Chocolate And Chestnut Pave Recipes

CHESTNUT CHOCOLATE DESSERT

Steps:

• Over low heat, melt chocolate in heavy cream, stirring until smooth; let cool to room temperature. With an electric mixer whip the butter and sugar until light, then fold in the cooled chocolate, chestnut puree and rum. Mix until smooth and pack into prepared ramekins or custard cups. Cover and chill overnight.
• Pipe whipped cream rosettes in center if you wish.

HARRIET'S CHEWY CHOCOLATE PAVE

Steps:

• Brush a 6-cup loaf pan with melted butter. Let cool. Line pan with waxed paper or parchment paper and set aside to soften. In a small bowl soak the prunes in the Armagnac, Cognac, or boiling water. Melt the chocolate and butter together in the top of a large double boiler set over simmering water, stirring often. Turn off the heat and let cool slightly. Whisk in the cold egg yolks, then set the mixture aside in the double boiler. Do not turn on the heat. The mixture will stay warm over the hot water. Whip the cold egg whites in a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or using a hand mixture) until they form soft droopy peaks. With the mixer running, slowly add the granulated sugar and whip until stiff and glossy, about 30 seconds. Fold the egg whites into the warm chocolate mixture until barely blended. Fold in the prunes (with any liquid that has collected in the bowl) until no streaks of egg white remain. Pour into the pan and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Chill at least 2 hours or overnight. When ready to serve, whip the cream and brown sugar together until soft peaks form. Unmold the pave onto a serving platter and peel off the paper. Serve in slices, topped with whipped cream.

CHOCOLATE CHESTNUT BUCHE DE NOEL

Steps:

• Place chocolate in a small bowl with 1/4 cup water. Set bowl in a pan of barely simmering water, stirring frequently until melted and smooth. Set aside to cool. Combine 1/2 cup, or more to taste, of chestnut cream into 1 slightly rounded cup of buttercream. Set aside.
• Assemble the Buche: Peel parchment liner from cake. Lift foil under cake and invert it onto a second sheet of foil. Remove the original foil, peeling away the browned genoise "skin" stuck to it. Moisten the cake with the rum, using a pastry brush. Spread chestnut buttercream evenly over the cake. Roll the cake tightly, the long way, into a "log" using the foil to aid you if necessary. Wrap log tightly in foil. Freeze until hard, or at least firm. The firmer the cake, the easier it will be to decorate. Log may be completed to this point, and kept frozen, up to 6 weeks. Stir chocolate mixture into remaining buttercream and refrigerate or freeze until needed. Finish and Decorate the Buche: Soften reserved chocolate buttercream and beat just until smooth. Unwrap the frozen log. Trim a fraction of an inch from each end to even the edges. Spread the log with most of the reserved chocolate buttercream. Do not frost the ends. Use a fork to texture the buttercream so that it resembles the bark of a tree. Dip a sharp knife in hot water, then wipe dry. Cut the diagonal "stump" off each end of the log. Set stumps aside. Transfer log to a serving platter. Affix stumps to the log. Cover bare spots with buttercream. Use the fork to touch up the bark effect as necessary. Decorate with sprigs of pine and meringue mushrooms. Store in the refrigerator. For best flavor and texture, remove Buche from the refrigerator at least an hour before serving.

CHOCOLATE AND CHESTNUT PAVE

Steps:

• Lightly grease the loaf tin or whatever tin your using, line the base with greaseproof paper. Peel the chestnuts and put them in a saucepan with the vanilla pod
• Add enough water to cover, the pan and simmer until the nuts are tender. 25 to 30 minutes. Remove the vanilla pod and drain the nuts.
• . Puree the nuts in a food processor. Melt the chocolate in the 125ml of water over a low heat, stirring until smooth. Let it cool to tepid. Beat the butter and sugar until light and soft
• Stir in the cooled chocolate and then the chestnut puree, brandy. Mix until smooth. Pack the mixture into the tin, cover and chill for at least 12 hours or even upto a week. To serve, unmould the pave and discard the paper. Cut the pave in thin slices with a knife dipped in hot water. Set the slices on your plates and decorate with chantilly cream, using a piping bag and star tube. Chill until ready to serve.

CHOCOLATE CHESTNUT CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Line one and a half muffin trays with 18 muffin cases. (We used deep, gold ones by Foilcraft, from cake-decorating shops.) Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/ gas 4. Tip the chestnut purée into a large bowl and mash with a fork. Whisk the eggs and sugar with an electric hand whisk until pale and frothy.
• Fold half the egg mixture into the chestnut mixture to lighten it, then fold in the almonds and baking powder. Gently fold in the rest of the egg, then drop the batter into the muffin cases. Bake for 25-30 mins until firm. Cool. You can freeze the cupcakes for up to 6 weeks.
• To make the chocolate topping, gently melt the chocolate, butter and cream together in a small pan. Pour into a bowl and leave to cool. Beat well to thicken the mixture then swirl generously onto the cupcakes and pile with chocolate curls. They will keep in the fridge for 4 days. Dust half with icing sugar and the other with cocoa before serving.

CHOCOLATE-CHESTNUT MOUSSE

Steps:

• Bring chestnuts, milk, sugar, vanilla, and salt to a boil over high heat in a small saucepan. Reduce heat, bring to a simmer, and cook, stirring occasionally, until milk is reduced by one-quarter and chestnuts smash fairly easily against the side of the pot with the back of a spoon, 15-17 minutes.
• Meanwhile, finely chop 4 oz. chocolate. Using a peeler, shave remaining 1 oz. chocolate; set aside until ready to serve.
• Purée chestnut mixture in a blender on high speed until very smooth, about 2 minutes. Add chopped chocolate and 1 tsp. brandy and blend on high speed until chocolate is melted, about 30 seconds. Scrape into a large bowl and let cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally (if lumps form, stir vigorously until smooth), 15-20 minutes.
• Whip 2 cups cream with a whisk in another large bowl until it just barely holds soft peaks. Stir one-third of cream into chocolate mixture to lighten it, then fold in remaining cream just until incorporated. Transfer mousse to a large serving bowl, cover, and chill at least 2 hours or up to 1 day.
• Whip remaining 1 cup cream and 1/2 tsp. brandy with whisk in a large bowl to medium peaks. Garnish mousse with reserved chocolate shavings and serve with whipped cream alongside.
• Do ahead
• Mousse can be made 1 day ahead; cover and chill.

CHOCOLATE CHESTNUT CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Melt chocolate and butter in a bowl set over boiling water until chocolate is nearly completely melted, then remove from heat and whisk mixture until smooth.
• In a mixing bowl, whisk egg yolks with half the sugar (1/4 cup/50 grams) and the salt until pale and thick. Stir in the warm chocolate and set aside.
• Put egg whites in a clean bowl with cream of tartar and beat until fluffy, then add remaining 1/4 cup/50 grams sugar and beat until whites are stiff but not dry.
• Stir chestnut flour and chopped chestnuts into the chocolate batter, then fold in 1/4 of the whites to lighten mixture. Fold in remaining whites and scrape batter into an unbuttered 8-inch springform pan, smoothing top if necessary.
• Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out almost clean. Cool on a rack. It may sink and crack a bit on top - this is fine. Run a knife around the edge of cake to free sides and remove form. Transfer to a serving platter. (Cake may be stored, covered, at room temperature for up to 3 days.)
• To serve, whip cream with 2 tablespoons sugar to a very soft consistency. Spoon over top of cake and quickly spread with a spatula. Sprinkle with chocolate curls or cocoa powder.

CHOCOLATE & CHESTNUT TRUFFLE TORTE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Grease a 25cm springform tin, then line the base and sides with baking paper. Whisk eggs and sugar until pale and thick.
• Sift the flour and cocoa together onto the mixture, then gently fold in, followed by the butter. Pour into the tin, ease to the edges, then bake for 8-10 mins until risen and firm to the touch. Cool in the tin.
• Meanwhile, beat the chestnut purée and egg yolks until as smooth as possible. Melt the chocolate in a bowl over a pan of simmering water with half the cream. Remove from the heat, then beat into the chestnut mixture.
• Whisk the egg whites until stiff. In a separate bowl, whip the remaining cream until it holds its shape. Fold into the chocolate mixture, then carefully fold in the egg whites. Drizzle the brandy, if using, over the sponge base, then pour the chocolate mix on top. Level the surface and chill for 5 hrs or overnight until firm. Chill for 2 days, or freeze for 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
• To serve, carefully remove from the tin, strip off the paper and slide onto a cake stand. Dust heavily with cocoa.

CHOCOLATE, ORANGE, AND CHESTNUT PAVé

Steps:

• In a large metal bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water melt butter and chocolate, stirring occasionally, until smooth and remove bowl from heat. Stir in zest and cool completely. In a bowl with an electric mixer beat cream until it just holds stiff peaks. Whisk about one fourth of cream into chocolate mixture to, lighten and fold in remaining cream gently but thoroughly.
• Line an oiled terrine or loaf pan, 10 by 4 1/2 by 3 inches (7-cup capacity), with plastic wrap. Pour in half of chocolate orange filling, smoothing top, and freeze 5 minutes.
• In a small metal bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water melt white chocolate, stirring occasionally, until smooth and remove bowl from heat. Stir in chestnuts and rum gently and cool completely. In a bowl with an electric mixer beat cream until.it just holds stiff peaks. Fold cream into white chocolate mixture.
• Pour chestnut rum filling over chocolate orange layer, smoothing top, and freeze 5 minutes. Pour in remaining chocolate orange filling, smoothing top, and chill, covered with plastic wrap, overnight. Pavé may be made 2 days ahead and chilled, covered.
• Discard plastic wrap from top and invert pavé onto a plate. Discard remaining plastic wrap. Garnish pavé with chestnut slices, "paté" pears, and candied orange.
• Pour some ginger crème anglaise onto 8 dessert plates and top with a 1/2-inch-thick slice of pavé.

CHOCOLATE CHESTNUT CAKE

Steps:

• To make the chocolate genoise: Sift together the flour, cornstarch and cocoa.
• Whisk the whole eggs, yolks, sugar, and salt.
• Place over simmering water until the temperature is 100 degrees.
• Whip on high 3-4 minutes.
• Fold in the dry ingredients.
• Cover the bottom of a springform pan with wax paper and pour in batter.
• Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees, then remove from oven and let cool completely.
• Meanwhile, boil the water and sugar.
• Cool and add 1/4 cup kirsch and the vanilla.
• Beat the butter and add in chestnut spread.
• Mix the remaining 2 tbs kirsch into the chestnut mixture.
• If sweetened chestnut spread is not available, use 1 1/4 cup chestnut puree with 1/2 cup light corn syrup.
• Bring the cream to a simmer, then remove from ehat and add chocolate.
• Let stand for 5 minutes, then whisk smooth.
• Cut the cooled cake into 3 layers.
• Brush the bottom layer with 1/3 of the sugar syrup, then top with 1/4 of the chestnut mixture.
• Add the middle layer, brush with another 1/3 of the sugar mixture, and spread with 1/4 of the butter mixture.
• Add the top layer and brush with the remaining 1/3 of the sugar syrup.
• Cover the top and sides with the remaining chestnut mixture.
• Chill the cake for 1 hour.
• Cover the cake with the chocolate-cream glaze.
• If desired, garnish with chocolate shavings.
• Chill before serving.

CHOCOLATE CHESTNUT AND CHERRY CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 10-inch springform pan and set aside. Place the chocolate and butter in a double boiler, over barely simmering water. Heat, stirring from time to time, until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and whisk in the cream and the chestnut puree.
• Place the egg yolks in a large bowl and whisk until yolks have thickened and turned a pale yellow color. Spoon the chocolate mixture into the bowl with the yolks and whisk until smooth. Stir in the dried cherries.
• Beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in the sugar. Stir 1/3 of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture to lighten. Fold in the remaining whites. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake until the cake just springs back when touched in the center, 20 to 25 minutes. Place on a rack to cool completely. Cut into wedges and serve with softly whipped cream.

FREEZE-AHEAD CHOCOLATE & CHESTNUT PARFAIT

Steps:

• Rinse a 22 x 10 x 7cm deep loaf tin (about 1.5 litres in volume) with cold water, but don't dry it. Line the tin with cling film, smoothing out as many of the wrinkles as you can.
• Stir the chocolate, chestnut purée and amaretti biscuits together, then stir through the orange and zest. Gently fold in the cream until combined, then spoon the mixture into the tin. Smooth the top and cover with cling film. Freeze for 3-4 hrs until just firm.
• Take the parfait out of the freezer 20 mins before serving. To serve, dip the tin briefly in hot water, then turn out onto a serving plate and remove the cling film. Scatter over the grated chocolate and slice.