Raspberry Lemon White Chocolate Domes Recipes

CHOCOLATE-CARAMEL DOMES

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8-inch square glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• Whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Whisk in the milk, vegetable oil, vanilla, egg and 1 teaspoon hot water until smooth and combined.
• Pour into the prepared baking dish and bake until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack, then flip out onto a cutting board to cool completely, about 20 minutes.
• Use a 2 1/2-inch round biscuit cutter to cut out 6 circles from the cake (save the scraps for another use); set aside.
• For the chocolate domes and mousse: Meanwhile, add the coconut oil and 3 ounces of the chocolate to a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 1-minute intervals, stirring in between each, until the chocolate and coconut oil are melted and the mixture is smooth, about 2 minutes. Pour the chocolate mixture into the cavities of a silicone half-sphere mold with six 3-ounce-capacity cavities and tilt the mold to swirl the chocolate around until each half-sphere is coated entirely (you can also use your finger to swirl the chocolate around). Some chocolate may spill over on top of the mold, which is fine; it will break off when you unmold the domes. Tap out any excess chocolate and freeze until the chocolate is hardened, about 5 minutes.
• Put 1/4 cup of the cream in a small bowl and stir in the gelatin. Put the butter and remaining 6 ounces chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 1-minute intervals, stirring in between each, until the chocolate and butter are melted and the mixture is smooth, about 2 minutes. Stir the gelatin mixture into the chocolate mixture until the gelatin is dissolved. Cool to room temperature, about 10 minutes.
• Whip the remaining 3/4 cup cream in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until stiff peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes. Add half of the chocolate-gelatin mixture and continue beating until well combined. Add the remaining chocolate-gelatin mixture and continue beating until no streaks remain.
• For the filling and topping: Scoop 1/3 cup of the mousse into each chocolate cavity in the half-sphere mold. Using the back of a teaspoon, make a divot in the middle of each portion of chocolate mousse about halfway down. Pour a heaping teaspoon of caramel sauce into each divot. Top each half-sphere with a cake round, pressing down gently into the mousse (use a paper towel to wipe away any mousse that may seep out of the mold). Freeze until the mousse is set, about 1 hour.
• Gently peel the mold away from each of the half-spheres and place them cake-side down on a serving platter.
• Use a vegetable peeler to shave 1 tablespoon of chocolate curls from the chocolate. Put the remaining chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between each, until melted, about 1 minute. Drizzle the melted chocolate over each dome and sprinkle with the chocolate shavings. Serve immediately.

LEMON-WHITE CHOCOLATE BROWNIES

Steps:

• Make the brownie layer: Preheat the oven to 350˚. Line a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with foil, leaving a 2-inch overhang on the two short sides; lightly butter the foil. Melt the butter and white chocolate in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring often, until smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the granulated sugar, eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, salt and baking powder until smooth. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan.
• Bake until the brownies are lightly browned on top and softly set in the middle, about 25 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the lemon layer: Whisk the eggs, granulated sugar, lemon juice and flour in a large bowl until smooth. Pour over the hot brownies. Return to the oven and bake until the lemon layer is set, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool completely in the pan.
• Lift the brownies out of the pan using the foil overhang. Dust with confectioners' sugar. Cut into pieces, then decorate with yellow candies.

CHOCOLATE DOME WITH SUMMER BERRY COMPOTE

Steps:

• Assembly: Pipe chocolate mousse into 4, (2-inch) dome molds. Spread mousse around sides of dome to the top, freeze. Repeat process with mousseline, freeze. Place 3/4-inch disc dacquoise on mousseline. Fill with 3/4-ounce compote. Top with 1 3/4-inch disc dacquoise, freeze. Unmold and glaze. Garnish with tuile and caramel stick.;
• Lime dacquoise: Combine sugar, flour and zest, set aside. Whip egg whites and lime juice into soft peaks, gradually add sugar into stiff peaks. Fold in sugar mixture, spread in a half sheet pan lined with parchment. Sprinkle with toasted almonds and bake in a preheated 380-degree oven for 12 minutes. Cool and cut into 4 (1 3/4-inch) discs and 4 (3/4-inch) discs. Summer berry compote: Combine sugar, flour and zest, set aside. Whip egg whites and lime juice into soft peaks, gradually add sugar into stiff peaks. Fold in sugar mixture, spread in a half sheet pan lined with parchment. Sprinkle with toasted almonds and bake in a preheated 380-degree oven for 12 minutes. Cool and cut into 4 (1 3/4-inch) discs and 4 (3/4-inch) discs. Chocolate mousse: Combine sugar, yolks and heavy cream. Whisk over bain marie constantly until thickened. Scald cream and add the heavy cream. Temper with the egg mixture. Fold in the whipped cream and use immediately. Vanilla mousseline: Bring milk and vanilla beans to boil. Ribbon yolks, sugar and flanc powder. Temper yolks with milk and cook for 3 minutes. Remove from heat, add softened gelatine. Add butter, cool to room temperature. Fold in whipped cream and use immediately.
• Chocolate tuille: Cream butter and sugar. Gradually add egg whites. Add flour and cocoa powder. Mix until smooth. Spread batter into 10 by 3-inch rectangle. Bake in a preheated 375-degree oven for 7 minutes. Immediately cut into 4 triangles with a 1/2-inch base. Wrap warm tuile around dome to form garnish. Cool completely and store in airtight container. Caramel sticks: Combine and cook until golden brown. Spoon caramel onto silpat, forming 6 inch long sticks. Cool and store in airtight container. Chocolate glaze: Bring sugar, water and apricot glaze to a boil. Add cocoa powder, pate a glacer and cocoa paste. Stir until melted and cook for 4 minutes. Add softened gelatin. Strain and store covered.

RASPBERRY-LEMON EASTER CAKE

Steps:

• For the cakes:
• Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Lightly brush 2 (9-inch) round cake pans with shortening or butter. Line bottoms with buttered parchment paper and dust with flour.
• Sift the flour, baking powder, soda, and salt into a medium bowl; whisk to combine evenly. Stir the sour cream, lemon juice and vanilla together in a liquid measuring cup, and set aside.
• Beat the butter in a standing mixer with the paddle attachment on high until light and creamy, about 2 minutes. Stop and scrape butter off the sides of the bowl. Continue beating while gradually adding the sugar-- it should take a couple minutes to add all the sugar. Continue beating until very light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes more. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat in the lemon zest. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.
• At low speed, add the flour mixture in 3 parts, alternating with the sour cream in 2 parts, beginning and ending with the flour. Scrape the sides of the bowl and mix for 15 seconds longer.
• Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans and smooth the top with a knife. (Lightly tap the pan on the counter so the batter settles evenly.)
• Bake the cakes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 35 to 40 minutes. Cool in the pan on a rack for 20 minutes; then turn cakes out onto the rack to cool completely.
• For the Icing:
• Bring a few inches of water to a boil in a saucepan that can hold a mixer's bowl above the water. Whisk the sugar, the egg whites, lemon juice, cream of tartar, and salt in the bowl by hand. Set the bowl above the boiling water and continue whisking until the mixture is hot to the touch and the sugar dissolves, about 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the bowl to a standing mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat the whites at medium-high speed until they almost holds a stiff peak and are cool, about 10 minutes. Beat in the butter, a little at a time, until the icing is smooth and spreadable. (If the icing separates, just keep beating and it will come back together.)
• To assemble the cake:
• Slice each cake in half horizontally with a serrated knife, to make 4 even layers, taking care that they are as flat and straight as possible.
• Set a large flat plate on a large inverted bowl or bottom of a salad spinner (of course, if you have a cake stand, use that), dabbing a little frosting on the bottom of the plate to secure it. Place a cake layer top side up on the plate. Using an offset spatula spread about half of the jam in a thin layer over the first cake layer, leaving about 1/4-inch border along the outside. Lay the second cake layer on top, stacking it as straight as possible. Using an offset spatula spread about 1 cup of the icing on the top layer. Place a third cake layer on top.
• Spread remaining red raspberry jam over the cake layer and place the final layer on top, pressing down lightly to secure all 4 layers together. Spread about 3/4 of the remaining icing around the sides with a knife or offset spatula, then ice the top of the cake. Use an offset spatula to smooth icing as much as possible. Press plain or iced cookies around the sides, taking care to leave space to cut the cake. Garnish with additional candied almonds and sprinkle the top of the cake with pastel colored sanding sugars. Serve immediately or set aside at room temperature for up to 2 hours before serving. If refrigerating the cake, bring to room temperature 30 minutes before serving.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
• Beat the butter and both sugars in another medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 30 seconds. Add the eggs and vanilla mixing until fully incorporated. Slowly add the flour mixture, and continue beating just until the dough comes together, stopping and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Divide dough in half, pat into disks, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours.
• Generously flour a clean work surface. (For a nice, even layer of flour, lightly sift flour over the work surface.) Gently roll chilled dough about 1/4-inch thick. Cut into desired shape using a cookie cutter, working quickly enough so dough remains chilled. If dough gets too soft, refrigerate on a lined baking sheet until firm again, about 30 minutes.
• Transfer cut cookies to un-greased baking sheets, leaving about 1-inch between cookies. Refrigerate the formed cookies for at least 30 minutes. Lightly dust off excess flour with a dry pastry brush. (Excess dough can be pressed into a disk, chilled and rerolled.)
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Bake the cookies, until the bottoms are golden, about 12 to 15 minutes depending on shape. Cool on the baking sheets until firm enough to transfer to a rack to cool. Decorate as desired and serve. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

LEMON, RASPBERRY, AND WHITE CHOCOLATE SCONES

Steps:

• Zest both lemons; juice 1/2 of a lemon. Set aside.
• Combine 3 cups flour, sugar, baking powder, lemon zest, salt, and vanilla powder in a bowl, making sure ingredients are well mixed. Cut in frozen butter with a pastry blender until mixture is the texture of sand and you can no longer see pieces of butter. Place bowl into the freezer to keep cold.
• Whisk milk, eggs, lemon juice, and vanilla extract together in a separate small bowl until combined. Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture. Stir until the dough comes together, then add the chocolate chips and raspberries. Gently form dough into a ball. Do not overwork.
• Combine 2 tablespoons flour, superfine sugar, and starch in a separate bowl and sift a layer onto the parchment paper.
• Transfer the dough ball onto the parchment paper and use your hand to flatten into a 1 3/4-inch thick circle. Place baking sheet into the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Cut the dough into 8 triangles and separate until they're 1 inch apart. Dust with flour, sugar, and starch mixture.
• Bake in the preheated oven until they rise and become golden, 20 to 25 minutes.

RASPBERRY WHITE CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH LEMON BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• For cake:.
• Heat oven to 350. Generously grease and flour 2 9" round cake pans.
• Melt the white chocolate in a small glass bowl in the microwave for 1 minute. (It will probably hold most of its shape even though it is starting to melt). Remove from the microwave and stir the chocolate with a rubber spatula until smooth. Let cool for approximately 5 minutes.
• Place the cake mix, water, oil, eggs, egg whites, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a large bowl. Add the slightly cooled melted chocolate. Mix with an electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute. Stop your mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula. Using a medium speed, mix again for 2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Divide the batter between your prepared cake pans. Smooth the tops with a rubber spatula, then place the pans in the oven on the center rack, side by side.
• Set the timer for 28 minutes and then check for doneness. The layers should be golden brown and spring back when lightly pressed with your finger. It may take up to 4 minutes longer in the oven, but don't overcook.
• Remove from the oven and place on wire racks to cool for 10 minutes.
• Run a knife around the edge of each layer and invert onto a rack, then invert on another rack so that each layer is right side up. Allow to cool for at least 30 more minutes.
• For frosting:.
• Place the butter and 1 cup of the powdered sugar in a large mixing bowl. With an electric mixer, beat on low speed for 30 seconds.
• Add the remaining powdered sugar alternately with the milk and lemon juice (1 cup of sugar, then 1 T liquid at a time), blending with the mixer after each addition. Add the lemon zest. If the frosting seems very stiff, add up to 1 more tablespoon milk. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat until light and fluffy, approx 1 minute.
• To assemble:.
• Place the raspberry preserves in a small bowl and stir until it is smooth and no lumps are present.
• Using a long serrated knife, carefully split the first cake layer horizontally into halves, creating 2 layers. Place the bottom half on a cake plate, cut side up. Spread ¼ cup of the raspberry preserves on it. Place the top half of the layer, cut side down, on top of the first half. Again, spread with ¼ cup of the preserves.
• Split the 2nd layer in the same way you did the first. Place the bottom half on top of your partially assembled cake, cut side up, and top with the remaining ¼ cup of preserves. Then top with the top half, cut side down.
• Frost the top and sides of the cake with the lemon buttercream frosting.
• If you are garnishing the cake with fresh raspberries, wait until right before you serve it. Otherwise juice from the raspberries will start to spread into the frosting. It won't ruin it, but it won't look very pretty after a while.
• Store leftovers in the refrigerator.