Frozen Chocolate Hazelnut Parfait Food

FESTIVE FROZEN CHOCOLATE PARFAIT

Steps:

• Put all the dried fruit in a bowl and pour over the brandy. Leave to soak while you line a 900g loaf tin with cling film.
• Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water, then set aside to cool a little. Whisk the egg yolks with the sugar and honey in a separate bowl until light, then fold into the melted chocolate. Place the mixture back over the pan of hot water and whisk for a couple of minutes until thickened.
• Melt the butter with the cocoa in a pan, leave to cool to room temperature, then whisk into the chocolate mixture. Whip the cream to soft peaks, then fold that into the chocolate too. Finally, fold in the fruit and the ginger nuts. Scrape everything into the prepared loaf tin, then freeze overnight, or for up to one month. To serve, turn out of the tin and cut into slices using a hot knife. The parfait is delicious on its own but also works well with a spoonful of crème fraîche.

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT PARFAITS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk the milk, creamer and pudding mixes for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. , Spoon 1/4 cup pudding into each of eight parfait glasses; sprinkle each with 1 tablespoon cookie crumbs. Top with strawberries and remaining pudding and crumbs. Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving. Garnish with whipped cream if desired.

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT PARFAITS

Steps:

• In large bowl, whisk the milk, creamer and pudding mixes for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set.
• Spoon 1/4 cup pudding into each of eight parfait glasses; sprinkle each with 1 T cookie crumbs.
• Top with strawberries and remaining pudding and crumbs.
• Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.
• Garnish with whipped cream, if desired.

HAZELNUT CHOCOLATE PARFAITS

Steps:

• In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips; stir until smooth. Stir in 2 tablespoons Nutella. In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and vanilla until fluffy. Beat in chocolate mixture. Fold in whipped cream., Spoon into two parfait glasses. Dollop with additional whipped cream if desired. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt remaining hazelnut spread; stir until smooth. Drizzle over parfaits; sprinkle with pecans.

FROZEN POPPYSEED PARFAIT

Steps:

• Line a 1 1/2 quart terrine mold by buttering it and fitting it with plastic wrap (the one I use has a removable bottom, pins to join the sides, straight walls and is about 2 1/2 by 2 1/2 by 12 inches). In a metal mixing bowl whisk together the yolks, sugar, milk, orange juice and split vanilla bean. Place over simmering water and continue to whisk until light, fluffy and hot. Remove from the heat and place in an ice bath to cool. Once it's cool, fold in 2 cups of whipped cream and the poppy seeds. Pour mixture into the terrine mold and freeze overnight.
• To make the plum sauce remove the stones from the plums and place in a saucepan with the water and sugar. Bring to a boil and simmer until the plum skins split. Puree with a hand blender and strain. Chill.
• Serve terrine in slices with drizzles of plum sauce and remaining 1/2 cup whipped cream.

FROZEN BANANA & PRALINE PARFAIT

Steps:

• To make the praline, put the sugar into a heavy-based pan with 3 tbsp water. Place over a low heat until the sugar has dissolved and is clear. Don't stir, or it will crystallise. Increase the heat and bubble to a dark caramel (see video technique), about 5 mins. Remove from the heat, stir through the nuts, then tip onto a lightly greased non-stick baking tray. Spread to level and leave to cool. Be careful as the tray will get very hot.
• When the praline is cold and brittle, break it into pieces. Then, using the end of a rolling pin, smash it up until fairly well crushed. If this is proving hard work, tip into a food processor and pulse until it's the texture of coarse breadcrumbs.
• Line a 1.2-litre loaf tin with a strip of baking parchment (this size tin gives a neat shape, but you can set the parfait in any shaped tin, or individual pudding basins or ramekins). In a bowl, mash the bananas with half the lemon juice until you have a rough purée, then set aside.
• Put the cream into a bowl and whip until it holds its shape but is still a little soft. In another very clean bowl and using a very clean electric whisk, beat the egg whites with a squeeze more lemon juice until stiff. Slowly add the sugar until you have a stiff, shiny meringue.
• Gently fold the whipped cream and meringue together, then add the banana and most of the praline, leaving about 4 tbsp to serve. Spoon into the loaf tin, smooth the top and freeze until firm, preferably overnight.
• To serve, remove the parfait from the freezer 10 mins before serving and leave in the fridge to soften slightly. Meanwhile, slice the bananas on a slant, allowing 3 slices for each serving. Lay the slices on a baking tray set on a wooden board and scatter heavily with the sugar. Use a blowtorch to caramelise the banana, then set aside. Be very careful as the tray will be extremely hot. If you don't have a blowtorch, place the slices into a hot, dry frying pan and sear the sugar-coated sides until caramelised. Lift and flip them over to a tray.
• To plate up, sprinkle a neat line of praline just off-centre on each plate. Arrange the slices of caramelised banana at opposing angles. Unmould the parfait, then use a warmed knife to neaten the sides and cut into finger-thick slices. Lay the slice on the opposite side of the plate to the banana and serve straight away.

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL FROZEN PARFAITS

Steps:

• Bring milk and 1/2 cup cream just to a boil in a small heavy saucepan, then remove from heat and keep warm, covered.
• Bring water and 1/2 cup sugar to a boil in another small heavy saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved and washing down any sugar crystals on side of pan with a pastry brush dipped in cold water. Boil syrup, without stirring, gently swirling pan, until mixture is a deep golden caramel. Remove from heat and carefully add warm cream mixture (mixture will steam vigorously and caramel will harden). Cook over low heat, whisking, until caramel is dissolved.
• Whisk together yolks, remaining 1/4 cup sugar, and a pinch of salt in a metal bowl, then add hot caramel mixture in a slow stream, whisking. Transfer custard to saucepan. Cook custard over moderately low heat, stirring, until thickened and registers 170°F on thermometer (do not let boil).
• Pour custard through a fine-mesh sieve into bowl of standing mixer, then beat at high speed 10 minutes (mixture will be completely cool, thick, and pale). Beat in melted chocolate and vanilla.
• Whisk remaining cup cream in another bowl until it just holds stiff peaks, then whisk about one fourth of cream into chocolate mixture to lighten. Fold in remaining cream gently but thoroughly and divide mixture among paper cups, smoothing tops. Cover each cup with foil and freeze parfaits at least 12 hours.
• To serve, carefully tear off each paper cup and invert parfaits onto plates.

FROZEN CHOCOLATE PARFAIT

Steps:

• Fill each cup with one layer of yogurt which is about 2 tbsp
• Fill each cup with one layer of Hershey Syrup which is about 2 tablespoons.
• Fill each cup with another layer of yogurt, about 2 tbsp
• Fill each cup with one layer of semi-sweet chocolate chips, about 2 tablespoons.
• Fill each cup with another layer of yogurt, about 2 tablespoons.
• Fill each cup with one layer of white chocolate chips, about 2 tbsp
• Freeze for 2 hours.