Bittersweet Ganache Food

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE GANACHE - 2 WAYS

Steps:

• To make the ganache, place the chocolate, heavy cream and instant coffee granules in a heat-proof bowl over a pot of simmering water. Melt the chocolate until it's just melted and stir it until it's smooth.
• For whipped ganache, allow the ganache to cool completely and then put it in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment and mix on high speed until it is a very light.

BITTERSWEET GANACHE

Steps:

• Combine chocolate, cocoa powder, espresso powder (if using), vanilla, and salt in a medium heatproof bowl. Bring cream to a simmer in a small saucepan over low heat; pour over chocolate mixture. Let sit until chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes. Whisk until smooth; let cool.
• Using an electric mixer, beat ganache until light and fluffy (it should be the consistency of whipped cream).
• Ganache can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature before using.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Place the chocolate into a medium bowl. Heat the cream in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Bring just to a boil, watching very carefully because if it boils for a few seconds, it will boil out of the pot. When the cream has come to a boil, pour over the chopped chocolate, and whisk until smooth. Stir in the rum if desired.
• Allow the ganache to cool slightly before pouring over a cake. Start at the center of the cake and work outward. For a fluffy frosting or chocolate filling, allow it to cool until thick, then whip with a whisk until light and fluffy.

SWEET BITTERSWEET GANACHE

Steps:

• Put the dark and milk chocolates in a medium stainless steel bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and heat just until the chocolate melts, then transfer the warm chocolate to the bowl of a food processor. Meanwhile, heat the cream in a small saucepan over low heat just until it starts to simmer. Pour the warm cream into the warm chocolate and wait about 1 minute. Add the corn syrup, honey, and vanilla. Run the food processor. You'll notice that the mixture will look speckled and separated, then will come together as a uniform ganache. Adjust the flavors to taste.

CHOCOLATE MINT TART

Steps:

• Make the crust: In the bowl of a food processor, combine the flour, confectioners' sugar, cocoa powder and salt. Pulse to combine. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal.
• In a small bowl, whisk the egg yolk with 1 tablespoon cold water. Add the yolk mixture to the food processor and pulse until it is evenly distributed. The mixture will appear crumbly, but should hold together very easily when pressed. Add a bit more water, 1 teaspoon at a time, if necessary. Turn the mixture out onto a piece of plastic wrap and form it into a disc. Wrap the disc in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll the chilled dough into a circle 1/4- to 1/8-inch thick. Gently fit the dough into a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom and trim the top evenly. Repair any cracks or tears in the dough with the trimmings and reserve the trimmings, wrapped in plastic and kept at room temperature, to use later if necessary. Freeze for 30 minutes.
• While the shell is chilling, heat oven to 375 degrees. Just before baking, dock the shell all over with a fork, and line the bottom and sides with aluminum foil. Bake the shell until it is cooked through and crisp, about 25 minutes. Remove the foil and, using the leftover dough, repair any cracks that may have formed. Cool the shell on a rack while you prepare the rest of the tart.
• Make the white chocolate ganache: Heat the 1 3/4 cups heavy cream and mint leaves in a saucepan over medium-high until simmering. Turn off heat and let cream steep for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour.
• Strain the cream through a fine mesh sieve, pressing on the leaves to extract as much cream as possible. Reserve 1 cup of the cream, covered, in the refrigerator.
• Heat the remaining 3/4 cup of cream until simmering and pour it over the white chocolate in a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Whisk the mixture until smooth, then let it cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes. If the chocolate is resisting melting, set the bowl over a pan of simmering water and whisk until smooth.
• Add the butter and a pinch of salt and whip the ganache on high speed for 10 minutes. It will go from slightly translucent to opaque and aerated. Taste and add the peppermint extract if desired. Pour the whipped ganache into the cooled tart shell, smooth the top and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
• Make the bittersweet ganache: Bring the cream to a simmer in a small saucepan. Add the chocolate, butter and salt to a heat-safe bowl and whisk in the hot cream until smooth. If the chocolate is resisting melting, set the bowl over a pan of simmering water and whisk until smooth.
• Use a spatula to spread the bittersweet ganache over the cooled white chocolate ganache. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
• Just before serving, make the mint cream topping: Whip the reserved 1 cup of infused cream with the confectioners' sugar to soft peaks. Add peppermint extract, if desired. Spread the whipped cream over the top of the ganache and serve the tart cold. Wipe off your knife in between slices for the cleanest cuts.

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE AND CAROB GANACHE TART WITH MALTED CANDY BRITTLE

Steps:

• Whisk flour, sugar, and 1 teaspoon coarse salt in large bowl to blend. Add butter and rub in with fingertips until coarse meal forms. Stir cream and egg yolk in small bowl until blended; drizzle over flour mixture. Stir until dough comes together in moist clumps. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap and chill at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.
• Roll out dough on floured surface to 12-inch round. Transfer to 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom. Cut off all but 1/2-inch overhang. Fold overhang in and press, forming double-thick sides. Pierce bottom of crust with fork; chill 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line crust with foil and fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake until sides of crust are set, about 20 minutes. Remove foil with beans and bake until crust is golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes longer. Cool crust completely.
• Combine bittersweet chocolate and carob in medium bowl. Bring cream to simmer in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Pour cream over chips; let stand 1 minute. Stir until melted and smooth. Add butter and vanilla; stir to blend. Pour filling into cooled crust. Chill uncovered until firm, at least 4 hours. Chop brittle into rough 1/2-inch pieces. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover brittle, cover tart, and keep chilled. Bring to room temperature before continuing.
• Remove tart from pan. Scatter brittle over tart and serve.
• Carob chips are similar to chocolate chips. They are available at some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores and natural foods stores.

GANACHE

Steps:

• Coarsely chop chocolate. A serrated knife is best for the job; its sawlike teeth grab the chocolate, breaking it up.
• Bring cream just to a boil over medium-high heat. Pour over chocolate, and add salt. Let stand for 10 minutes (don't stir -- doing so will cool the ganache too quickly, making it grainy).
• Stir with a whisk until smooth and shiny to break up any pieces and emulsify cream and chocolate.
• Chocolate will often settle on the bottom or sides of the bowl. Scrape the dish with a rubber spatula to incorporate all of it.
• To make a whipped filling or frosting: Let ganache cool to room temperature, stirring often, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Beat it with a mixer on medium-high speed until paler and fluffy, 2 to 4 minutes. (This will yield about 2 cups.) Transfer to a disposable pastry bag with a large opening and use it as a filling for mini whoopie pies or spread it over cupcakes.