Mocha Granita Recipes

PEPPERMINT MOCHA CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• 1. PREHEAT oven to 350degrees F. Grease bottom and side of 9-inch springform pan.
• 2. PRESS cookie crumbs onto bottom of prepared pan. Place in freezer for 5 minutes.
• 3. BEAT cream cheese, Coffee-mate and 1/4 cup sugar in large mixer bowl until creamy. Beat in eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Pour filling into crust.
• 4. BAKE for 45 to 50 minutes or until edges are set but center still moves slightly.
• 5. COMBINE sour cream, remaining sugar and vanilla extract in medium bowl; mix well. Spread over surface of warm cheesecake. Bake for 5 minutes. Remove from oven and cool on wire rack. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Remove side of springform pan.

ESPRESSO GRANITA WITH WHIPPED CREAM

Steps:

• In a 13 by 9-inch glass baking dish, carefully pour in hot espresso and whisk in granulated sugar until dissolved completely. Place dish in freezer and every hour, scrape the mixture with a large fork to create the granita texture. The granita will need approximately five hours to completely freeze. The first time you scrape, the granita will not be frozen solid. You want to start scraping while it's still slushy so that texture of the granita will be even throughout.
• Right before serving, make the whipped cream. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer with a whisk attachment, beat the heavy cream until soft peaks. Add the vanilla extract and confectioners' sugar and continue to beat until stiff peaks.
• Line up 12 glass Champagne flutes. Place 1 tablespoon of granita in the bottom of each glass. Using a different spoon, spread a layer of whipped cream. Continue layering the granita and whipped cream, ending with the whipped cream. Sprinkle chocolate over the top of each glass. Garnish with a sprig of mint. Serve immediately.

MOCHA TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Put 12 ounces chopped semisweet chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Bring 1 cup heavy cream, 1 tablespoon butter and a pinch of salt to a simmer in a saucepan; pour over the chocolate. Let sit until melted, then stir until smooth. Add 1/4 cup espresso and 1 teaspoon vanilla stir until smooth and shiny. Pour into a shallow baking dish and refrigerate until firm, at least 3 hours. Roll tablespoonfuls of the chocolate into about 20 balls, then roll in shredded coconut, cocoa powder or crushed peppermint candies. Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour.

MOCHA MERINGUE BARK

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
• Put 1/4 cup blanched almonds and 1 teaspoon sugar into a food processor and pulse until it resembles cornmeal; reserve. Finely chop the remaining almonds.
• In a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites and salt until very soft peaks have formed. In a small bowl, stir together the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and espresso powder. With the mixer running on low, slowly add in the sugar and the espresso powder, 1 tablespoon at a time, whipping just to the stiff peak stage, (do not overbeat). Gently fold in the reserved almond flour.
• With a large offset spatula, spread the meringue batter on the lined baking sheet in an even layer, about 1/2-inch thick. Sprinkle the finely chopped almonds and chocolate chips evenly over the surface of the meringue and bake for 1 hour. Turn the oven off, leaving the meringue in the oven to dry out further and cool for an additional 1 hour.
• Note: If meringue gets chewy, put it back into a 200 degree F oven for about 30 minutes, turn off the oven and let dry inside the oven while it cools.
• To serve, break the meringue into pieces. Leftover meringues can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature in a dry cool place for up to 3 days.