Chocolate Mousse With Candied Tangerines Recipes

THE BEST CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

Steps:

• Whip 1 cup of the heavy cream to soft peaks in a medium bowl (see Cook's Note). Set aside.
• Add the egg, egg yolks, sugar, espresso powder, vanilla extract, salt and 1 tablespoon water to a medium heatproof bowl and whisk to combine. Set the bowl over a medium saucepan of gently simmering water (do not allow the bowl to touch the water). Whisk constantly until the mixture is pale, hot to the touch and has almost doubled in volume, about 4 to 6 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally with a rubber spatula, if necessary. Remove from the heat and continue whisking until cooled, about 2 minutes.
• Put the chopped chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl and set over the saucepan of gently simmering water (do not allow the bowl to touch the water). Stir occasionally with a rubber spatula until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Remove from the heat and gently stir for about 3 minutes to cool slightly.
• Whisk the egg mixture into the melted chocolate in 3 additions until combined. (The mixture may get very thick.) Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture in 3 additions until it is fully incorporated. It is important that the chocolate mixture is not warm to ensure that it combines smoothly with the whipped cream without seizing up.
• Divide the chocolate mousse among four 4-ounce ramekins and chill until firm, about 1 hour.
• Whip the remaining 3/4 cup cold heavy cream to stiff peaks. Top each chocolate mousse with whipped cream and serve. (For a softer texture, allow the ramekins to sit at room temperature while you whip the cream.)

TANGERINE MOUSSE

Steps:

• Dissolve the gelatin in three tablespoons warm water and add the Cointreau.
• Place the egg yolks in a heavy saucepan and add the sugar, lemon juice and tangerine juice. Mix well, using a wire whisk.
• Place the saucepan over very low heat (you may also use a double boiler) and whisk gently until the mixture has thickened enough to coat a spoon. Do not overcook. Cool and place in a large mixing bowl.
• Whip the cream until stiff.
• Whip the egg whites until barely stiff (not too dry).
• Fold the cream into the egg-tangerine mixture. Gently fold in the egg whites until barely blended.
• Place the mousse in individual bowls or glasses or in a serving bowl. Chill overnight or for at least four hours.

DOUBLE-CHOCOLATE TANGERINE MOUSSE CAKE

Steps:

• For Cake:
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter 9-inch-diameter springform pan with 2 1/2-inch-high sides. Line bottom with parchment. Butter parchment. Dust pan with flour. Melt butter and chocolate in heavy large saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until smooth and melted. Remove from heat and whisk in sugar, eggs and ground nuts. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake cake until toothpick inserted into center comes out with very moist crumbs attached, about 45 minutes. Cool completely on rack (cake will fall and crack).
• Release cake pan sides. Turn out cake onto work surface. Peel off parchment. Cut off outer 1/2-inch edge of cake. Clean cake pan. Reattach cake pan sides; brush sides of pan with vegetable oil. Set cake in center of pan (there will be space around cake that will be filled in with mousse). Refrigerate cake.
• For Mousse:
• Boil tangerine juice and sugar in heavy large saucepan until reduced to 1 1/2 cups, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, sprinkle gelatin over lemon juice in small bowl. Let stand 10 minutes to soften.
• Add gelatin mixture to tangerine juice mixture and stir to dissolve. Add 14 ounces white chocolate and whisk over low heat just until melted. Whisk in sour cream. Pour into large bowl. Chill mixture until cool and thickened but not set, whisking occasionally, about 1 hour 45 minutes.
• Beat chilled whipping cream to stiff peaks. Fold into white chocolate mixture. Pour mousse over cake in pan, covering top and sides completely. Refrigerate cake overnight.
• Using vegetable peeler, shave 9 ounces white chocolate into thin curls (if white chocolate is too hard to shave, place briefly in warm place to soften slightly). Run small sharp knife around pan sides to loosen cake. Release pan sides. Place cake on platter. Sprinkle chocolate curls over top of cake. Press more chocolate curls around sides of cake, covering completely. Place cocoa powder in fine sieve. Dust cocoa very lightly over chocolate curls. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Garnish cake with raspberries and mint sprigs. Serve cold.

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.