Chocolate Mousse With Wine Soaked Cherries And Whipped Cream Food

BOURBON-SOAKED CHERRY-CHOCOLATE MOUSSE PIE

Steps:

• For the pie: The day before making the pie, put the cherries and bourbon in an airtight container and let set overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Line an 8-inch pie dish with the pie crust. Trim the excess off, crimp the edges and poke the bottom and sides with a fork. Place a piece of parchment or wax paper on the crust in the pie dish and fill three-quarters full with dried beans.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the beans and paper, return to the oven and finish baking until medium brown, another 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool completely.
• In a medium mixing bowl, add the cream cheese, sugar and cocoa powder and whip until light and fluffy. Add the cream, vanilla and salt and whip on low to combine. Turn to high and whip until light and fluffy and stiff peaks form.
• Drain the bourbon off the cherries (save the bourbon and make a nice cocktail for later). Reserve 5 to 6 cherries for decorating the top of the pie.
• Spoon half of the chocolate mousse into the cooled pie shell and spread evenly. Sprinkle half of the remaining cherries over the filling. Spoon the rest of the mousse over the cherries and smooth out. Top with the remaining cherries.
• For the topping: In the same mixing bowl, add the cream, sugar and vanilla and whip until stiff peaks form. Pipe or spoon on the topping and decorate with the saved cherries. Put in the fridge for at least an hour and up to overnight.

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE WITH CHOCOLATE LIQUEUR WHIPPED CREAM

Steps:

• Separate the eggs whites from the yolks. Set the yolks aside, then put the egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment and whip on medium speed. Slowly add the granulated sugar to the egg whites in the mixer as they are whipping. Whip until soft peaks form.
• Over a double boiler, melt the chocolate and butter together. Remove from the heat and stir occasionally to help cool; let cool 10 minutes. One by one, add the egg yolks to the chocolate-butter mixture until fully incorporated. (The mixture will stiffen slightly.) Mix the whipped egg whites into the chocolate mixture in thirds, folding very gently so as to not mix the air out of the mousse.
• Carefully and evenly divide the mixture among 4 rocks glasses. Set the glasses in the refrigerator until fully chilled, about 30 minutes.
• For the chocolate liqueur whipped cream: Combine the heavy cream, liqueur and confectioners' sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Whip on medium speed until soft peaks form.
• Spoon a dollop of the whipped cream into each of the chilled mousse glasses. Garnish each with a small sprig of mint.

QUICK CHOCOLATE-CINNAMON MOUSSE WITH CHERRIES

Steps:

• For cherries:
• Combine cherries, cherry preserves, and Port in heavy small saucepan. Bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and boil until juices thicken to syrup consistency, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Transfer to small bowl and chill until cold, about 3 hours. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and keep chilled.
• For mousse:
• Combine 1/4 cup cream and cinnamon in small saucepan; bring to boil. Remove from heat. Add chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth. Transfer chocolate mixture to large bowl. Using electric mixer, beat remaining 1 cup cream in medium bowl until soft peaks form. Fold 1/4 of whipped cream into lukewarm chocolate mixture. Fold remaining whipped cream into chocolate mixture in 3 additions just until incorporated. Divide mousse among 4 glasses or bowls. Chill until set, about 4 hours. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; keep chilled.
• Spoon cherries with syrup atop mousse and serve.

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE WHIPPED CREAM

Steps:

• Grease a 9 inch springform pan.
• In food processor or blender, coarsely grind hazelnuts to make 1 1/4 cups.
• Combine ground hazelnuts and melted butter.
• Press hazelnut/butter mixture into the bottom and 1 1/2 inches up the sides of greased pan.
• In a saucepan combine the cut up chocolate and 1/2 cup heavy cream.
• Stir over low heat until chocolate is melted.
• Remove cream from heat.
• In a mixer bowl, beat eggs and vanilla at low speed until well mixed.
• Add flour and sugar, beat on high speed for 10 minutes, or until thick and lemon colored.
• In a small bowl, beat remaining (1/2 cup) heavy cream until soft peaks form.
• Stir about 1/4 of the egg mixture into the melted chocolate.
• Fold remaining egg mixture into chocolate mixture, then fold in the whipped cream.
• Turn mixture into prepared pan.
• Bake in a preheated 325°F oven for 30-35 minutes, or until puffed on the outer third of the top.
• (Center will be slightly soft).
• Cool cake for 20 minutes.
• Remove pan sides.
• Cool on a rack 3 to 4 hours.
• Cake may be served at room temperature or chilled.
• If serving the cake the next day, cover and store in the refrigerator.
• Before serving, decoratively pipe (or dollop) the chocolate whipped cream on the top of the cake and garnish with whole hazelnuts.
• Chocolate Whipped Cream: In a small saucepan, combine heavy cream and semisweet chocolate.
• Stir over low heat until all the chocolate is melted.
• Remove from heat and stir until there are no chocolate specks remaining.
• Pour mixture into a bowl and chill well.
• Just before serving, beat cream until stiff peaks form (tips of peaks should stand straight).