Chocolate Parfait Recipes

CHOCOLATE-MOUSSE PARFAITS

Steps:

• Whisk together eggs and sugar in a heatproof bowl set over (but not in) a pot of simmering water until doubled in volume and a thermometer registers 160 degrees (6 to 8 minutes). Remove from heat. Add chocolate, cocoa, espresso powder, and salt. Stir in butter until melted. Let cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, whip cream to stiff peaks. Stir one-third of whipped cream into chocolate mixture until lightened, then fold in remaining whipped cream. Divide half of mousse between two glasses; sprinkle with crushed cookies. Top with remaining mousse and refrigerate until set, at least 1 hour and up to 1 day. To serve, top with lightly whipped cream and more cookie crumbs.

CREAMY CHOCOLATE PUDDING PARFAIT

Steps:

• In a medium pot combine milk and vanilla pudding mix, place over medium heat whisking constantly. Bring to a boil while continuing to whisk the mixture.
• In 3 medium bowls place white, dark and milk chocolate chips. Combine reserved chips together in a small bowl, mix and set aside.
• Remove mixture from the heat and evenly divide the hot pudding over the 3 bowls. Wait 1 minute then whisk the mixture to incorporate and melt the chips into the pudding.
• Set up 3 resealable bags into 3 large glasses so that it will be easy to pour the warm pudding into the bags. Pour the pudding into separate bags. Tie the bags closed with a twist tie. Place pudding into the refrigerator for 2 hours, or until pudding is chilled and set.
• Cut off the corner of each bag. Pipe each of the pudding mixtures evenly into 6 champagne glasses starting with the dark chocolate, white chocolate and ending with milk chocolate.
• Garnish with reserved chocolate chips.

CHOCOLATE BERRY PARFAITS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set; set aside. Drain strawberries (discard the juice or save for another use); place berries in a blender. Cover and process until smooth; set aside. , In a large bowl, beat cream and sugar until stiff peaks form. Gently fold in strawberry puree. Divide half of the chocolate pudding among four or six parfait glasses. Top with half of the strawberry mixture. Repeat layers. Garnish with a strawberry slice if desired.

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL FROZEN PARFAITS

Steps:

• Bring milk and 1/2 cup cream just to a boil in a small heavy saucepan, then remove from heat and keep warm, covered.
• Bring water and 1/2 cup sugar to a boil in another small heavy saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved and washing down any sugar crystals on side of pan with a pastry brush dipped in cold water. Boil syrup, without stirring, gently swirling pan, until mixture is a deep golden caramel. Remove from heat and carefully add warm cream mixture (mixture will steam vigorously and caramel will harden). Cook over low heat, whisking, until caramel is dissolved.
• Whisk together yolks, remaining 1/4 cup sugar, and a pinch of salt in a metal bowl, then add hot caramel mixture in a slow stream, whisking. Transfer custard to saucepan. Cook custard over moderately low heat, stirring, until thickened and registers 170°F on thermometer (do not let boil).
• Pour custard through a fine-mesh sieve into bowl of standing mixer, then beat at high speed 10 minutes (mixture will be completely cool, thick, and pale). Beat in melted chocolate and vanilla.
• Whisk remaining cup cream in another bowl until it just holds stiff peaks, then whisk about one fourth of cream into chocolate mixture to lighten. Fold in remaining cream gently but thoroughly and divide mixture among paper cups, smoothing tops. Cover each cup with foil and freeze parfaits at least 12 hours.
• To serve, carefully tear off each paper cup and invert parfaits onto plates.

FESTIVE FROZEN CHOCOLATE PARFAIT

Steps:

• Put all the dried fruit in a bowl and pour over the brandy. Leave to soak while you line a 900g loaf tin with cling film.
• Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water, then set aside to cool a little. Whisk the egg yolks with the sugar and honey in a separate bowl until light, then fold into the melted chocolate. Place the mixture back over the pan of hot water and whisk for a couple of minutes until thickened.
• Melt the butter with the cocoa in a pan, leave to cool to room temperature, then whisk into the chocolate mixture. Whip the cream to soft peaks, then fold that into the chocolate too. Finally, fold in the fruit and the ginger nuts. Scrape everything into the prepared loaf tin, then freeze overnight, or for up to one month. To serve, turn out of the tin and cut into slices using a hot knife. The parfait is delicious on its own but also works well with a spoonful of crème fraîche.

CHOCOLATE PARFAIT

Steps:

• Whip the egg yolks until light in color and thickened. Add vanilla, set aside. Melt 1-ounce pastilles in a double boiler, add cocoa powder, and coffee liqueur. Combine mixture with the yolks. In double boiler, whisk until smooth over a low flame. Whip heavy cream to stiff peaks. Fold in sugar and then fold in cream into the yolk mixture. Pour in parfait glasses.