Almond Cookie Cups With Chocolate Mousse Food

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE CUPS

Steps:

• Coat a 12-cup muffin pan with cooking spray and put a cookie in the bottom of each cup. Whisk the eggs, sugar, salt and water in a large heatproof bowl. Bring a few inches of water to a simmer in a medium saucepan and set the bowl on top (do not let the bowl touch the water). Cook, whisking, until pale, fluffy and very thick (like a thick pudding), 25 to 40 minutes, depending on the size of your bowl. Remove from the heat and whisk in the melted chocolate; let cool.
• Beat 1 1/4 cups heavy cream with the sour cream in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form. Gently fold into the cooled chocolate mixture until no white streaks remain, then divide evenly among the muffin cups. Cover and refrigerate until set, 12 hours or overnight.
• Run an offset spatula around each mousse cup to loosen and slide the spatula under the cookie; remove the mousse cups. (If they're too soft to remove, freeze briefly.) Beat the remaining 1/2 cup heavy cream in a large bowl with a mixer until soft peaks form, then dollop onto the mousse cups and sprinkle with shaved chocolate.

CHOCOLATE AND AMARETTO MOUSSE IN ALMOND LACE BOWLS

Steps:

• For the chocolate and amaretto mousse: Heat the cream in a small pot over medium heat. Once it starts to steam, remove from the heat and whisk in the chocolate until melted. Let cool. Carefully add the cooled chocolate cream, 2 tablespoons at a time, into a bowl with the egg yolks, mixing continuously. Stir in the amaretto. Beat the egg whites and sugar in a bowl to form a meringue, and then fold into the chocolate mixture. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour. For the almond lace bowls: Combine the butter, corn syrup and sugar in a pot over medium heat until simmering. Whisk together the flour and almonds, and then stir into the butter mixture, 1 minute. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate covered, 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Scoop tablespoons of batter and roll into balls. Place 3 inches apart on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet (only 4 balls per row), and bake until golden, 10 minutes. Let cool until they can be touched, but are still warm enough to be pliable. Place on top of a small inverted bowl to shape, and then let cool until hardened completely, 2 minutes.
• Transfer the chocolate mousse to a piping bag and pipe into the almond lace bowls. Garnish with toasted almonds.

COCONUT-ALMOND FUDGE CUPS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat the cake mix, butter and egg until well blended. Shape into 1-in. balls; place in foil-lined miniature muffin cups. Bake at 350° for 8 minutes. , Using the end of a wooden spoon handle, make a 1/2-in.-deep indentation in the center of each cup. Bake 2-3 minutes longer or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool., For filling, in a microwave-safe bowl, heat sugar and milk on high for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add marshmallows; stir until melted. Stir in coconut. Spoon into cooled cups., For topping, in another microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips, milk and butter. Microwave in 10- to 20-second intervals until melted; stir until smooth. Stir in almonds. Spread over filling. Store in the refrigerator.

ALMOND COOKIE CUPS WITH CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350ºF. Spray 2 baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray.
• In medium bowl, stir together flour, sugar and salt. In another medium bowl, whisk together all remaining cookie ingredients except 3 tablespoons almonds. Add to flour mixture, whisking until smooth.
• For each cookie, spoon 1 1/2 tablespoons batter onto baking sheet; spread evenly to 6-inch round, eliminating any holes. Make only 2 cookies per baking sheet, placing at least 1 inch apart. Sprinkle each cookie with 1/8 of the sliced almonds.
• Bake one sheet at a time 6 to 8 minutes or just until tops are dry and light brown, with golden-brown edges. Immediately place cookies in 6-oz. custard cups. Place second custard cup over cookies to form cup shape.
• OR, you can cover the back of muffin tins with the warm cookie to get the same effect. Remove from molds; set on cooling rack. Cool completely. Repeat using remaining batter.
• To make chocolate mousse, place chocolate in heatproof medium bowl. Bring 1 inch water to a boil in medium saucepan. Remove from heat. Place bowl of chocolate over saucepan (bowl should not touch water). Let stand until melted. Stir. Remove from heat; set aside to cool.
• In small heavy saucepan over medium-low heat, whisk together 1/2 cup of the cream, corn syrup and egg yolks. Cook, whisking constantly, 5 to 6 minutes or until mixture is thick, covers back of spoon and reaches 160ºF. on instant-read thermometer. (Be careful not to overcook.).
• Strain yolk mixture into chocolate. Immediately whisk briskly, making chocolate shiny and satin-smooth. Cool to 80ºF. to 85ºF. (Mixture should feel comfortable to the touch.).
• In large bowl, beat remaining 1 cup cream at medium-high speed until soft peaks form. Fold cooled chocolate mixture into whipped cream. Cover; refrigerate up to 8 hours. Bring to room temperature before serving.
• o serve, place tulip cups on individual dessert plates. Fill each with chocolate mousse; sprinkle with toasted almonds.
• TIP *To toast almonds, place on baking sheet; bake at 375ºF. for 6 minutes or until deep golden brown.

CHOCOLATE COVERED ALMOND MERINGUE COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Line 4 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Beat egg whites in a glass or metal bowl until foamy and soft peaks form. Gradually add white sugar, continuing to beat until mixture holds stiff peaks, about 5 minutes. Lift your beater or whisk straight up: the egg whites will form sharp peaks.
• Mix ground almonds and confectioners' sugar together in a separate bowl; fold into egg white mixture. Transfer mixture to a piping bag; pipe mixture into 2-inch long by 1/2-inch thick mounds onto the prepared baking sheets.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cookies are dry and lightly golden brown, about 45 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Melt chocolate in the top of a double boiler over simmering water, stirring frequently and scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching.
• Dip each cookie in the melted chocolate using a fork until cookie is completely coated. Shake off excess chocolate. Arrange cookies on the parchment-lined baking sheets; refrigerate until set.

ALMOND COOKIE CUPS WITH SAUTERNES-POACHED APPLES AND FROZEN SAUTERNES MOUSSE

Steps:

• Whisk wine, sugar and yolks in medium-size stainless steel bowl until well blended. Set bowl over saucepan of simmering water (do not allow bottom to touch water) and whisk until thermometer registers 170°F and mixture is thick enough to fall in heavy ribbon when whisk is lifted, about 5 minutes. Remove from over water; whisk until mixture is cool, about 3 minutes. In another medium bowl, whisk cream until medium-firm peaks form. Fold cream into wine mixture in 2 additions. Cover mousse; freeze until firm, at least 4 hours. (Can be made 4 days ahead; keep frozen.)
• Bring wine, water and sugar to boil in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add apples. Simmer until apples are just tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand until mixture is cool, about 45 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer apples to plate. Boil syrup until reduced to generous 1/2 cup, about 6 minutes. Return apples to syrup. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Chill. Rewarm over low heat.)
• Place 1 Almond Cookie Cup on each of 6 plates. Fill each with scoop of mousse. Top with apples, syrup and nuts.

ALMOND COOKIE CUPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Set 2 small custard cups or ramekins on work surface, bottom side up. Stir first 4 ingredients in small bowl to blend. Mix in almonds.
• Separately drop 2 level tablespoonfuls batter onto prepared baking sheet, spacing 6 inches apart. Using moistened fingertips, press each to 2-inch round. Bake cookies until deep golden (cookies will spread to about 5-inch diameter), about 7 minutes. Let cool on sheet until set enough to lift without tearing, about 1 minute. Using metal spatula, lift hot cookies 1 at a time and drape over cups, gently pressing to cup shape; cool. Remove from cups. Refrigerate baking sheet 2 minutes to chill quickly. Repeat with remaining batter, making 2 cookies at a time. (Cookies can be made 4 days ahead. Carefully enclose in resealable plastic bags and freeze.)

CHOCOLATE ALMOND MOUSSE NAPOLEONS

Steps:

• Place one phyllo sheet on work surface; keep remaining phyllo sheets covered with plastic wrap and damp towel. Brush phyllo with melted butter; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sugar. Top with second phyllo sheet. Brush with butter; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sugar. Repeat with third phyllo sheet, butter and sugar. Cut stack into twelve 3-in. squares. Transfer stacks to a greased baking sheet, about 1 in. apart. Repeat with remaining 3 phyllo sheets, butter and sugar. Bake at 350° for 8-9 minutes or until golden brown. Watch carefully. Cool on wire racks., For filling, heat cream in a saucepan over medium heat until cream begins to simmer, about 160°; remove from the heat. Whisk in chocolate and extract until smooth; refrigerate until chilled. In a bowl, beat cream mixture until soft peaks form. Refrigerate until serving., For glaze, combine the confectioners' sugar, vanilla and salt. Add enough cream to achieve a spreading consistency. Spread over 8 squares of phyllo. Drizzle with melted chocolate chips. Set aside until serving., To serve, spread about 1/4 cup chocolate almond mousse over a square of phyllo. Add a second phyllo square and more mousse. Top with one of the glaze squares. Repeat with remaining phyllo, mousse and glazed phyllo. Serve immediately.

ALMOND-COCONUT CHEWY CHOCOLATE COOKIES

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, and salt.
• In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter with brown sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add egg and vanilla; beat on medium speed just to combine. Reduce speed to low and slowly add flour mixture, beating until combined. Fold in chocolate and almonds. Shape dough into a 1-inch-thick disk, tightly wrap in plastic, and refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place coconut in a shallow dish. Scoop 2 tablespoons (about 1 ounce) dough and form into a ball; roll in coconut to coat. Repeat with remaining dough. Place balls on parchment-lined baking sheets, 1 inch apart; press each lightly to flatten. Bake until cookies are cracked but still slightly soft, 16 to 18 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes on sheets, then transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 5 days.

ALMOND COOKIE CUPS

Steps:

• In a small bowl combine the flour and almonds. Set aside.
• In a medium medium saucepan bring the brown sugar, corn syrup and butter to a full boil over medium heat. Remove from heat. Stir in flour mixture and vanilla.
• Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper. For each cookie cup, drop about 3 tablespoons of batter about 5 inches apart onto the cookie sheet (bake 3 or 4 at a time).
• Bake in a 350º oven for 10-12 minutes or until bubbly and deep golden brown (cookies will form irregular shapes).
• Let stand on cookie sheet about 2 minutes. When cookies are firm, but still pliable, place them on inverted custard cups to form small bowls. Cool to room temperature.
• To serve fill the cups with ice cream, sorbet, mousse, or whatever dessert you would serve in a bowl where you can eat the 'bowl' too!