Layered Brownieswhite Chocolate Caramelcacao Nib Gelato Recipes

DEEPLY CHOCOLATE GELATO

Steps:

• Heat the milk, cream, and 1/2 cup sugar in a 2-quart saucepan, until the sugar dissolves and the milk starts to simmer. Add the cocoa powder and chocolate and whisk until smooth. Pour into a heat-proof measuring cup.
• Place the egg yolks and the remaining 1/4 cup sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on high speed for 3 to 5 minutes, until light yellow and very thick. With the mixer on low speed, slowly pour the hot chocolate mixture into the egg mixture. Pour the egg and chocolate mixture back into the 2-quart saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until thickened. A candy thermometer will register about 180 degrees F. Don't allow the mixture to boil!
• Pour the mixture through a sieve into a bowl and stir in the coffee liqueur, vanilla, and salt. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on top of the custard and chill completely.
• Pour the custard into the bowl of an ice cream maker and process according to the manufacturer's directions. Stir in the roughly chopped chocolate, if using, and freeze in covered containers. Allow the gelato to thaw slightly before serving.

CHOCOLATE GELATO SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Put the milk chocolate and cocoa in a blender. Bring 2 cups water and the sugar to a simmer in a saucepan, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Pour the hot sugar syrup into the blender; cover and pulse 4 or 5 times, until the mixture is smooth but not foamy. Add the vanilla and almond extracts and the salt to the blender; pulse once more to combine. Transfer to a bowl, cover and refrigerate until very cold, at least 2 hours.
• Whisk the chocolate mixture, then transfer to an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to an airtight container and freeze until firm, at least 2 hours.
• Fill each roll with a scoop of chocolate gelato and some whipped cream, if desired.

CHOCOLATE GELATO

Steps:

• Heat milk, 1/2 the sugar, and cream in a heavy saucepan until simmering and sugar is dissolved, about 5 minutes, being careful not to scorch the milk. Remove milk from heat and whisk in cocoa powder and dark chocolate. Allow to cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, beat egg yolks and remaining sugar in a large bowl using a whisk or electric beater until thick and pale yellow. Add about 1 cup of the slightly cooled chocolate mixture in a slow stream to avoid cooking eggs, whisking constantly until well combined. Add the rest of the chocolate mixture and return to the saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir constantly until thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes more.
• Strain custard through a sieve into a bowl and cover with plastic wrap touching to mixture to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate 8 hours to overnight.
• Pour cold custard into an ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer's instructions, about 20 minutes. Transfer to an airtight container and freeze until hardened, about 1 hour.

CACAO NIB GELATO

Steps:

• Combine 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream, 1 cup whole milk, and 1/2 cup cacao nibs in heavy large saucepan. Scrape in seeds from 1/2 vanilla bean; add bean. Bring mixture to simmer. Remove from heat. Cover and let mixture steep 30 minutes. Uncover and return to simmer.
• Whisk 5 large egg yolks and 3/4 cup sugar in large heatproof bowl until mixture is pale yellow and slightly thickened. Gradually add hot cream mixture to yolk mixture, whisking until well blended. Return mixture to same saucepan and stir over medium-low heat until custard thickens and coats back of spoon when finger is drawn across and instant-read thermometer inserted into custard registers 170°F, about 5 minutes (do not boil). Transfer custard to medium bowl. Cover and chill overnight. Whisk 5 large egg yolks and 3/4 cup sugar in large heatproof bowl until mixture is pale yellow and slightly thickened. Gradually add hot cream mixture to yolk mixture, whisking until well blended. Return mixture to same saucepan and stir over medium-low heat until custard thickens and coats back of spoon when finger is drawn across and instant-read thermometer inserted into custard registers 170°F, about 5 minutes (do not boil). Transfer custard to medium bowl. Cover and chill overnight.
• Pour custard through fine strainer set over bowl; discard solids in strainer. Transfer custard to ice cream maker and process according to manufacturer's instructions. Transfer gelato to freezer container. Cover and freeze until ice cream is firm, at least 8 hours or overnight. do ahead Can be made 3 days ahead. Keep frozen.
• Bits of shell-roasted cacao beans; available at many specialty foods stores and from chocosphere.com.

LAYERS OF LOVE CHOCOLATE BROWNIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 8-inch-square baking pan.
• Combine flour, cocoa and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add 2 eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla extract; mix well. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Reserve 3/4 cup batter. Spread remaining batter into prepared baking pan. Sprinkle nuts and white morsels over batter. Drizzle caramel topping over top. Beat remaining egg and reserved batter in same large bowl until light in color. Stir in semi-sweet morsels. Spread evenly over caramel topping.
• Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until center is set. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into squares.

WHITE CHOCOLATE GELATO

Steps:

• Beat the egg yolks and sugar in a bowl using an electric mixer at medium speed until the consistency of a very grainy quick-bread batter, about 2 minutes; set aside.
• Heat the milk and cream in a saucepan set over medium heat until tiny bubbles pop up around the pan's inner rim; do not boil.
• Whisk about 1/3 of the hot milk mixture into the egg yolk mixture until smooth, then whisk this combined mixture back into the pan with the remaining hot milk mixture.
• Immediately turn down the heat to very low (if using an electric stove, move the pan to a second burner just now set on low).
• Cook slowly, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens to the consistency of very wet, loose cake batter and can coat the back of a wooden spoon, about 5 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the white chocolate, vanilla, and salt until smooth.
• Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl to remove any bits of scrambled eggs.
• Refrigerate until cold, at least 4 hours or overnight.
• As you prepare your ice cream machine, place the white chocolate custard in the freezer to assure it is very cold, for no more than 10 minutes.
• Freeze the custard in your ice cream machine according to manufacturer's instructions.
• Serve at once--or transfer to a freezer container, seal tightly, and store in the freezer for no more than 3 days; soften at room temperature for up to 10 minutes before serving.

LAYERED BROWNIES/WHITE CHOCOLATE CARAMEL/CACAO NIB GELATO

Steps:

• FOR CANDIED PECANS:.
• Lightly butter baking sheet.
• Stir sugar and 1/4 cup water in large nonstick skillet over medium heat until sugar dissolves.
• Increase heat and boil until sugar syrup is light golden, occasionally brushing down sides of skillet with wet pastry brush, about 8 minutes.
• Add pecans and stir until syrup coats pecans, about 1 minute; immediately pour pecans out onto prepared baking sheet; spread in single layer with heatproof spatula.
• Cool completely and coarsely chop nuts.
• *Do Ahead: Can be made 2 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.
• FOR BROWNIES:.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Line 8x8x2-inch metal baking pan with foil; butter foil.
• Combine 1/2 cup butter and bittersweet chocolate in heavy medium saucepan; stir over medium-low heat until melted and smooth.
• Remove from heat; cool slightly.
• Whisk cocoa powder, flour, and salt in small bowl.
• Whisk sugar, eggs, and vanilla in medium bowl to blend.
• Pour butter mixture into sugar mixture; whisk until blended; add cocoa mixture; whisk until blended.
• Transfer brownie batter to prepared baking pan; smooth top (layer will be thin).
• Bake brownie until tester inserted into center comes out with moist crumbs attached, 18 to 20 minutes.
• Allow brownie to cool slightly, then gently press down on edges to form flat, even layer.
• Cool completely in pan on rack.
• FOR WHITE-CHOCOLATE CARAMEL:.
• Spoon 1 tablespoon water into small bowl; sprinkle gelatin over and stir to blend.
• Let stand until gelatin softens, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine remaining 2 tablespoons water, sugar, and pinch of salt in heavy small saucepan.
• Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and boil until syrup is deep amber, occasionally swirling pan and brushing down sides with wet pastry brush, about 8 minutes.
• Slowly add cream (mixture will bubble vigorously) & reduce heat to low.
• Stir to dissolve any caramel bits.
• Remove from heat; let cool 5 minutes.
• Add gelatin mixture; stir until gelatin dissolves.
• Add white chocolate; whisk until melted and smooth; whisk in butter.
• Pour caramel atop cooled brownie; spread evenly to cover completely.
• Chill uncovered until caramel firms slightly, at least 8 hours or overnight.
• FOR BITTERSWEET-CHOCOLATE GANACHE:.
• Bring cream to simmer in small saucepan; remove from heat.
• Add chocolate; whisk until melted and smooth.
• Cool until mixture is slightly thickened but still pourable, about 15 minutes.
• Pour ganache atop caramel on brownie; spread just to edges.
• Sprinkle chopped candied pecans evenly over.
• Chill uncovered until ganache is firm enough to cut, about 4 hours.
• **DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and keep chilled.
• CACAO NIB GELATO:.
• Combine whipping cream, milk, and cacao nibs in heavy large saucepan.
• Scrape in the seeds from vanilla bean; add bean and bring mixture to simmer; remove from heat.
• Cover and let mixture steep 30 minutes; uncover and return to simmer.
• Whisk egg yolks and sugar in large heatproof bowl until mixture is pale yellow and slightly thickened.
• Gradually add hot cream mixture to yolk mixture, whisking until blended.
• Return mixture to same saucepan and stir over medium low heat until custard thickens and coats back of spoon when finger is drawn across and instant-read thermometer inserted in custard registers 170ºF, about 5 minutes (do not boil).
• Transfer custard to medium bowl; cover and chill overnight.
• Pour custard through fine strainer set over bowl, discard solids in strainer.
• Transfer custard to ice cream maker and proocess according to manufacturer's instructions & transfer gelato to freezer container.
• Cover and freeze until ice cream is firm, at least 8 hours or overnight.
• ***DO AHEAD - Can be made 3 days ahead; keep frozen.
• ASSEMBLY:.
• Using foil as aid, lift brownie out of pan; place on work surface.
• Fold foil sides down.
• Using sharp knife, trim off about 1/4 inch of brownie on all sides.
• Cut brownie into eight 3 1/2-inch-long, 13/4-inch-wide bars.
• Place 1 brownie bar and scoop of Cacao Nib Gelato on each of 8 plates and serve.
• E N J O Y!