Chocolate Nut Phyllo Cups Recipes

CHOCOLATE-NUT PHYLLO CUPS

Steps:

• In a small heavy saucepan stir together honey and cornstarch. Add half and half or light cream. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture is thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir for 2 more minutes . Remove from heat. Gradually stir some of the hot mixture into the egg yolks. Return all to saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil; reduce heat. Cook and stir for 2 minutes longer. Move to a small bowl. Cover surface with clear plastic wrap. Chill.
• In a bowl combine ground walnuts and granulated sugar. Set aside. Unfold phyllo. Place one sheet of phyllo on work surface; brush with some of the 3 tablespoons melted margarine or butter. Sprinkle evenly with one-third of the nut mixture. Repeat brushing, sprinkling, and layering 2 times. Cover with remaining sheet of phyllo; brush top with melted margarine or butter. Trim edges. Cut phyllo stack crosswise in fourths, and then lengthwise in thirds, to form twelve 4-inch squares.
• Gently press phyllo squares into twelve greased 2-1/2-inch muffin cups, allowing edges to extend upward.
• Bake in a 350*F. oven for 10-15 minutes or until golden. Cool completely on a wire rack. Carefully remove cups from pan. (If desired, cups may be baked ahead of time, then placed in a rigid plastic container and frozen up to 1 week. To thaw: let stand at room temperature 20-30 minutes.)
• To serve:
• In a small, heavy saucepan melt the 1 ounce chocolate and the 1 tablespoon margarine or butter over low heat, stirring until smooth, Remove from heat. Stir in the powdered sugar and the first 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Add hot water, 1 teaspoon at a time, until it reaches drizzling consistency. Lightly drizzle melted chocolate on dessert plates. Sift cocoa powder over chocolate. (Chocolate can also be drizzled over edges and insides of cups.)
• In a small, chilled mixing bowl, beat the whipping cream and remaining 1/2 teaspoon vanilla with an electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form; fold in chilled egg yolk mixture. Spoon cream into each phyllo cup. Top each with grated chocolate, if desired.Sprinkle with cinnamon if desired. Serve immediately. Makes 12 servings.

MOCHA PHYLLO CUPS

Steps:

• In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the milk, chocolate pudding mix, and the instant espresso. Use hand mixer to mix ingredients.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Unroll phyllo dough and remove sheets. Working with 1 sheet at a time, lay out and spray phyllo sheet with cooking spray. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon-sugar. Lay next sheet on top and repeat steps. With a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut dough into 8 rectangles, approximately 4 by 5 inches. Fit rectangles into muffin cups and bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until golden brown.
• Remove phyllo cups from oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Remove cups from pan and cool completely.
• Spoon or pipe mocha pudding into cups and top with a 1 tablespoon dollop of whipped topping. Sprinkle with cocoa powder.
• Cook's Note: Keep phyllo dough covered when not using, as it dries out quickly.

SO EASY CHOCOLATE NUT CANDY CUPS

Steps:

• Place chips and shortening in medium microwave safe bowl and microwave on high or 1 to 1 1/2 minutes or until smooth when stirred.
• Stir in nuts.
• Spoon heaping teaspoonful of mixture into 1" paper candy cups.
• Refrigerate until firm.
• Peel off paper cups, if desired.

CHOCOLATE-PEANUT BUTTER PHYLLO PURSES

Steps:

• For brownies:
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Butter 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Line bottom of pan with parchment paper. Melt chocolate and butter in heavy medium saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Using electric mixer, beat egg yolks and 1/4 cup sugar in large bowl until thick and pale. Stir chocolate mixture into yolk mixture. Using clean dry beaters, beat egg whites in another large bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining 1/2 cup sugar and beat until stiff but not dry. Carefully fold egg whites into chocolate mixture. Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Press down edges until even with middle of brownies. Cool completely. Using 2 1/4-inch-diameter cookie cutter, cut out 12 rounds. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Store in single layer in airtight container at room temperature.)
• For ganache:
• Bring 1/4 cup whipping cream and vanilla extract to boil in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat. Add chopped chocolate and whisk until completely melted. Refrigerate ganache until firm, about 1 hour. (Ganache can be prepared up to 2 days ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated.)
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly butter rimmed baking sheet. Stir peanut butter and 4 teaspoons sugar in small bowl to blend. Cut each phyllo sheet in half crosswise to form twelve 13x81/2-inch strips. Place 1 phyllo strip vertically on work surface. Brush with melted butter. Place second phyllo strip horizontally across first, forming cross; brush with butter. Stack 2 brownies in center of pastry. Top brownies with 1 tablespoon ganache and 1 tablespoon peanut butter mixture. Gather ends of phyllo strips together over brownies to form purse. Twist ends closed. Brush purse with melted butter and place on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining ingredients to form total of 6 purses. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.) Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Serve with ice cream.

PHYLLO CUPS WITH CHOCOLATE MOUSSE AND FRESH FRUIT

Steps:

• For phyllo cups:
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Generously butter every other cup in 12-cup muffin pan. Place 1 phyllo rectangle on work surface; cover remaining phyllo with plastic wrap and damp cloth to prevent drying. Brush rectangle with melted butter; sprinkle with 1/2 tablespoon sugar and 1/2 tablespoon hazelnuts. Place second phyllo rectangle atop first; brush with butter and sprinkle with 1/2 tablespoon sugar and 1/2 tablespoon hazelnuts. Repeat 3 more times; top with 1 more rectangle and brush with butter, making stack of 6 rectangles. Using small sharp knife and 6-inch-diameter plate as guide, cut out two 6-inch round stacks. Press each stack into 1 buttered muffin cup. Repeat procedure 2 more times, making 4 more phyllo cups (6 total).
• Bake phyllo cups until golden and crisp, about 10 minutes. Immediately lift phyllo cups from pan, twisting carefully to loosen; place on rack. Cool completely. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.)
• For mousse:
• Whisk egg yolks, 1/4 cup sugar, butter, 1/4 cup water, and espresso powder in large metal bowl to blend. Set bowl over saucepan of simmering water (do not let bowl touch water); whisk constantly until thermometer inserted into mixture registers 160°F, about 3 minutes. Add chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth. Turn off heat; leave bowl over water.
• Using electric mixer, beat egg whites in another large bowl to soft peaks. Gradually add remaining 1/4 cup sugar, beating until stiff and glossy. Remove chocolate from over water. Fold 1/3 of beaten whites into warm chocolate mixture to lighten. Fold in remaining whites. Cover and chill until set, at least 3 hours or overnight.
• Fill phyllo cups with mousse (reserve remaining mousse for another use). Top with raspberries and diced pears and serve.

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CUPS

Steps:

• Trim 12 paper muffin cup liners to half of their height.
• Place 1/2 chocolate chips in a microwave safe container. Microwave for 2 minutes, stirring after each minute. Spoon melted chocolate into muffin cups, filling halfway. With a spoon, draw the chocolate up the sides of the cups until evenly coated. Cool in the refrigerator until firm.
• In a small bowl, mix together peanut butter, confectioners' sugar and salt. divide into the chocolate cups. Melt the remaining chocolate, and spoon over peanut butter. Spread chocolate to edges of cups.

HAZELNUT CUPS

Steps:

• Combine the chocolate chips and oil in a microwave-safe measuring cup or ceramic bowl. Stir until all of the chips are coated with oil. Microwave for 1 minute at 60% power. Stir. Heat at full power at 15-second intervals until the chocolate is melted, stirring after every interval. (This will take between 1 to 3 minutes, depending on your microwave.)
• Arrange 24 paper bonbon or candy cups on a baking sheet. Pour a small amount (about 2 teaspoons) of the melted chocolate mixture into each cup. Tip the cups to coat the insides fully with chocolate. Transfer the coated cups to the refrigerator. Reserve remaining chocolate.
• Pour the cup of heavy cream, vanilla extract, and coffee liqueur in a mixing bowl. Beat on high speed until frothy. Add the 2 teaspoons of sugar and continue to beat on high until soft peaks form. Stir in the hazelnut spread and beat on medium speed until combined. Quickly fold in the reserved melted chocolate. (If the chocolate has started to set up, place in microwave again for 10 seconds at 60% power.)
• Fill a pastry bag with the mousse filling and pipe it into each chocolate cup. (If a pastry bag is unavailable, use a resealable plastic storage bag and snip off a corner.) You may need to use a spoon to smooth the tops. Chill the filled shells in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours.
• Whip the 1/2 cup of cream until frothy; add the teaspoon of sugar and whip until stiff peaks form. Use a pastry bag to top each chocolate cup with a small dollop of whipped cream. Sprinkle with chopped hazelnuts and top with a coffee bean. Refrigerate until serving.