfuls (keeping the shapes as round as possible) on the baking sheet. You are aiming for rounds that are about 2 inches in diameter. Take care to leave some room (about 2 inches) between each one to allow for spreading that will occur as they bake.
• Place the tray in the hot oven and bake for 6 to 8 minutes. Check the pies. Leave in the oven an additional minute or two if they seem under baked. The dough will lose some of its shiney-ness and no longer look wet but will still feel soft. Remove the tray from the oven and allow them to cool for about 5 to 10 minutes before gingerly lifting them off the baking sheet and onto a flat surface.
• Make the filling: In a medium saucepan, heat the milk to a simmer and add about 3/4 of the cup of the toasted almonds. Reserve the remaining almonds. Shut off the heat and allow the almonds to "steep" in the milk, for 10 to 15 minutes. Strain the milk and pour it back into the same pan, discarding the almonds from the milk.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat together the sugar, flour, cornstarch and egg yolks until thick and smooth, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Pour some of the hot milk mixture over the eggs and whisk to blend. Pour the egg mixture back into the milk; turn on a low to medium heat and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the mixture thickens, 5 to 8 minutes. Stir in the almond extract. Continue to cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes, stirring to make sure it doesn't cling to the bottom of the pan and burn, until very thick. Pour the cream into a clean bowl. Stir in the remaining almonds. Cover tightly with a layer of plastic so the cream doesn't form a skin. Allow to cool.
• Assemble: "Sandwich" some of the cream in between two of the chocolate rounds. Drizzle with melted chocolate, if desired.

DARK CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM WITH CARAMELIZED ALMONDS AND TOASTED MARSHMALLOWS

Steps:

• Place dark chocolate, cocoa powder, and salt in top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir frequently, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching, until chocolate is melted and smooth, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Mix sugar and milk powder together in a small bowl.
• Place 1 3/4 cups milk and cream in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, whisking occasionally, until mixture comes to a full rolling boil. Whisk the sugar mixture into the pot. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 2 minutes, whisking to prevent scorching. Remove from heat.
• Mix 2 tablespoons milk and tapioca together into a small bowl. Whisk into the hot dairy mixture.
• Whisk 1/3 of the dairy mixture into the bowl of melted chocolate. Repeat twice more, whisking well until smooth. Let cool to room temperature, about 15 minutes.
• Strain mixture into a bowl and refrigerate for 4 hours, or preferably overnight. Make caramelized almonds and toasted marshmallows before churning the ice cream.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with silicone baking mats.
• Toast almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat until fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Combine butter, white sugar, brown sugar, milk, and salt in the skillet. Stir until melted together and smooth. Bring to a boil; cook for 2 minutes. Stir in almonds until coated. Pour onto a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until bubbling, 7 to 8 minutes. Let cool completely before breaking up into uneven pieces.
• While almonds are cooling, spread marshmallows out on the second baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until tops are lightly toasted, about 5 minutes. Let cool.
• Churn ice cream according to manufacturer's instructions until it reaches a soft-serve consistency, about 20 minutes. Layer ice cream, almonds, and marshmallows in a freezer-safe container. Freeze until firm enough to scoop, at least 4 hours.

DARK CHOCOLATE ALMOND CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE ALMOND CREAM CHEESE FR

Steps:

• Oven@ 350 degrees.
• Combine the cake ingredients and mix with a whisk.
• Pour into 2 round 8 or 9-inch cake pans which have been lined with greased aluminum foil or parchment paper.
• Bake for 28-30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted.
• Let cool in pans for 10 minutes before turning out.
• Meanwhile combine the frosting ingredients and beat until fluffy with a hand-mixer.
• When cake layers are completely cool, frost the top part of the bottom layer.
• Place second layer over the frosted layer.
• Finish by frosting top layer and sides of cake.