Spiced Chocolate Sorbet With Espresso Food

SPICED CHOCOLATE SORBET WITH ESPRESSO

Steps:

• First prepare an ice bath in either a large bowl or the sink. Fill a large bowl about half full of ice and cold water and set aside. Or, if you have a double sink, plug and fill the small side with ice and cold water as your ice bath. Measure out all ingredients, chop your chocolate and set aside. The cooking goes quickly.
• In a large saucepan (5 quarts), whisk together 1½ cups of water, sugar, cocoa powder and salt until smooth. Place the pan over medium high heat and bring to a boil, whisking. Do not walk away from the pan as the mixture boils up and expands rapidly while cooking. Boil and whisk for 45 seconds then remove the pan from the heat. Immediately stir in the chocolate, vanilla, espresso and five spice, and if using, the chocolate stevia drops. Whisk until smooth.
• Stir in the balance of the water (3/4 cup). Pour into a stainless steel bowl and place in the ice water bath. Stir occasionally until completely cool, then cover and refrigerate until well chilled, at least an hour.
• Pour chocolate base into your ice cream maker and process according to manufacturers directions. It will be soft when finished. Freeze for several hours to firm up, then serve.

CHOCOLATE SORBET

Steps:

• Whisk sugar, cocoa powder and salt in heavy medium saucepan to blend. Gradually whisk in 2 cups water. Mix in corn syrup. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves (do o not boil). Refrigerate mixture until cold, about 2 hours.
• To make sorbet in ice cream maker:
• Transfer mixture to ice cream maker and process according to manufacturers instructions. Transfer sorbet to container; cover and freeze until firm.
• To make sorbet in freezer:
• Transfer mixture to 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Freeze mixture until firm, stirring occasionally, about 5 hours. Break sorbet into large pieces and transfer to processor. Puree sorbet until smooth and creamy. Spoon sorbet into container; cover and freeze until firm. (Can be prepared 3 days ahead. Keep frozen.) Let sorbet stand at room temperature 5 minutes before serving.

CHOCOLATE SORBET

Steps:

• Whisk first 3 ingredients in heavy medium saucepan over medium-high heat until sugar dissolves and mixture comes to a boil. Stir in espresso powder and vanilla. Chill. Transfer mixture to ice cream maker and process according to manufacturer's instructions. Transfer sorbet to container and freeze until firm.(Can be prepared 3 days ahead.)

CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Butter an 8-inch cake pan (I used a springform pan) and line bottom with parchment paper. Butter the parchment and lightly flour (or use cocoa) the pan, shaking out excess.
• In a small, heavy-based saucepan, melt chocolate and butter over medium heat, stirring frequently. Set aside.
• Using the whisk attachment of a stand mixer, whip the eggs, sugar, brewed espresso, ground espresso beans, and salt on medium-high speed until thick and voluminous, at least 8 minutes (I mixed about 10 minutes). Turn the mixer to low and mix in the chocolate-butter mixture. Turn off mixer and sift the flour over the batter and fold until all the ingredients are fully incorporated.
• Pour batter into prepared pan and bake until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, 25-30 minutes.
• Cool in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes. Set a plate over the torte and carefully invert the torte onto the plate; peel off the parchment. Flip the torte back onto the rack to cool completely before slicing. (Since I used a springform pan, I let it cool completely in the pan.).

CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO SORBET

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan whisk together water sugar and cocoa powder over medium heat until sugar dissolves and mixture comes to a boil.
• Stir in espresso powder and vanilla.
• Chill and then transfer to ice cream maker and process according to manufacturer's directions.
• Transfer sorbet to a container and freeze until firm.
• This can be made up to 3 days ahead.

CHOCOLATE SORBET

Steps:

• Bring water and sugar to a boil in a saucepan, stirring often to dissolve the sugar.
• Whisk in cocoa powder until smooth.
• Bring to a boil; simmer for 1 minute.
• Pour cocoa mixture over the chopped chocolate and whisk until smooth.
• Add vanilla, cover and chill until cold.
• Freeze this mixture in an ice cream maker according to your manufacturer's instructions.
• When frozen, transfer to a freezer container, press a piece of wax paper to the top and freeze until firm, for at least 3 hours.

CHOCOLATE SORBET

Steps:

• Finely chop chocolate in processor. Stir 3 cups water, sugar, espresso powder and salt in heavy saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves and syrup comes to boil. With processor running, gradually add boiling syrup to chocolate; blend until smooth, scraping down sides of bowl. Transfer mixture to bowl; chill.
• Process mixture in ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to container; freeze overnight.

SPICED CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO

Steps:

• Combine everything except the syrup and whipped cream in a metal pitcher.
• Steam until hot anf frothy.
• Pour into 2 mugs and add 1 tsp syrup to each.
• Top with whipped cream.