Chocolate Cheesecake Phyllo Tartlets Food

CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE CUPCAKES WITH GANACHE FROSTING

Steps:

• Place rack in the middle of oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 12 muffin cups with cupcake papers.
• In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt, and set aside. Using a mixer, cream the butter and 3/4 cup sugar until pale yellow, about 1 minute. Add the egg and stir until just combined. Gently add half of the flour mixture and stir until just incorporated. Mix in the milk. Add the remaining flour mixture and stir until combined. Set aside.
• In a small bowl, mix together the cream cheese, 2 tablespoons sugar, and vanilla. Stir in the chocolate chips and walnuts.
• Fill prepared cupcake liners with enough chocolate batter to just cover the bottom. Add a dollop of the cream cheese filling to each, then top with remaining batter (cream cheese filling should not be visible).
• Bake for 20 minutes. Let cupcakes stand in the pan for 3 minutes and then remove and allow to cool completely on a rack.
• Dip each cupcake into the ganache, forming an even layer of frosting. Place in the refrigerator to set, about 15 minutes.
• Place a heat-proof bowl over a pot of simmering water, and whisk together the chocolate, cream, and espresso powder (if using). Continue whisking until chocolate is melted and the mixture is thick, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes.
• Yield: 1 cup
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 4 minutes
• Inactive Prep Time: 5 minutes

PHILLY CHOCOLATE TURTLES® CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Cover bottom of 9 inch springform pan with parchment paper. Combine chopped pecans, margarine and 2 tablespoon sugar; press onto bottom of pan. Microwave caramels and milk in microwaveable bowl on MEDIUM 4 to 5 minutes or until caramels are completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring every 2 minutes. Spread over crust to within 1 inch of edge; cool.
• Beat cream cheese and remaining sugar with mixer until blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Stir in chocolate; pour over caramel layer.
• Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until centre is almost set. Run knife or metal spatula around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim. Refrigerate 4 hours. Sprinkle with pecans halves just before serving.

MINI CHOCOLATE-RASPBERRY PHYLLO TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the pastry shells: Use a pastry brush to brush one sheet of phyllo with melted butter. Top with another sheet and brush with butter and repeat for a total of 4 layers. Top with the remaining sheet of phyllo but do not brush the top with butter.
• Use the remaining melted butter to brush the insides of 6 cups of a standard 12-cup muffin pan, leaving every other cup empty.
• Use a pizza cutter or sharp knife to cut the stack of phyllo sheets into 6 squares, each about 4-by-4 inches. Ease each square into a buttered muffin cup, pressing gently to line the cup and allowing the edges to fold in. Refrigerate while you make the batter.
• For the batter: Microwave the chocolate chips and butter in a medium microwave-safe bowl in 20 second intervals, stirring between each interval, until smooth, about 60 seconds. Whisk in the sugar, vanilla and salt. Whisk in the egg until smooth, then whisk the mixture vigorously for 20 seconds. Whisk in the almond flour until combined.
• Divide the batter between the phyllo-lined cups. Place a heaping teaspoon of jam in the center of each cup and swirl with a toothpick. Bake until a clean toothpick inserted near the center comes out with moist crumbs, 34 to 38 minutes.
• Cool the tarts in the pan for 10 minutes before carefully transferring them to a cooling rack to cool completely. Dust each tart with powdered sugar and top with a few fresh raspberries before serving.

CHEESECAKE PHYLLO CUPS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, sour cream, sugar substitute and vanilla until smooth. , Pipe or spoon into phyllo shells. Top each with an orange segment and kiwi piece. Refrigerate until serving.

RICOTTA FILO CAKE

Steps:

• Set the oven at 350°F/180°C/Gas 4. Melt the butter in a small pan. Place a baking sheet in the oven. Line the tart tin with a double sheet of filo, letting it fall over the edges. Brush with some of the butter, then continue with all the sheets of filo, letting the pastry overhang the tin where necessary and generously brushing them with butter as you go.
• Put the ricotta, eggs, egg yolks, honey, cinnamon and granulated sugar into the bowl of a food mixer and combine to a smooth cream. Fold in the candied peel, raisins, finely grated citrus zest, flour, a capful of vanilla extract and, lastly, the ground almonds. Using a rubber spatula, scrape the mixture into the lined tin, smooth flat, then gently fold the overhanging pastry sheets to the middle, curling them over as you go to make loose rosettes of pastry. Bake for forty to fifty minutes, until the pastry is crisp and the filling lightly firm to the touch.
• To finish:
• Remove the cheesecake from the oven. Melt the honey in a small saucepan, stir in the candied peel, then spoon over the pastry. Dust with icing sugar and leave to cool before slicing.

CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE PHYLLO TARTLETS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, melted chocolate and vanilla until smooth. , Cut a small hole in the corner of a pastry or plastic bag; insert #32 star pastry tip. Fill the bag with cream cheese mixture; pipe into tart shells. Garnish with chocolate curls if desired. Refrigerate until serving.

GIANDUJA CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C.) Butter a 9 inch springform pan. Lay one sheet of phyllo dough in the pan. Tuck it into the pan and let the edges overhang the rim. Brush with butter and layer a second sheet of phyllo. Butter this sheet. Continue until you have used all four sheets of phyllo. End with butter. Use as little butter as possible. Cover the phyllo-filled pan with a damp cloth.
• In the top of a double boiler, heat gianduia chocolate and unsweetened chocolate, stirring occasionally, until chocolate is melted and smooth. Remove from heat and allow to cool to lukewarm.
• In a large bowl, beat the mascarpone cheese until smooth. When no lumps remain, begin to beat in the sugar a little at a time. Beat in the egg yolks one at a time incorporating each yolk completely before adding the next. Finally beat in the melted and cooled chocolates and the liqueur.
• Beat the egg whites until they just get stiff. Do not over beat. Fold 1/3 of the egg whites into the cheese mixture, then quickly fold in the remaining whites until no streaks remain. Be careful not to deflate the whites as much as possible. Pour the filling into the phyllo-lined pan. Tuck the edges of the phyllo into the pan making a bit of a rim.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 45 to 60 minutes, or until filling is set. It will still seem a little loose in the center. When the cake appears done, turn off the oven, prop open the oven door with a wooden spoon and let the cake remain in the oven for another hour. Then place the cake in the refrigerator until completely chilled.

CHOCOLATE-NUT PHYLLO CUPS

Steps:

• In a small heavy saucepan stir together honey and cornstarch. Add half and half or light cream. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture is thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir for 2 more minutes . Remove from heat. Gradually stir some of the hot mixture into the egg yolks. Return all to saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil; reduce heat. Cook and stir for 2 minutes longer. Move to a small bowl. Cover surface with clear plastic wrap. Chill.
• In a bowl combine ground walnuts and granulated sugar. Set aside. Unfold phyllo. Place one sheet of phyllo on work surface; brush with some of the 3 tablespoons melted margarine or butter. Sprinkle evenly with one-third of the nut mixture. Repeat brushing, sprinkling, and layering 2 times. Cover with remaining sheet of phyllo; brush top with melted margarine or butter. Trim edges. Cut phyllo stack crosswise in fourths, and then lengthwise in thirds, to form twelve 4-inch squares.
• Gently press phyllo squares into twelve greased 2-1/2-inch muffin cups, allowing edges to extend upward.
• Bake in a 350*F. oven for 10-15 minutes or until golden. Cool completely on a wire rack. Carefully remove cups from pan. (If desired, cups may be baked ahead of time, then placed in a rigid plastic container and frozen up to 1 week. To thaw: let stand at room temperature 20-30 minutes.)
• To serve:
• In a small, heavy saucepan melt the 1 ounce chocolate and the 1 tablespoon margarine or butter over low heat, stirring until smooth, Remove from heat. Stir in the powdered sugar and the first 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Add hot water, 1 teaspoon at a time, until it reaches drizzling consistency. Lightly drizzle melted chocolate on dessert plates. Sift cocoa powder over chocolate. (Chocolate can also be drizzled over edges and insides of cups.)
• In a small, chilled mixing bowl, beat the whipping cream and remaining 1/2 teaspoon vanilla with an electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form; fold in chilled egg yolk mixture. Spoon cream into each phyllo cup. Top each with grated chocolate, if desired.Sprinkle with cinnamon if desired. Serve immediately. Makes 12 servings.

BRIE AND SAFFRON PHYLLO TARTLETS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• On a work surface arrange 1 phyllo sheet with a long side facing you and brush lightly with some butter. Top with a second phyllo sheet and brush lightly with butter. Top with a third phyllo sheet and cut stacked phyllo lengthwise into 4 strips and crosswise into 6 strips to make twenty-four 3-inch squares. With scissors cut off corners of squares to form octagons and cover with plastic wrap.
• Line each mini-muffin cup with 1 phyllo octagon, letting edges curl naturally, and bake in middle of oven until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Carefully transfer shells in cups to racks to cool completely. Make 24 more octagons with remaining 3 phyllo sheets and butter in same manner, Shells may be made 1 week ahead and kept in cups, wrapped in plastic wrap, at room temperature, or 1 month ahead and frozen.
• In a small saucepan simmer cream with saffron until reduced to about 3/4 cup and cool slightly. Whisk in yolks and season with salt and pepper. Divide Brie among shells and spoon 2 teaspoons saffron cream into each shell. Bake tartlets in 2 batches in middle of oven about 8 minutes, or until filling is puffed. Cool tartlets in cups on racks 5 minutes and carefully lift out onto racks to cool completely. Serve tartlets warm or at room temperature.

NO-BAKE CHEESECAKE PHYLLO CUPS

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl cream softened cream cheese until smooth.
• Blend in sugar in small amounts until well creamed together.
• Add sour cream and blend well.
• Chill for a couple of hours.
• Spoon into zip-lock bags or pastry bag (I did this before chilling, that way it is ready to go.).
• If using a zip-lock bag, cut corner off and squeeze into pre-made Phyllo cups.
• Top with fresh fruit or fruit sauce.