Mocha Hazelnut Macaroon Domes Recipes

CHOCOLATE-CARAMEL DOMES

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8-inch square glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• Whisk together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Whisk in the milk, vegetable oil, vanilla, egg and 1 teaspoon hot water until smooth and combined.
• Pour into the prepared baking dish and bake until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack, then flip out onto a cutting board to cool completely, about 20 minutes.
• Use a 2 1/2-inch round biscuit cutter to cut out 6 circles from the cake (save the scraps for another use); set aside.
• For the chocolate domes and mousse: Meanwhile, add the coconut oil and 3 ounces of the chocolate to a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 1-minute intervals, stirring in between each, until the chocolate and coconut oil are melted and the mixture is smooth, about 2 minutes. Pour the chocolate mixture into the cavities of a silicone half-sphere mold with six 3-ounce-capacity cavities and tilt the mold to swirl the chocolate around until each half-sphere is coated entirely (you can also use your finger to swirl the chocolate around). Some chocolate may spill over on top of the mold, which is fine; it will break off when you unmold the domes. Tap out any excess chocolate and freeze until the chocolate is hardened, about 5 minutes.
• Put 1/4 cup of the cream in a small bowl and stir in the gelatin. Put the butter and remaining 6 ounces chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 1-minute intervals, stirring in between each, until the chocolate and butter are melted and the mixture is smooth, about 2 minutes. Stir the gelatin mixture into the chocolate mixture until the gelatin is dissolved. Cool to room temperature, about 10 minutes.
• Whip the remaining 3/4 cup cream in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until stiff peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes. Add half of the chocolate-gelatin mixture and continue beating until well combined. Add the remaining chocolate-gelatin mixture and continue beating until no streaks remain.
• For the filling and topping: Scoop 1/3 cup of the mousse into each chocolate cavity in the half-sphere mold. Using the back of a teaspoon, make a divot in the middle of each portion of chocolate mousse about halfway down. Pour a heaping teaspoon of caramel sauce into each divot. Top each half-sphere with a cake round, pressing down gently into the mousse (use a paper towel to wipe away any mousse that may seep out of the mold). Freeze until the mousse is set, about 1 hour.
• Gently peel the mold away from each of the half-spheres and place them cake-side down on a serving platter.
• Use a vegetable peeler to shave 1 tablespoon of chocolate curls from the chocolate. Put the remaining chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between each, until melted, about 1 minute. Drizzle the melted chocolate over each dome and sprinkle with the chocolate shavings. Serve immediately.

PASSION BANANA DACQUOISE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the Macaroons: Sift together the flours. Whisk the egg whites, slowly adding the sugar, until they form firm peaks. Fold in the dry ingredients. Place the mixture into a pastry bag and pipe into 2 1/2-inch mounds onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Top with shredded coconut. Bake for about 20 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar.
• For the Sauce Anglaise: Combine the egg yolks, vanilla and 1 tablespoon of the sugar in a small bowl and set aside. In a small saucepot over medium heat, scald the milk, heavy cream, and the remaining sugar. Temper the yolk mixture using a small amount of the scalded liquid, then add the tempered yolks into the saucepot with the rest of the liquid.
• Over medium heat, stir this mixture constantly using a heat-resistant spatula or wooden spoon until the mixture has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon; this should take approximately 1 minute. Be careful that the mixture does not come to a boil. Strain the mixture into a metal bowl which is sitting in an ice bath. Let cool completely, stirring occasionally, until ready to serve.
• For the Mousse: In a very small metal bowl or 1 cup glass measure, sprinkle the gelatin into 1/4 cup cold water to soften, and set aside. Place the heavy cream into a large bowl and whip using a hand mixer until soft peaks are formed. Set aside in the refrigerator. Place the egg yolks in a 2-quart mixing bowl and set aside. In a 1/2 quart sauce pot, combine the 2 tablespoons of water and sugar, and bring to a boil. Cook until the mixture reaches the soft ball stage, about 248 degrees F on a candy thermometer. Start beating the egg yolks on medium speed, and slowly add in the sugar syrup. Beat until the mixture is thick and cool. Melt the white chocolate in a bowl over a double boiler over simmering water. Remove the bowl of melted chocolate and set aside, keeping it warm. If you used a metal bowl for the gelatin, melt the gelatin over the same simmering water, otherwise, melt the gelatin in the microwave. Temper the gelatin using some of the beaten egg yolk mixture, then add this back into the egg yolk mixture and mix well. Working quickly to prevent lumps from forming, fold a small amount of whipped cream into the warm chocolate. Then fold in the egg yolk and gelatin mixture. Fold in the remaining whipped cream.
• For the Gelee: Combine the passion fruit puree, sugar and 2 tablespoons of the water in a pot and bring to a boil until combined. Set aside. Soak the gelatin in a bowl with the remaining 1 teaspoon of water and add it to the mixture when softened. Let everything cool.
• For the Glaze: Bring all of the ingredients to a boil until well combined, then let cool slightly keeping warm for service. When serving, you do not want the mixture to be so warm as to melt the mousse.
• For the Pabana Sauce: Combine sugar and pabana puree in a small pot and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat. Mix together the cornstarch and water, then add this to the puree. Return the mixture to medium heat and let simmer for about 5 minutes.
• To serve: In individual 4-ounce dome shaped molds, place a serving white chocolate mousse about 3/4 of the way up. Add passion gelee into the center of the mousse, then place a macaroon on top. Place the mold in the freezer until it is completely frozen.
• Unmold the dessert, and dip the rounded part into the soft glaze. Drizzle the pabana sauce around the plate, and place the dome in the center of the serving plate.

MOCHA-HAZELNUT MACAROON DOMES

Steps:

• For macaroons:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 1 large cookie sheet with parchment. Brush lightly with vegetable oil. Finely grind hazelnuts in processor. Add sugar and flour; blend to powder. With machine running, add egg white and vanilla; blend to paste.
• Spoon mixture into pastry bag fitted with no. 4 (3/8-inch-diameter) round tip. Pipe 3/4- to 1-inch-diameter mound onto parchment about 1/2 inch high and spacing 1 inch apart. Dip finger into water and gently press top of cookie to flatten center slightly. Bake until golden brown, about 12 minutes (cookies will spread to about 1 1/2 inches.) Turn parchment (cookies will adhere) over onto work surface. Brush parchment with just enough water to moisten. Let stand until parchment can easily be pulled off cookies, about 2 minutes. Peel off parchment.
• For ganache:
• Bring cream and butter to simmer in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add instant coffee granules; stir to dissolve. Reduce heat to low. Add chocolate; stir until melted. Mix in vanilla. Pour into bowl. Chill until firm enough to spread, stirring occasionally, about 45 minutes.
• Line cookie sheet with foil. Using icing spatula, spread 1 heaping teaspoon ganache onto flat side of each cookie, mounding to dome in center. Place ganache side up on prepared cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining cookies. Chill until ganache sets, 20 minutes.
• For coating:
• Line cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Melt bittersweet chocolate with vegetable shortening in top of double boiler over simmering water, stirring until smooth. Remove from over water. Grasp 1 cookie between thumb and index finger. Dip ganache portion into melted chocolate. Shake of excess. Turn chocolate side up and place on foil-lined cookie sheet. Top with raspberry or hazelnut. Repeat with remaining cookies. Refrigerate until chocolate sets, about 30 minutes.
• Melt white chocolate in top of double boiler over simmering water, stirring until smooth. Dip spoon into chocolate. Wave from side to side over cookies, forming decorative pattern. Refrigerate until white chocolate sets, about 15 minutes. Place cookies in single layer in airtight containers; chill overnight. (Can be prepared 3 days ahead.) let stand 10 minutes at room temperature before serving.