Mexican Chocolate Ganache Food

CHURROS WITH MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE SPICE MIX

Steps:

• Preheat a deep-fryer or place the vegetable oil into a medium pot over medium-high heat until the oil is 350 degrees F.
• Place the butter, brown sugar, Mexican vanilla extract, salt and 1 cup water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the flour all at once and stir vigorously with a whisk to combine thoroughly and quickly. Lower the heat to low and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, for 3 minutes. Transfer to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, then add the eggs, one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each one. Once both are added, stir vigorously until the dough is homogenous. Place in a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip.
• Combine the granulated sugar, turbinado sugar, cacao nibs, Mexican cinnamon, flaky salt and chipotle powder in a bowl and pour onto a quarter-sheet tray or shallow dish. Set aside.
• Carefully pipe the dough mixture into the oil, cutting when each piece is 5 inches long, and cook in batches, separating to prevent sticking with tongs or a spider, until crisp and golden, about 4 minutes.
• Remove from the oil and place on a tray lined with a paper towel to drain. While still hot, transfer to the sugar mixture and roll until thoroughly coated. Repeat with the remaining dough and serve immediately.
• As street food, these would be served in a heavy paper cone. At home, they can be served in a coffee cup standing up or in a small short vase.

SPICY MAYAN CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Steps:

• Remove 12 ounces of the chocolate and place it in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Set aside.
• In a medium-sized saucepan, scald the cream with the vanilla. Tiny bubbles will appear on the edges of the pan, and it should be very hot, but not boiling.
• Pour the hot cream over the 12-ounces of chocolate and let stand for 4 minutes. Use a spoon to stir to blend and set aside. This mixture is called ganache. Gently stir in the cayenne and cinnamon. Let it come to room temperature, cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator until it becomes completely firm, at least 6 hours.
• Cover two baking sheets with parchment paper and, in a double boiler, melt the remaining 12-ounces of chocolate.
• Remove the firm ganache from the refrigerator and use a 1-inch cookie scoop to scoop out about 5 dozen truffles, placing them on one of the parchment-covered baking sheets. Now place the shaped truffles in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
• Using a fork, carefully dip each truffle into the melted chocolate to coat it evenly and place them on the other parchment covered baking sheet. You can use a small knife to help you remove the covered truffle from the fork. The truffles will set at room temperature. If desired, sprinkle them with red sugar when they are about halfway set.
• Once set, you can put the truffles in paper truffle cups.

STUFFED MEXICAN HOT CHOCOLATE FRENCH TOAST WITH CINNAMON WHIPPED CREAM AND CHOCOLATE-MAPLE GANACHE

Steps:

• For the ganache: Put the chocolate in a medium bowl. Bring the cream to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat, then pour it over the chocolate and let sit for 1 minute. Add the maple syrup and whisk until smooth. Transfer 1/2 cup of the ganache to a small bowl, and refrigerate for 10 minutes or until slightly chilled but still spreadable. Cover the remaining ganache and reserve in a warm place.
• For the whipped cream: Combine the cream, sugar and cinnamon in a chilled bowl. Using an electric mixer, whip until soft peaks form. Cover the bowl and refrigerate while you make the French toast.
• For the French toast: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Set a baking rack over a baking sheet.
• Whisk together the eggs, egg yolks, sugar, cocoa powder and cinnamon in a large bowl until smooth. Whisk in the milk, cream and vanilla and almond extracts until combined. Transfer the custard mixture to a baking dish.
• Divide the chilled ganache among four slices of the bread and top with the remaining four slices to make four sandwiches. Soak the sandwiches in the custard, two at a time, flipping once, until completely soaked through, about 1 minute per side.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the butter and 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large nonstick pan over medium heat until beginning to shimmer. Place two of the soaked sandwiches in the pan and cook until browned and crisp on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer the sandwiches to the baking rack and keep warm in the oven. Repeat with the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and oil and the remaining two sandwiches.
• If the reserved ganache is cool, microwave it for 10 seconds to warm a bit. To serve, quarter the French toasts, drizzle with some of the ganache, and dollop on some of the whipped cream.

MEXICAN CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Put all ingredients into a microwave-safe bowl.
• Microwave on high for 30 seconds, stir to combine.
• Continue repeating heating in microwave, using 30 seconds at a time, until completely mixed into smooth consistency.
• Cool to room temperature, use as cake/dessert frosting or filling.

BROWN BUTTER CAKE WITH SPICED CHOCOLATE GANACHE AND DULCE DE LECHE

Steps:

• For the cake: Melt the butter in a large shallow saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the butter starts to brown and smell nutty, 10 to 12 minutes. Scrape the butter and all the browned bits into a heatproof bowl. Place the bowl over an ice bath to solidify and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease three 8-inch cake pans with the 1 tablespoon butter (or spray with nonstick cooking spray) and then lightly dust with flour.
• Whisk together the 3 3/4 cups flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl until well combined, then set the flour mixture aside.
• When the brown butter has solidified, scrape it into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the brown sugar and granulated sugar and beat on high speed until very light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the bowl and reduce the speed to medium, then add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition and scraping the bottom of the bowl to be sure everything is well mixed.
• Add the sour cream and vanilla and beat just until well mixed, scraping down the bowl again. Add the flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the milk, beating just until incorporated. Remove the bowl from the mixer and give the batter a couple of folds with a spatula, scraping the bottom to ensure everything is evenly mixed.
• Divide the batter among the three prepared cake pans and bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean with some moist crumbs sticking to it, about 25 minutes. Place the pans on a wire rack until cool enough to handle, then invert them onto the rack and unmold the cakes. Carefully turn the cakes right-side up and let cool completely on the rack.
• For the assembly: Look at your cake layers. If any of them have a dome in the center, cut it off with a serrated knife so the entire top is flat. Place one cake layer on a cake plate or cardboard cake round. Spread vanilla frosting around the outside of one layer and then frost a 1-inch band around the top. Evenly spread half the dulce de leche in the center of the layer until you reach the 1-inch band and then sprinkle with half the sea salt. Add another cake layer and repeat with the frosting and remaining dulce de leche and sea salt. Add the last cake layer and frost the entire cake with a smooth and even layer of frosting. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes until the frosting is set and cold.
• Remove the cake from the refrigerator and place it on a serving plate or cake stand. Using a spoon, create drips with ganache around the outside of the cake from the top edge. Pour the remaining ganache in the center of the cake and spread it with an offset spatula to cover the top. Let the ganache set completely before serving.
• Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Stir together the cream, cinnamon, vanilla and chili powder in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat until it just begins to bubble around the edges, then pour it over the chocolate and let sit for about 10 seconds. Stir until smooth and shiny. Let the ganache sit until it has cooled and thickened slightly, about 5 minutes.

GRAHAM CRACKER AND MEXICAN CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM SANDWICH

Steps:

• For the Mexican chocolate ganache: Put the chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Bring the cream just to a boil in a small pan. Pour immediately over the chocolate and let sit for a minute or 2. Whisk until the chocolate is melted and the ganache is completely smooth. Set aside to cool.
• For the ice cream sandwiches: Break the graham crackers in half. Put the candied walnuts on a small plate. Turn the pint of ice cream on its side and use a serrated knife to slice through the carton, creating 6 ice cream discs. Spread some of the Mexican chocolate ganache on each graham cracker half. Add an ice cream disc (remove the carton) to 6 of the graham cracker halves and top with the remaining graham crackers. Roll the edges in the candied walnuts. Serve immediately.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Cook the chocolate chips, heavy cream, and instant coffee in the top of a double boiler over simmering water until smooth and warm, stirring occasionally.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Place chocolate chips in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chocolate; whisk until smooth., For a pourable ganache, cool, stirring occasionally, until mixture reaches 85°-90° and is slightly thickened, about 40 minutes. Pour over cake, allowing some to drape down the sides. Spread ganache with a spatula if necessary to evenly coat, working quickly before it thickens. Let stand until set., For spreadable ganache, chill, stirring occasionally, until mixture reaches a spreading consistency. Spread over cake.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Place the chocolate into a medium bowl. Heat the cream in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Bring just to a boil, watching very carefully because if it boils for a few seconds, it will boil out of the pot. When the cream has come to a boil, pour over the chopped chocolate, and whisk until smooth. Stir in the rum if desired.
• Allow the ganache to cool slightly before pouring over a cake. Start at the center of the cake and work outward. For a fluffy frosting or chocolate filling, allow it to cool until thick, then whip with a whisk until light and fluffy.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE

Steps:

• Put the chocolate in a large mixing bowl. Pour the cream into a saucepan with the sugar and bring to a simmer, stirring continuously until the sugar is melted. Bring to the boil, then quickly remove from the heat, pour over the chocolate and whisk until smooth and glossy. Use straight away or leave to cool down a little until thick enough to spread on a cake. Alternatively, leave to cool completely, then beat with an electric whisk until light and fluffy and spread on a cake.