Dark Chocolate Madeleines With Chocolate Mint Glaze Recipes

DARK-CHOCOLATE MADELEINES WITH CHOCOLATE MINT GLAZE

Steps:

• In a small, heavy saucepan, heat the butter over medium heat until light golden brown and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the cocoa powder.
• Strain the mixture and let cool until tepid.
• Meanwhile, melt the chocolate, and allow it to cool slightly.
• Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together into a small bowl and set aside.
• Place the eggs, egg yolk and the granulated sugar into a 4 1/2 -quart bowl of a heavy-duty electric mixer.
• Place the bowl with the eggs and sugar over a bowl of hot water to warm them, stirring frequently until the sugar begins to dissolve.
• Remove the bowl with the eggs and sugar from the water and dry off the bottom.
• Attach the bowl to the mixer and beat the egg mixture using the whisk attachment on medium-high speed until the mixture forms soft peaks when the beater is lifted.
• Beat in the vanilla extract.
• In a clean, grease-free bowl using a hand-held electric mixer, beat the egg whites on high speed until they form stiff but not dry peaks.
• Fold the dry ingredients into the egg-sugar mixture.
• Fold in the melted butter and chocolate. Finally, fold in the egg whites. Place the madeleine batter in the refrigerator to chill for 15 minutes.
• Place 2 racks in the lower half of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees.
• Butter and flour two 12-mold madeleine pans. Chill the pans briefly.
• Remove the pans and the batter from the refrigerator.
• Place a dollop of batter in each mold and smooth with an offset palette knife or spatula.
• Bake for 15 minutes, or until the center springs back when lightly touched.
• Do not overbake.
• Remove the madeleines from the molds and cool on a wire rack.
• To make mint-chocolate glaze, place chopped chocolate into a heat-resistant bowl.
• In a small saucepan, bring the heavy cream to a boil.
• Immediately pour the cream over the chocolate and let stand 1 minute before stirring.
• Stir gently until the chocolate is melted and combined.
• Stir in the mint extract.
• Using a pastry brush, generously glaze half of the shell side of each madeleine.
• Allow the glaze to set before wrapping in plastic or storing in an airtight container.

MINT BUTTERCREAM FROSTING WITH DARK CHOCOLATE GLAZE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream 1 1/3 cups sugar with 1/2 cup butter or margarine, and salt. Blend extract, 2 tablespoons milk, and remaining sugar into mixture. Gradually stir remaining milk into frosting until desired spreading consistency is reached.
• Melt and stir unsweetened chocolate and 2 tablespoons butter or margarine together in a microwave, or in a double boiler. Double this glaze if desired.
• Frost cake. Pipe a frosting scallop at the top edge of the cake to keep glaze from dripping down the sides of the cake. Pour the glaze over the top of the cake. Chill until glaze has set.

DARK CHOCOLATE MADELEINES

Steps:

• Position rack at center of oven and preheat to 375 degrees F.
• Generously butter the twelve indentations of a madeleine mold pan (where each shell is 3-by-2-inches). Lightly dust the indentations with flour and remove the excess.
• In the top of a double boiler set over hot, not simmering, water, melt the chocolate, stirring frequently until smooth. Remove the top of the double boiler containing the chocolate and set aside to cool for 5 to 10 minutes.
• In a small bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
• In a medium bowl, using a hand-held electric mixer set at med-high, beat the butter and the sugar together for 30-60 seconds, until creamy.
• Add the egg yolk and continue mixing for 20-30 seconds, until light.
• Beat in the melted chocolate.
• Reduce the speed to low and mix in the milk and vanilla.
• Add the flour mixture and mix just until smooth.
• In a medium bowl, using a hand-held electric mixer set at low speed, beat the egg white until frothy. Gradually increase the speed to medium-high and continue beating the egg white, until stiff, shiny peaks form when the beaters are lifted. Fold the egg white into the chocolate mixture, until evenly mixed.
• Divide the batter between the buttered molds. Smooth the tops so that the batter is level with the top of each mold.
• Bake the madeleines for 12 to 15 minutes, until they spring back when gently pressed with a finger. Do not overbake, otherwise the madeleines will lose their moist, almost fudgy texture.
• Cool the madeleines in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
• Unmold the madeleines by inverting the pan onto a work surface and gently tapping.
• Serve them warm, or cool completely and store in an airtight container.

CHOCOLATE MINT GLAZE

Steps:

• In the top of a double boiler set over simmering water, melt the chocolate, stirring occasionally, until smooth. Whisk in the water and creme de menthe all at once. Remove from the heat and stir until very glossy. Use immediately as a glaze for chocolate mint cake.