Double Chocolate Raspberry Mousse Pops Food

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY MOUSSE POPS

Steps:

• Note: Before beginning, you will want to gather the following supplies: silicone heart cake pop mold, toothpicks, red and yellow candy coloring, wax paper, 1 piping bag or large ziplock bag.
• Place a mixing bowl and whisk attachment in the freezer.
• Put the chocolate chips in a heat safe bowl, and microwave in 30 sec intervals at 50% power, stirring between each interval until smooth and fully melted (it won't take long, so be careful to not over heat the chocolate). Stir in the cubed butter until completely combined. Set aside to cool slightly while working on the other mousse components.
• Whisk the egg yolks in a separate bowl until frothy (about 2 min), and then slowly whisk into the chocolate mixture. If the chocolate mixture is very warm still you will have to temper it by adding a little to the eggs and stirring before adding the rest of the eggs to the chocolate mixture (so it doesn't scramble the eggs).
• Add the sugar, vanilla, and cream to the bowl of your mixer and mix slowly starting on low and working your way up to high for about 3-5 minutes, or until stiff peaks just begin to form.
• Gently fold the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture and transfer to a piping bag. Pipe into each heart cavity, filling to the top, and use a butter knife or icing spatula to scrape off any extra mousse. Insert a popsicle stick, and transfer the molds to the freezer to set (at least 4 hours or overnight). At this time you will also want to place the raspberries in the fridge to thaw overnight.
• To make the raspberry puree, place the thawed raspberries, sugar, and lemon juice in a medium saucepan. Cook the berry mixture on medium low for 10-15 minutes, or until the berries begin to break down.
• Pour the berries through a strainer to remove the seeds. Use a spatula to gently press the berries against the strainer to squeeze out all of the juice, and also swipe the spatula along the bottom of the strainer. Transfer the puree to the refrigerator to chill and thicken. Discard the seeds or use them for a homemade jam.
• Once the pops are set you can shape them to give them more of TATA's asymmetric look. Remove the mousse pops carefully from the molds, and place them on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Use a sharp knife to carefully trim down the left side of the heart. Return the pops to the freezer while making the ganache.
• Now for the fun part! To make the glaze, place the white chocolate chips in a heat proof bowl and set aside. Place the cream and corn syrup into a second heatproof bowl and microwave for 30 seconds. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate, and allow it to sit for 1-2 minutes before stirring. Continue to heat the chocolate and cream, in the microwave, in 30-second intervals at 50% power, stirring after each set, until the chocolate is fully melted.
• Stir in the fruit puree. The white chocolate chips have a slightly yellow tint that will make the ganache look purple, so to bring it back to TATA's signature bright red add a little red candy coloring until it begins to look red again. The color will develop as it sits, so add just a little at a time (too much will make the ganache taste bitter). You can also add a tiny bit of yellow to brighten it up, if needed. Transfer to a glass measuring cup and re heat for another 30 seconds, so that the ganache is easily pourable.
• Place the mousse pops on a cooling rack over a rimmed baking sheet, and pour the ganache over them completely covering the tops and sides. Transfer the pops back to the freezer (you can use a toothpick to clean up the edges).
• To make TATA's face, place the yellow and dark cocoa candy melts into 2 separate heat proof bowls, and heat them in the microwave in 30 second intervals at 50% power (stirring between each interval until smooth). Use a toothpick dipped in the yellow melts to draw 6 oval shapes onto wax paper for the mouths, and then dip a toothpick into the dark cocoa melts and draw 3 lines each, for the mouth (right in the middle of the yellow), eyebrows, and 2 small circles for the eyes of each mousse pop. Allow the chocolate to set.
• Just before serving, add the faces (I find it easiest to transfer using a toothpick), and enjoy! The mousse pops can either be eaten right from the freezer, or set out for about 10 minutes for a softer texture. Cover and store any leftover pops in the freezer.
• * Consumption of raw or undercooked eggs may increase the risk of food borne illness.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE WITH RASPBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Before starting to prepare the mousse, refrigerate the heavy cream for 6 to 8 hours on the top rack of the fridge.
• In a large mixing bowl whip 2/3 cup (about 150 ml) heavy cream until very thick.
• In a medium heatproof bowl combine while chocolate, broken into pieces and 1/3 cup (50 ml) heavy cream. Place the bowl over a pan of gently simmering water. Stir until the chocolate melts. Let cool for 5 minutes, while whisking gently.
• With a rubber spatula carefully fold the chocolate mixture into the whipped cream until homogeneous. Spoon the prepared white chocolate mousse into glasses or ramequins, filling them about 1/3. Set aside.
• Whip another 2/3 cup (about 150 ml) until very thick.
• Following the above process, melt also the dark chocolate together with the remaining 1/3 cup (50 ml) heavy cream.
• Carefully fold the dark chocolate mixture into the whipped cream. Spoon the dark mousse in the glasses over the white mousse.
• In a small saucepan over medium heat combine raspberries and sugar. Whisk until the mixture starts to thicken: about 10-15 minutes.
• Spoon the prepared sauce on top of the chocolate mousse.
• Refrigerate the mouse for 2-3 hours before serving it.

CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY MOUSSE TRUFFLE CAKE, RASPBERRY-CASSIS SAUCE

Steps:

• MAKE THE CHOCOLATE SOUR CREAM CAKE:.
• Preheat oven to 350ºF.
• Lightly butter the bottom and sides of two 9x2" round cake pans. Line the bottoms of the pans with parchment paper. Dust the sides of the pans with flour and tap out the excess.
• Sift together flour, baking soda and salt onto a piece of waxed paper.
• Place chocolate in microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on medium(50%power)1 minute. Stir. Microwave 1 minute more or until chocolate softens.
• Stir until smooth. Let cool.
• Beat butter and shortening in mixing bowl until creamy, using electric mixer at medium speed.
• Add brown sugar.
• Continuing to beat, gradually add granulated sugar over a 4 minute period.
• Continue beating for another 1-2 minutes or until mixture is a light texture and off-white in color. Beat in vanilla.
• Beat eggs with fork until frothy. At medium speed while continuing to beat, slowly add beaten eggs to batter.
• Add sour cream aand beat until smooth. Beat in melted chocolate until blended. Scrape down sides and bottom of bowl with rubber spatula.
• At low speed, beat in flour mixture alternating with milk, beginning and ending with flour, mixing until just blended. Mix batter for 10 more seconds.
• Divide batter between prepared pans and smooth top.
• Bake 35-40 minutes or until center springs back when gently pressed with a finger.
• Cool in pans on wire racks for 5 minutes.
• Run a thin-bladed knife around the edges of layers to loosen. Invert the cake layers onto wire racks.
• Peel off the paper circles and leave them loosely attached to the bottom of the cake layers. Reinvert the layers onto other racks so that they are right side up.
• Cool cake layers completely.
• MAKE THE RASPBERRY SYRUP:.
• Combine water and sugar in small saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar is completely dissolved.
• Raise heat to medium-high and bring syrup to boil. Remove the pan from heat and stir in the raspberry brandy and Grand Marnier.
• Keep syrup covered until ready to assemble the cake.
• MAKE THE CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY MOUSSE:.
• Put chocolate in food processor fitted with the metal chopping blade. Cover and process 30-45 second or until finely ground.
• Combine frozen raspberries and 1/3 cup sugar in a noncorrosive medium saucepan. Cook over medium-heat, stirring constantly, until sugar dissolves and raspberries soften.
• Press raspberry mixture through a fine meshed sieve into noncorrosive saucepan. Discard seeds. Cook raspberry pureé over medium-high heat until it reduces to 1/3 cup.
• Pour hot pureé over ground chocolate.
• Combine egg yolks, 3 tablespoons sugar and salt in small bowl. Whisk vigorously until well blended.
• Scald 3/4 cup heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium heat. While whisking constantly, temper egg yolk mixture into saucepan of hot cream.(To temper eggs; stir a little of the hot cream into eggs to warm "temper" them. The warmed eggs are then stirred into the remaining hot mixture. Tempering helps to prevent eggs from curdling).
• Continue to cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture starts to thicken. (Do not allow the custard to overcook or the custard will be grainy.).
• With the motor of the food processor running immediately pour the hot custard through the feed tube. Process for 15-25 seconds or until chocolate is completely melted.
• With a spatula, scrape down the side of bowl.
• Add raspberry brandy, Grand Marnier and vanilla. Process briefly until blended.
• Turn chocolate/raspberry mixture into large bowl.
• Whip remaining heavy cream in chilled bowl just until it starts to thicken and barely forms soft peaks, using electric mixer at high speed.(Do not overwhip cream or mousse will be grainy.).
• Using a rubber spatula gently fold one-third of whipped cream into chocolate/raspberry mixture to lighten it. Fold in remaining whipped cream.(Do not OVERFOLD the mousse.) Keep the mousse at room temperature while preparing cake layers.
• ASSEMBLE THE TRUFFLE CAKE:.
• Line the inside of 2 quart round glass bowl with plastic wrap. Remove paper circles from bottoms of cake layers. Using a long serrated knife, slice each cake layer in half horizantally.
• Trim one cake layer into 6-1/4" circle. Generously brush with some of the raspberry soaking syrup. Place the cake circle into the bottom of the prepared bowl. Spoon slightly less than half of the chocolate raspberry mousse over the cake and spread it evenly with a spatula.
• Trim a second cake layer into 7-1/2" circle and generously brush with soaking syrup. Place cake circle on top of the mousse and press it down gently. Cover with remaining mousse.
• Brush a third layer cake with remaining syrup and press it gently on top of the mousse.
• Wrap the bowl in plastic-wrap and chill the truffle cake overnight.(Reserve the leftover cake layer for another use. It may be frozen for up to 1 month.).
• MAKE THE RAPBERRY-CASSIS SAUCE:.
• Combine frozen raspberries, red currant jelly and sugar in noncorrosive medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until sugar is completely dissolved and the berries are soft. Do not let mixture boil.
• Strain raspberry mixture a fine-meshed sieve into a bowl. Discard seeds. Pour raspberry pureé back into noncorrosive medium saucepan.
• Put arrowroot in small cup. Slowly stir in water until mixture is smooth. Stir arrowroot paste into raspberry mixture.
• Cook raspberry mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a gentle boil. Continue to boil for 30-60 seconds or until sauce is translucent.
• Do not boil more than 1 minute or the sauce will become watery. Remove pan from heat. Cool sauce to room temperature and stir in Crème de Cassis, to taste. Transfer sauce to a bowl; cover and refrigerate.
• MAKE THE TRUFFLE FROSTING:.
• Put chocolate in food processor fitted with metal chopping blade. Process for 30-45 seconds or until finely ground.
• Heat cream, corn syrup and salt in small saucepan over medium heat to a gentle boil.
• Pour cream mixture over chocolate in food processor. Add vanilla. Let the mixture stand for 30 seconds to melt chocolate. Process briefly until mixture is smooth. Turn into a small bowl and cover surface with plastic wrap.
• Let mixture stand at room temperature for about 1 hour or until stiff enough to frost truffle cake.
• ASSEMBLE THE TRUFFLE CAKE:.
• Remove the plastic from the top of the truffle cake bowl. Invert bowl onto cake plate and remove bowl and plastic wrap from the top of the cake.
• Using a small metal cake spatula, cover the cake with an even layer of truffle frosting.
• Create decorative swirls in the frosting using the back of a soup spoon.
• Lightly dust the cake with cocoa powder.
• Store the truffle cake in refrigerator under a cake dome for up to 4 days.
• TO SERVE:.
• Spoon a pool of raspberry-cassis sauce onto a dessert plate. Lay a slice of cake on top of sauce. Garnish with fresh raspberries.