Malt Ball Bombe Food

MILLIONAIRE'S ICE CREAM BOMBE

Steps:

• Line a 1.2-litre pudding bowl with a double layer of cling film, leaving plenty overhanging, and make a space for the bowl in the freezer. Put the biscuits in a food processor and blitz until they resemble fine crumbs. Add the butter and 2 tbsp caramel, and blend until well mixed. Save about 3 tbsp for the top and tip the rest into the lined pudding bowl. Use the back of a spoon to press evenly over the base and up the sides of the bowl. Freeze for 30 mins.
• Remove the chocolate ice cream from the freezer and allow it to soften at room temperature for 10 mins. Remove the pudding bowl from the freezer too (the biscuits should be firm by now.) Spoon the ice cream into the biscuit- lined bowl, packing it into the base. Spoon over the remaining caramel, spreading it to the biscuit walls. Return to the freezer for 30 mins.
• Remove the caramel ice cream and allow it to soften for 10 mins. Meanwhile, tip 75g Maltesers into a bowl and lighty crush with the end of a rolling pin, leaving some chunky bits. Add the ice cream to the bowl and stir through the Malteser pieces - work quickly so the ice cream doesn't melt too much. Remove the pudding bowl from the freezer and tip in the Malteser ice cream, spreading it to completely fill the bowl, then level the top. Scatter with the remaining biscuit crumbs. Return to the freezer for at least 4 hrs (or for up to 2 weeks).
• Put the cream in a pan and heat until steaming hot but not boiling. Put the chocolate in a large bowl and pour over the cream. Leave to stand for 1-2 mins, then stir to make a smooth ganache. Set aside to cool until the sauce thickens to a spreadable consistency (you can speed this up by putting it in the fridge, but remember to stir it every 5-10 mins or it will set around the edges).
• Remove the pudding bowl from the freezer. Turn it onto a plate and remove the bowl and cling film. Spread half the chocolate ganache all over the pudding and, as quickly as you can, stick the remaining Maltesers all over the surface - this is easiest if you start around the bottom and work your way up in layers. The chocolate ganache will start to set, so use a little more from the bowl to make the Maltesers stick. Once covered, return to the freezer for at least a further 4 hrs (or for up to 3 days), removing it 10 mins before serving. Top with a dusting of icing sugar and a sprig of holly, if you like.

MALTED MILK SHAKES

Steps:

• Place 1/2 cup milk and 3 tablespoons malt powder in the jar of a blender, and process until malt is dissolved. Add half the vanilla ice cream, and blend until smooth. With the motor running, add remaining vanilla ice cream, 1 scoop at a time, until it is fully incorporated. Pour half the shake into a glass measuring cup, and place in freezer. Divide remaining half between two glasses, and place glasses in freezer. Allow to chill for 10 minutes before proceeding to step two.
• Place remaining 1/2 cup milk and remaining 3 tablespoons malt powder in clean jar of blender, and process until malt is dissolved. Add half the chocolate, or strawberry, ice cream, and blend until smooth. With motor running, add remaining ice cream, one scoop at a time, until fully incorporated. Divide half the shake between two empty glasses, and top off the two partially filled glasses from freezer with the remainder. Allow the half-filled glasses to freeze for 10 minutes. Stir reserved vanilla shake before topping off remaining glasses. Garnish with malted-milk powder and malted-milk balls if desired, and serve immediately.

MALT BALL BOMBE

Steps:

• Chill molds in the freezer. Beat chocolate ice cream in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until soft but still holding its shape, 1 to 2 minutes; work in batches if necessary. Wearing rubber gloves, remove molds one at a time from freezer; fill them with chocolate ice cream, pushing down on ice cream to prevent air pockets. Make the top even and smooth; return filled molds immediately to freezer. Let chocolate ice cream become firm, but not too hard to spoon out, about 1 hour. Remove molds from freezer one at a time; use a 1-ounce ice-cream scoop or round tablespoon to scoop out ice cream from center, leaving 1/2-inch border around edges. Return molds immediately to freezer.
• Soften the vanilla ice cream as above. Add the malted milk powder, and stir just to combine. Remove molds from freezer, and fill each center with malted vanilla ice cream, smoothing top with an offset spatula. Return to freezer, and chill until firm, 1 hour more.
• Working with two molds at a time, remove from freezer; dip in warm water for a few seconds. Use your finger to gently slide ice cream out of molds. Match two halves, flat sides together; wrap in plastic wrap. Gently press halves together; return to freezer. Repeat with remaining molds. Let balls harden, about 1 hour.
• Melt chocolate in the top of a double boiler, or a heatproof bowl, over a pot of barely simmering water. When melted, remove from heat; stir chocolate occasionally to let it cool, 8 to 10 minutes. Place a wire rack over a rimmed baking sheet; set aside. Remove 1 malt ball at a time from freezer; dip in melted chocolate. Using a spoon or small offset spatula, very quickly turn to coat ball and lift out of chocolate. Place on wire rack, and let excess chocolate drip off (chocolate will adhere to wire rack if allowed to sit too long). Gently transfer malt-ball bombe to a waxed paper-lined tray; return to freezer before chocolate is completely set. Repeat process with remaining balls. If not serving immediately, wrap each ball in plastic wrap after it is completely frozen. Serve on plates with forks.

NO-BAKE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Butter and line a 23cm springform cake tin. Blitz the biscuits in a food processor to form fine crumbs, then add the butter and blitz again. Tip the biscuit mixture into the tin and press down firmly with the back of a spoon. Chill in the fridge while you make the filling.
• In separate bowls, melt the milk and dark chocolate over pans of gently simmering water. Alternatively, melt in the microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring between each interval until melted. Set aside to cool.
• Use a hand whisk to mix the mascarpone, cream cheese, icing sugar, malted milk drink powder, hot chocolate powder and vanilla extract until smooth. In a separate bowl, whisk the cream, then fold into the mascarpone mixture. Add half the mixture to each of the chocolate bowls, stirring until well combined. Stir half the chopped Maltesers, whole Maltesers and buttons into the milk chocolate mixture; stir the rest into the dark chocolate mixture.
• Spoon the dark chocolate mixture onto the biscuit base. Top with the milk chocolate mixture and smooth over the top. Chill overnight. Decorate with Maltesers before serving.

SPUMONI BOMBE

Steps:

• Coat inside of 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Line with parchment paper by cutting two strips, one the width and the other the length of the pan, overlapping them inside the pan. Both should be long enough to generously hang over edges of pan. Place in freezer to chill for 15 minutes. Beat pistachio ice cream in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until soft but still holding its shape, 1 to 2 minutes. Add pistachios; remove pan from freezer. Transfer pistachio ice cream to pan, forming a 1-inch layer and smoothing with a small offset spatula. Return pan to freezer until the ice cream hardens, about 40 minutes.
• In a small saucepan, combine cherries, rum, and water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat (be careful not to ignite); reduce heat; cover pan. Let cherries simmer until all liquid is absorbed, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat; let cool.
• In a medium bowl, whip cream until soft peaks form; set aside. Soften vanilla ice cream as above. Fold whipped cream into vanilla ice cream. Remove mold from freezer; add a layer of vanilla mixture, smoothing top with a small offset spatula. Return to freezer.
• When vanilla layer is firm to the touch, about 45 minutes, soften chocolate ice cream as above. Add cooled cherries; mix until just combined. Remove mold from freezer; fill to top with chocolate-cherry mixture. Smooth top with an offset spatula; cover with plastic wrap. Return to freezer until completely hardened, about 4 hours or overnight. To unmold, remove from freezer; dip in very hot water for a few seconds. Sprinkle sliced almonds, if using, over chocolate ice cream to keep ice cream from sliding when turned out. Using the overhanging parchment, gently lift ice cream out of pan. Invert onto cutting board. Use a sharp knife to slice into servings.