Ancho Chocolate Mousse With Grand Marnier Recipes

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

Steps:

• Chill 1 1/2 cups whipping cream in refrigerator. Chill metal mixing bowl and mixer beaters in freezer.
• In top of a double boiler, combine chocolate chips, coffee, rum and butter. Melt over barely simmering water, stirring constantly. Remove from heat while a couple of chunks are still visible. Cool, stirring occasionally to just above body temperature.
• Pour remaining 1/4 cup whipping cream into a metal measuring cup and sprinkle in the gelatin. Allow gelatin to "bloom" for 10 minutes. Then carefully heat by swirling the measuring cup over a low gas flame or candle. Do not boil or gelatin will be damaged. Stir mixture into the cooled chocolate and set aside.
• In the chilled mixing bowl, beat cream to medium peaks. Stir 1/4 of the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture to lighten it. Fold in the remaining whipped cream in two doses. There may be streaks of whipped cream in the chocolate and that is fine. Do not over work the mousse.
• Spoon into bowls or martini glasses and chill for at least 1 hour. Garnish with fruit and serve.
• (If mousses are to be refrigerated overnight, chill for one hour and then cover each with plastic wrap)

CHEF JOHN'S DARK CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

Steps:

• Bring a saucepan of water to a simmer over low heat. Place chocolate, butter, 2 tablespoons water, ground chipotle pepper, and salt in a heatproof bowl; set bowl over the simmering water. When the butter melts, whisk the chocolate mixture gently until smooth and shiny. Set aside to cool for a few minutes.
• Whisk egg yolks, 2 tablespoons water, and sugar in another heatproof bowl over the same pan of simmering water until egg yolk mixture is foamy and hot to the touch, about 3 minutes. Pour hot egg mixture into warm chocolate mixture, whisk until smooth, and set over a bowl of ice to chill. Whisk constantly until mixture has cooled to room temperature or slightly cooler.
• Pour 1/2 cup and 1 tablespoon cold cream into a chilled metal bowl; whisk until cream holds soft peaks. Place about half the whipped cream into the cooled chocolate mixture; gently fold the cream into the chocolate. Repeat with remaining half of whipped cream, folding gently until nearly all the streaks have disappeared. Divide mousse into 4 6-ounce ramekins.
• Cover each ramekin with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours (up to overnight) before serving.

CHOCOLATE ORANGE MOUSSE

Steps:

• Combine the 2 chocolates, orange liqueur, 1/4 cup water, and the vanilla in a heat-proof bowl. Set it over a pan of simmering water just until the chocolate melts. Cool completely to room temperature. Whisk in the orange zest and butter until combined.
• Place the egg yolks and 1/2 cup of the sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on high speed for 4 minutes, or until very thick and pale yellow. With the mixer on low speed, add the chocolate mixture. Transfer to a large bowl.
• Place 1 cup of egg whites (save or discard the rest), the salt, and 1 tablespoon of the sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on high speed until firm but not dry. Whisk 1/4 of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture; then fold the rest in carefully with a rubber spatula.
• Without cleaning the bowl or whisk, whip the heavy cream and the remaining tablespoon of sugar until firm. Fold the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture. Pour the mousse into individual dishes or an 8-cup serving bowl. Chill and decorate with whipped cream and oranges. Serve with extra whipped cream on the side.
• Whip the cream in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. When it starts to thicken, add the sugar and vanilla and continue to whip until the cream forms stiff peaks. Don't overbeat, or you'll end up with butter!

ANCHO CHOCOLATE MOUSSE WITH GRAND MARNIER

Steps:

• Combine the chocolates, Grand Marnier and ancho powder in a heavy saucepan and cook over low heat until chocolate melts, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and cool to lukewarm. Beat the whipping cream, adding the confectioners' sugar until soft peaks form. Gently fold about one-fourth of the whipped cream into the chocolate, then fold in the remaining whipped cream. Spoon the mousse into individual serving dishes and chill until ready to serve. Garnish with semisweet chocolate curls.

GRAND MARNIER CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

Steps:

• Slice top third of oranges off and discard.
• Scrape out pulp and gently squuze oranges over bowl, reserving 1 tablespoon of juice; discard pulp.
• Set orange shells aside.
• Melt chocolate with Grand Marnier, reserved orange juice and grated peel in large bowl set over gently simmering water.
• Stir until smooth.
• Remove from over water and stir in egg yolks, one yolk at a time.
• Using electric mixer, beat whites with cream of tartar to soft peaks in another large bowl.
• Gradually add sugar and beat until stiff but not dry.
• Fold 1/4 of whites into chocolate mixture.
• Fold in remaining whites.
• Beat cream until stiff peaks form;fold into chocolate mixture, blending well.
• Spoon into orange shells (you may need to cut a thin slice from the bottom to steady orange "bowls").
• Refrigerate until firm.
• Garnish with candied orange peel and serve.

CHOCOLATE GRAND MARNIER MOUSSE

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, melt chocolate and orange juice over low heat.
• With a mixer, beat yolks, sugar and liqueur until lemon coloured. Beating on high, add the chocolate.
• With clean beaters, beat egg whites until soft peaks. Whip whipping cream until soft peaks appear.
• Gently fold the whipping cream into the chocolate. Fold in the egg whites.
• Chill at least 2 hours.
• Garnishing Options: Drizzle with chocolate syrup/or sauce, chocolate curls or sprinkles, fresh whipping cream, sprigs of fresh mint.