Chocolate Ganache Smores Food

S'MORES DIP WITH SPICED CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler. Heat the cream over medium-low heat in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet. When it comes to a boil, turn off the heat and stir in the bacon chipotle seasoning. Add the chocolate and let stand 1 minute for the chocolate to soften, then stir until smooth.
• Arrange the marshmallows on top of the chocolate. Place the skillet under the broiler and cook until toasted. Let cool 3 minutes. Serve with graham crackers for dipping.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE S'MORES

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• Combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, sugar, and cinnamon in a mixing bowl. Mix until evenly moistened, then press into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Bake in the preheated oven until the crust is lightly browned and smells toasted, about 5 minutes.
• Place the chocolate into a medium bowl. Heat the cream in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Bring just to a boil. When the cream has come to a boil, remove from the heat immediately and pour over the chocolate chips; whisk until smooth. Stir in the optional rum. Pour evenly over the graham cracker layer.
• Preheat the oven's broiler and set the oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source.
• Place an even layer of marshmallows on top of the chocolate. Broil until the marshmallows are lightly toasted, about 1 minute. Refrigerate until chocolate has hardened, about 45 minutes. Cut into bars using a pizza cutter sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.

CREAMSICLE S'MORES

Steps:

• To make orange-flavored marshmallows:.
• Butter the bottom and sides of an 8 by 8-inch straight-sided baking pan. Dust liberally with sifted powdered sugar.
• Pour 1/2 cup water into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Sprinkle the gelatin over the water and allow to soften, about 10 minutes.
• In a 3-quart saucepan, combine the sugar, evaporated milk and 1/4 cup water. Stir over low heat until the sugar has dissolved. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook, without stirring, until a candy thermometer registers 240 degrees F, about 10 to 12 minutes. Pour the syrup over the gelatin mixture. Beat the mixture at low speed until incorporated. Increase the speed to high and beat until thick, fluffy and tripled in volume, about 10 to 12 minutes. Beat in the orange zest and vanilla extract until just combined. Using a spatula, scrape the mixture into the prepared pan and smooth the surface. Sprinkle with orange decorating sugar. Allow the mixture to set, uncovered, in a cool place (not refrigerated) for at least 8 hours or overnight.
• To make orange ganache:.
• Place finely chopped chocolate in small heatproof bowl.
• Set over warm water on low heat (water should not touch bottom of bowl).
• Stir very frequently until almost melted. Remove from heat and hot water; stir until smooth, pressing out any lumps with back of spoon or a rubber spatula.
• In small saucepan over low heat, heat cream just to a simmer, stirring frequently.
• Remove from heat; all at once, add about two-thirds of hot cream to melted white chocolate.
• Gently stir to incorporate, then beat or whisk until smooth, scraping bowl as necessary with rubber spatula.
• Gradually stir in remaining cream.
• To assemble:.
• Cut marshmallows into squares matching same dimensions as the graham crackers.
• place a cut marshmallow on top of one graham cracker.
• spread a layer of the orange ganache on the 2nd graham cracker.
• lay that on top of the marshmallow, press down gently.
• dip one corner half of the s'more into orange candy melt.
• sprinkle nonpareils over the candy melt coating.

S'MORES DRIP CAKE

Steps:

• Make 3 layers of chocolate cake, following package instructions for 8-inch cake pans. Let cool completely before using a serrated knife to remove any domed tops before frosting.
• For the buttercream:.
• In a medium bowl, beat the butter and shortening together until completely smooth, creamy and well-mixed.
• Add the marshmallow cream, salt and vanilla extract. Stir to combine.
• Add the powdered sugar in 3 to 4 batches, to avoid making a mess, stirring well between additions. Mix in the milk a tablespoon at a time until you get a soft, spreadable frosting.
• Remove 2/3 cup of frosting and place into a small bowl. Mix the cocoa powder into this frosting then scoop into a disposable piping bag and set aside.
• To the remaining frosting the medium bowl, add 6 tablespoons of the graham cracker crumbs and stir through to combine. Reserve the remaining 2 tablespoons of graham cracker crumbs for garnish.
• To make the meringue:.
• Fill a medium pot with 2-inch depth of water and place over a medium-low heat on the stove. Set a large, heatproof bowl over the pot. Add the egg whites and sugar to the large bowl and stir constantly until the sugar has dissolved (the mixture shouldn't feel gritty when you rub some between your fingertips) and registers 160 degrees F on a thermometer.
• Remove the bowl from the pan and use electric beaters to whisk until cool, very fluffy and thickened - you should be able to lift up the beaters and form stiff peaks in the mixture which do not sink back into the meringue.
• To make the ganache:.
• Place the chocolate chips into a medium bowl.
• Heat the heavy cream in a small pot over a medium heat until steaming. Pour this over the chocolate in the bowl and let sit for 5 minutes so the chocolate can melt. Only then, stir together until smooth. Let cool for 10-20 minutes at room temperature until slightly thickened. Transfer the ganache to a disposable piping bag.
• Assembly:.
• Place a dab of graham cracker buttercream onto a cake board or serving plate and place on the first cake layer to secure it to the board.
• Scoop roughly 1/3 cup of graham cracker buttercream onto the layer and spread it out into an even layer over the top of the cake layer. Top with the second cake layer and spread on another ~1/3 cup of graham cracker frosting. Top with the final cake layer and spread another ~1/3 cup of frosting over the top of the cake.
• Transfer the remaining graham cracker buttercream to a piping bag.
• Snip the tips off the piping bags containing the chocolate and graham cracker buttercreams - you want the holes to be about 1 inch wide.
• Pipe alternating horizontal rings of chocolate and graham cracker buttercream around the outer sides of the cake to create a stripy effect around the cake. Use a flat cake scraper (or a metal bench scraper or palette knife) to smooth the buttercream on the outside of the cake into an even, smooth layer - it's helpful to use a revolving cake turntable here as you can spin the cake with one hand very easily as you hold the cake scraper straight against the edge of the cake.
• Snip the tip off the piping bag containing the warm chocolate ganache. Pipe ganache around the top edge of the cake, allowing it to drip down the cake in vertical drips. Use the remaining ganache to cover the top of the cake, using an offset spatula if needed to spread into an even layer. Let set (you can chill in the fridge to speed this up) until the ganache is set.
• Once the ganache has set, scoop the meringue from the bowl onto the top of the cake. Make dramatic dips, peaks and waves in the meringue. Use a kitchen blowtorch to lightly toast the meringue all over.
• Press the reserved graham cracker crumbs over the bottom edge of the cake.
• Serve immediately.

COFFEE S'MORES PIE

Steps:

• For graham cracker crust:
• Mix graham cracker crumbs and remaining ingredients in a small bowl to blend. Press mixture onto bottom and up sides of pie dish; chill until crust is firm, about 30 minutes.
• For coffee ganache:
• Place chocolate and butter in a large bowl. Bring cream, coffee, and 2 tablespoons water to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from heat; cover and let steep for 5 minutes.
• Strain cream mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into bowl with chocolate and butter; discard coffee grounds. Stir until melted and ganache is smooth. Pour into chilled crust; smooth top. Chill until set, about 1 hour.
• For meringue:
• Meringue Using an electric mixer with clean, dry beaters on medium speed, beat egg whites in a medium bowl until light and frothy. Add sugar in 4 additions, beating for 1 minute after each addition. Continue beating egg whites until stiff and glossy.
• Spoon meringue over coffee ganache; swirl decoratively with a spatula or the back of a spoon. Using a kitchen torch, if desired, toast meringue until golden brown in spots. DO AHEAD: Pie can be made 8 hours ahead. Keep chilled.

HOMEMADE CINNAMON GRAHAMS AND SALTED CHOCOLATE GANACHE S'MORES

Steps:

• For the homemade cinnamon grahams (graham crackers): Whisk together the flours, sugar, baking soda, sea salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted butter, heavy cream, honey and molasses if using. Combine the wet and dry ingredients and stir to make a moist dough. Divide in half, press into 2 squares (roughly 6-by-5-inches each), wrap tightly in plastic and chill for at least 1 hour and up to 3 days.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking sheets.
• Dust a clean work surface lightly with flour. Working with 1 portion at a time, roll each square into a larger 10- to 11-inch square, about 1/8 inch thick, turning the dough frequently to ensure it isn't sticking and taking care to keep it in a rough rectangular shape. (Use a pastry scraper and a light dusting of flour when it sticks.) Repeat with the remaining dough.
• Use a sharp knife or a pastry cutter to cut each square of dough into 16 squares, roughly 2 1/2-by-2 1/2-inches, trimming the edges as needed. Use a fork to mark each a few times. Brush with the beaten egg.
• For the cinnamon sugar: Whisk together the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl, then sprinkle lightly over each graham.
• Bake, rotating the trays halfway through, until the grahams are deeper brown around the edges, 15 minutes. Cool completely on a rack and serve the day they are baked, or store, well-wrapped, for up to 3 days. Freeze any additional grahams for up to 2 weeks.
• To serve: Use a little knife or a spoon to spread some Salted Chocolate Ganache on a graham, then top with a toasted marshmallow and another graham.
• Heat the cream in a small pot until simmering. Place the chocolate in a medium, heat-proof bowl and pour the simmered cream over the top. Let stand for 2 minutes before whisking until a smooth paste. Pour into a small pot or jar and sprinkle the top with flaky sea salt. Chill until ready to use (it should be thick but still easy to spread with an offset spatula or a spoon). Makes 3/4 cup.