Chocolate Covered Raspberry Mousse Bars Food

CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY-MOUSSE CANDY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter two 8-inch round cake pans, line the bottoms with parchment paper, butter the parchment and dust with flour, tapping out excess.
• Whisk the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt together in a large bowl. Whisk the melted butter, buttermilk, egg, vanilla and 1/2 cup water together in another bowl until smooth. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, whisking until just combined. Divide the batter between the prepared cake pans, smoothing the tops. Bake, rotating the pans halfway through cooking, until a toothpick inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean, about 25 minutes.
• Transfer the cakes to a rack and let cool 15 minutes. Invert the cakes on the rack, discard the parchment paper then flip the cakes right-side-up again. Move the rack with the cakes over a baking sheet and let the cakes cool completely.
• Make the raspberry mousse: In a small saucepan, mash the raspberries with the sugar and salt and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook, stirring often, until thickened and jammy, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat, press the raspberry mixture through a sieve into the bowl of a food processor and let cool completely.
• Combine the gelatin with 1 tablespoon cold water in a small bowl and let stand for 5 minutes to soften. Heat the gelatin in the microwave until it melts completely, about 10 seconds, stirring to dissolve. Add the gelatin mixture, cream cheese and sour cream to the food processor and process until smooth. Scrape the mixture into a bowl and refrigerate, checking every 5 minutes, until the mousse is just set enough to spread, 5 to 15 minutes. (Do not let the mousse firm up too much.)
• Place one cake layer on a cake stand and pile the raspberry mousse in the center, spreading it in a thick layer almost to the edge. Top with the remaining cake, aligning the layers directly on top of each other so the cake does not lean. Refrigerate the assembled cake for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, make the chocolate ganache: Bring the cream to a simmer in a small saucepan then remove from heat. Add the chocolate, shaking the pan gently to submerge it. Allow the pan to stand, off the heat, for 3 minutes to melt the chocolate. Whisk the ganache smooth, then refrigerate until it is just thick enough to spread (like mayonnaise), about 5 minutes. (Do not let the ganache harden too much.)
• Stir the ganache again and scoop it on top of the cake, spreading it over the top and sides. Refrigerate the cake until the ganache is set, at least 2 hours or overnight.

CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY MOUSSE CUPS

Steps:

• To Make Cups: In a small saucepan, heat the chocolate chips and shortening over high heat, stirring continuously until melted.
• Using the back of a metal spoon, spread the chocolate evenly inside six 3 1/2-inch foil muffin liners. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
• To Make Mousse: In a bowl, sprinkle the gelatin evenly over the cold water and allow the gelatin to absorb the water for 2 minutes. Add the boiling water and stir until the gelatin is fully dissolved. Add the sugar and stir until dissolved.
• Transfer the gelatin mixture to a blender. Add the berries and blend until liquefied. Set a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl and pour the mixture through the strainer to strain out the seeds. Refrigerate until thickened.
• Rinse the blender of any remaining raspberry seeds and return the thickened raspberry gelatin mixture to the blender. Add the whipped cream and blend until smooth. Refrigerate until thickened.
• Carefully peel away the foil from the chocolate cups. Spoon the mousse into the cups and serve.

CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY BARS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine flour and confectioners' sugar; cut in butter until crumbly. Press into an ungreased 9-in. square baking pan. Bake at 375° for 15-18 minutes or until browned. Spread jam over warm crust. , In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and milk until smooth. Add white chips; beat until smooth. Spread carefully over jam layer. Cool completely. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until set. , For glaze, melt chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave; stir until smooth. Spread over filling. Refrigerate for 10 minutes. Cut into bars; chill 1 hour longer or until set. Store in refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY MOUSSE BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F.
• Line 8-inch square pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides. Spray with cooking spray. Microwave 3 oz. chocolate and cream in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 min. or until chocolate is almost melted; stir until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended. Cool slightly. Add eggs, sugar and flour; whisk until blended. Pour into prepared pan.
• Bake 20 min. or until toothpick inserted in center comes out with fudgy crumbs. (Do not overbake.) Cool completely. Meanwhile, melt 2 oz. of the remaining chocolate as directed on package; cool.
• Stir 1/2 cup COOL WHIP into cooled chocolate. Add remaining COOL WHIP; mix well. Spread onto dessert. Refrigerate 2 hours or until chilled.
• Use foil handles to lift dessert from pan before cutting into bars. Melt remaining chocolate; drizzle over bars. Serve with raspberries.