Chocolate Berry Napoleons Food

SAVORY CHOCOLATE NAPOLEON

Steps:

• Use an offset spatula to spread a 1/8-inch-thick layer of tempered chocolate over a sheet of acetate. When the chocolate begins to set but is not yet hard, use a sharp paring knife or rolling cutter to cut 1-inch squares. When the chocolate is set, peel off the acetate and break apart the chocolate squares.
• Place the softened cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle. Add the chives, paprika, salt and pepper and turn the mixer on medium speed. Mix just until combined.
• Place the cream cheese mixture in a pastry bag fitted with a star tip. Pipe a dollop of the cream cheese onto a chocolate square. Top with a square of chocolate. Pipe another dollop of cream cheese and cover with another square of chocolate. Viola!

CHOCOLATE-BERRY NAPOLEONS

Steps:

• Roll out 1 puff pastry sheet into a 10-inch square; cut into 2 1/2-by-5-inch rectangles (8 total). Sandwich between 2 unlined rimmed baking sheets and bake at 400 degrees F until golden, 30 minutes. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with granulated sugar. Cool. Cook 1/3 cup milk, 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 tablespoon cornstarch in a small skillet over medium heat, whisking, until thick. Stir in 2 ounces chopped semisweet chocolate; cool. Fold in 1 1/2 cups whipped cream. To assemble, layer 2 pastry rectangles with the chocolate cream and raspberries. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

CHOCOLATE NAPOLEONS WITH MASCARPONE CREAM AND CHERRY COMPOTE

Steps:

• Make chocolate layers:
• Place baking sheet, bottom side up, on work surface. Cover bottom side with foil, tucking ends under. Mark 15 x 9-inch rectangle on foil. Place chocolate in top of double boiler set over barely simmering water (do not allow bottom of pan to touch water); stir until melted and smooth. Pour onto foil; spread to cover rectangle. Chill until just set but not hard, about 8 minutes.
• Cut chocolate rectangle lengthwise into three 3-inch-wide strips. Cut strips crosswise into six 2 1/2-inch-long pieces. Chill 1 hour. (Can be made 1 week ahead. Cover; keep refrigerated.)
• Make mascarpone cream:
• Using electric mixer, beat first 4 ingredients in medium bowl to blend. Add 1/2 cup cream; beat until soft peaks form. Add 1/2 cup cream; beat until thick and stiff. Cover; chill at least 1 hour and up to 3 hours.
• Place 1 chocolate piece on each of 6 plates. Spread 3 tablespoons mascarpone over each. Top with another chocolate piece; spread mascarpone over. Top with third chocolate piece. (Can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover; chill.) Dust with powdered sugar. Spoon compote alongside.

BERRY NAPOLEONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Roll out pastry on lightly floured surface to 12-inch square. Cut out two 4x5-inch rectangles and transfer to ungreased cookie sheet (reserve remaining pastry for another use). Brush pastries with glaze. Mix sugar and 1/4 teaspoon cardamom and sprinkle over pastries. Bake until puffed and brown, about 20 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool.
• Drain syrup from raspberries into heavy small saucepan. Boil until thickened slightly, about 4 minutes. Combine raspberries and sliced strawberries in small bowl. Add reduced syrup and remaining 1/4 teaspoon cardamom. (Berry mixture can be prepared 2 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Split each pastry into 2 layers. Place bottoms on plates. Layer with frozen yogurt, some of berry mixture, then pastry tops. Spoon a few berries atop each pastry and serve.

WHITE CHOCOLATE AND SUMMER BERRY NAPOLEONS

Steps:

• Stir white chocolate in large bowl set over saucepan of barely simmering water until melted and smooth. Remove from heat. Bring milk to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Whisk milk barely simmering water until melted and smooth. Remove chocolate from heat. Bring milk to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Whisk milk into chocolate. Let chocolate mixture cool until just beginning to thicken, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour.
• Using electric mixer, beat cream and vanilla in another large bowl until medium-firm peaks form. Fold whipped cream into chocolate mixture in 3 additions. Cover and refrigerate.
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Line 17x11x1-inch baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll out 1 pastry sheet on lightly floured surface to 15x12-inch rectangle. Cut crosswise into three 12x5-inch rectangles. Repeat rolling and cutting with remaining pastry sheet to make six 12x5-inch pastry rectangles total. Transfer 2 pastry rectangles to prepared baking sheet, spacing evenly. Cover remaining pastry rectangles and chill.
• Pierce pastry rectangles on baking sheet all over with fork. Top with second piece of parchment. Place another 17x11x1-inch baking sheet atop parchment to weigh down pastry rectangles as they cook. Bake pastries until edges and bottoms are golden, about 10 minutes. Remove baking sheet and parchment paper from atop pastries. Turn pastries over. Continue baking uncovered until bottoms are golden, about 5 minutes longer. Transfer pastries to rack; cool. Repeat piercing and baking with remaining 4 pastry rectangles in 2 more batches. (White chocolate cream and pad pastry rectangles can be prepared 1 day ahead. Keep cream refrigerated. Store pastry rectangles airtight at room temperature.)
• Place 1 pastry rectangle on work surface. Spread 1 1/2 cups of chocolate cream over pastry. Gently toss all berries in large bowl. Arrange of berries in single layer over chocolate cream. Place second pastry rectangle atop berries. Spread 1 cups of chocolate cream atop second pastry rectangle. Top with of berries. Top with third pastry rectangle. Repeat with remaining 3 pastry rectangles, chocolate cream and berries to form second napoleon. (Can be made 4 hours ahead. Refrigerate.) Using serrated knife, cut each pastry crosswise into 10 equal pieces. Sprinkle powdered sugar over each and serve.