Mocha Macaroons Food

MOCHA-WALNUT MACARONS

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature 30 minutes., Preheat oven to 275°. Place confectioners' sugar, walnuts, cocoa and coffee in a food processor; process until finely ground and set aside., Add salt to egg whites; beat on medium speed until soft peaks. Gradually add superfine sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high after each addition until sugar is dissolved. Continue beating until stiff glossy peaks form. Carefully fold in walnut mixture until blended., Pipe or drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 1 in. apart onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Air dry for 30 minutes before baking. Bake 18-20 minutes. Remove macaroons from baking sheet to a wire rack; cool completely. Remove from parchment; store in an airtight container.

HAZELNUT-MOCHA MACARONS

Steps:

• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Grind 1 cup of the confectioners' sugar, the hazelnuts, and cocoa in a food processor until powdery, about 3 minutes. Sift mixture through a medium mesh strainer onto a piece of parchment paper, then discard any large pieces of nuts that didn't come through the strainer.
• With an electric mixer, beat the egg whites and salt until they hold firm but not dry peaks, about 2 minutes. Gradually add the remaining 1 cup confectioners' sugar, a tablespoon at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed; this can take up to 3 minutes. Beat for an extra 30 seconds until the peaks are firm and shiny but still not dry. Fold the nut mixture gently into the egg whites with a large rubber spatula. Transfer mixture into a large piping bag fitted with a 1/2-inch plain piping tip. Pipe 32 2-inch by about 1/3-inch thick rounds, evenly spaced, on each of the prepared pans. Set aside to air dry for 30 minutes before baking.
• Meanwhile make the filling: Put chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream, with espresso powder mixed in, to a boil. Pour cream over chocolate and shake bowl gently so cream settles around the chocolate. Set mixture aside until the chocolate is soft, about 5 minutes. Whisk gently until smooth, taking care not to incorporate too many air bubbles. Cool at room temperature until set up.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Bake macaroons until set and puffed, about 18 to 20 minutes. Take care not to overcook the macaroons or they'll crack. Cool cookies for 5 minutes then gently peel from paper. Let cool completely.
• Spread 1 teaspoon of mocha filling on a cookie and sandwich 2 cookies together.

MOCHA MACARONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees with rack in lower third. Place almonds in a food processor; process until as fine as possible, about 1 minute. Add confectioners' sugar; process until combined, about 1 minute.
• Pass almond mixture through a fine-mesh sieve. Transfer solids in sieve to food processor; grind and sift again, pressing down on clumps. Repeat until less than 2 tablespoons of solids remains in sieve.
• Whisk egg whites and granulated sugar by hand to combine. Beat on medium speed (4 on a KitchenAid) 2 minutes. Increase speed to medium-high (6) and beat 2 minutes. Then beat on high (8) 2 minutes more.
• The beaten egg whites will hold stiff, glossy peaks when you lift the whisk out of the bowl. Add instant-espresso powder, and beat on highest speed 30 seconds.
• Add dry ingredients all at once. Fold with a spatula from bottom of bowl upward, then press flat side of spatula firmly through middle of mixture. Repeat just until batter flows like lava, 35 to 40 complete strokes.
• Rest a pastry bag fitted with a 3/8-inch round tip (Ateco #804) inside a glass. Transfer batter to bag; secure top. Dab some batter remaining in bowl onto corners of 2 heavy baking sheets; line with parchment.
• With piping tip 1/2 inch above sheet, pipe batter into a 3/4-inch round, then swirl tip off to one side. Repeat, spacing rounds 1 inch apart. Tap sheets firmly against counter 2 or 3 times to release air bubbles.
• Sift espresso powder over half of unbaked rounds.
• Filling: Dissolve instant-espresso powder in 1/4 teaspoon hot water; mix into Swiss meringue buttercream.
• Bake 1 sheet at a time, rotating halfway through, until risen and just set, 13 minutes. Let cool. Pipe or spread filling on flat sides of half of cookies; top with remaining half. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate.

MOCHA MACAROON TORTE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Cut cookie dough in half crosswise. Cut each section in half lengthwise. Press dough in bottom of ungreased 10 or 9-inch springform pan. Bake at 350 for 12 to 18 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove partially baked crust from oven. Cool 10 minutes.
• While crust is cooling, beat cream cheese in medium bowl until light and fluffy. Add egg; beat until smooth. Add coconut, 1/4 cup sugar, coffee and vanilla; blend well. Stir in 1/3 cup chocolate chips. Spoon and carefully spread mixture over crust. Sprinkle with all topping ingredients.
• Return to oven; bake an additional 30 to 45 minutes or until filling is set and edges are golden brown. Cool 10 minutes. Run knife around sides of pan to loosen; carefully remove sides of pan. Cool 1 hour. Refrigerate 1 to 2 hours or until chilled. If desired, serve with French vanilla ice cream, or frozen yogurt and chocolate-covered coffee beans. Store in refrigerator.

MOCHA CRUNCH ICE CREAM CAKE

Steps:

• For sauce: Cook water, sugar and espresso in heavy medium saucepan over low heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add chocolate and butter. Stir until chocolate and butter are melted and sauce is smooth. Cool completely. (Sauce can be prepared 3 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring sauce to room temperature before using.)
• For crust: Oil 9-inch springform pan. Mix 2 cups crumbs and butter in medium bowl. Press firmly into bottom of prepared pan. Freeze until firm.
• For filling: Soften chocolate ice cream in refrigerator until spreadable but not melted. Spread in pan and smooth top. Freeze until firm.
• Spoon 1/2 cup sauce over ice cream and sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cookie crumbs. Freeze until firm.
• Soften coffee ice cream in refrigerator until spreadable but not melted. Spread in pan. Smooth surface and freeze until firm. Spread 1/2 cup sauce over coffee ice cream. Sprinkle with Almond Roca and freeze until firm. (Can be prepared 3 days ahead. Cover tightly.)
• Soften cake slightly in refrigerator if necessary. Rewarm remaining sauce over low heat until lukewarm, stirring frequently. Remove pan sides. Cut cake into wedges. Serve, passing warm mocha sauce separately.

MOCHA-HAZELNUT MACAROON DOMES

Steps:

• For macaroons:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 1 large cookie sheet with parchment. Brush lightly with vegetable oil. Finely grind hazelnuts in processor. Add sugar and flour; blend to powder. With machine running, add egg white and vanilla; blend to paste.
• Spoon mixture into pastry bag fitted with no. 4 (3/8-inch-diameter) round tip. Pipe 3/4- to 1-inch-diameter mound onto parchment about 1/2 inch high and spacing 1 inch apart. Dip finger into water and gently press top of cookie to flatten center slightly. Bake until golden brown, about 12 minutes (cookies will spread to about 1 1/2 inches.) Turn parchment (cookies will adhere) over onto work surface. Brush parchment with just enough water to moisten. Let stand until parchment can easily be pulled off cookies, about 2 minutes. Peel off parchment.
• For ganache:
• Bring cream and butter to simmer in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add instant coffee granules; stir to dissolve. Reduce heat to low. Add chocolate; stir until melted. Mix in vanilla. Pour into bowl. Chill until firm enough to spread, stirring occasionally, about 45 minutes.
• Line cookie sheet with foil. Using icing spatula, spread 1 heaping teaspoon ganache onto flat side of each cookie, mounding to dome in center. Place ganache side up on prepared cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining cookies. Chill until ganache sets, 20 minutes.
• For coating:
• Line cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Melt bittersweet chocolate with vegetable shortening in top of double boiler over simmering water, stirring until smooth. Remove from over water. Grasp 1 cookie between thumb and index finger. Dip ganache portion into melted chocolate. Shake of excess. Turn chocolate side up and place on foil-lined cookie sheet. Top with raspberry or hazelnut. Repeat with remaining cookies. Refrigerate until chocolate sets, about 30 minutes.
• Melt white chocolate in top of double boiler over simmering water, stirring until smooth. Dip spoon into chocolate. Wave from side to side over cookies, forming decorative pattern. Refrigerate until white chocolate sets, about 15 minutes. Place cookies in single layer in airtight containers; chill overnight. (Can be prepared 3 days ahead.) let stand 10 minutes at room temperature before serving.

MOCHA MACAROONS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 300 degrees. Lightly grease cookie sheets.
• Beat egg whites, coffee, cream of tartar, and salt in medium bowl on low speed until foamy.
• Beat in sugar, 1 Tablespoon at a time on high speed until stiff. Do not underbeat.
• Stir in cocoa until smooth.
• Fold in coconut.
• Drop mixture by rounded teaspoonfuls 1 inch apart on cookie sheet. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until set. Cool 10 minutes, then remove from cookie sheet.
• Sprinkle with cocoa or drizzle with melted chocolate.

MOCHA MACAROON TORTE

Steps:

• heat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cut cookie dough in half crosswise. Cut each section in half lengthwise. Press dough in bottom of ungreased 10 or 9 inch springform pan. Bake at 350 for 12-18 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove partially baked crust from oven. Cool 10 minutes.
• While crust is cooling, beat cream cheese in medium bowl until light and fluffy. Add egg; beat until smooth. Add coconut, 1/4 c sugar, coffee and vanilla; blend well. Stir in 1/3 c chocolate chips. Spoon and carefully spread mixture over crust. Sprinkle with all topping ingredients.
• Return to oven; bake and additional 30-45 minutes or until filling is set and edges are golden brown. Cool 10 minutes. Run knife around sides of pan to loosen; carefully remove sides of pan. Cool 1 hour. Refrigerate 1-2 hours or until chilled. Store in refrigerator.

FRENCH MOCHA MACAROON TART

Steps:

• For Crust:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 9-inch-diameter tart pan with removable bottom with foil, carefully pressing up sides and into grooves. Brush foil with vegetable oil. Finely grind first 4 ingredients in processor. Add egg white and vanilla and blend until mixture almost forms balls. Press onto bottom (not up sides) of prepared pan, using wet finger-tips as aid. Bake until crust looks dry and feels firm, about 14 minutes. Cool.
• For Dark Chocolate Filling:
• Bring first 4 ingredients to simmer in heavy medium saucepan, stirring ocassionally. Add chocolate and whisk until smooth. Set aside.
• For White Chocolate Filling:
• Bring first 3 ingredients to simmer in heavy large saucepan. Reduce heat to low. Add white chocolate and whisk until smooth. Remove from heat and whisk in sour cream. Pour 1/2 cup of mixture into small bowl; add butter to mixture in small bowl and whisk until smooth. Set aside for garnish.
• Drop dark chocolate filling and remaining white chocolate filling alternately by 1/4 cupfuls onto crust. Swirl fillings together using tip of knife. Freeze until firm, about 1 hour.
• Freeze reserved 1/2 cup white chocolate filling until firm enough to pipe, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Lift tart from pan using foil sides as aid. Peel down foil sides. Turn tart on side and carefully peel foil off bottom of tart. Place tart on platter. Spoon reserved white chocolate filling into pastry bag fitted with medium star tip. Pipe white chocolate mixture around edge of tart. Garnish with almonds. (Can be prepared 1 week ahead; refrigerate. Cover when firm and keep refrigerated.) Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before serving.