In light of my recent failure I felt like I need to jump right back in. I had run across some chocolate cups the other day and had inteded on using them for something for a girl’s night out get together but ran out of time this week to do anything until now. Among the many things listed by my non food blogging friends was chocolate mousse. I knew that the chocolate cups would make a great container for the mousse. After all, how many times have I made chocolate cups(the oh so fun ones where you pop the balloon) but time was of the essence this week and so this short cut would simply have to do. Baking Gods, please don’t strike me down.
Since I cheated in one area I knew I had to do some extra credit homework and so to accompany my mousse I made marshmallows that I had run across so very often while thumbing through the Barefoot Contessa Family Style Cookbook. I can’t wait to make them at Christmas to go with my cocoa.
Marshmallows
Ingredients
3 packages unflavored gelatin
1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
Confectioners’ sugar for dusting
Instructions
Combine the gelatin and 1/2 cup of cold water in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and allow to sit while you make the syrup.
Meanwhile, combine the sugar, corn syrup, salt and 1/2 cup water in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Raise the heat to high and cook until the syrup reaches 240 degrees on a candy thermometer. Remove from the heat.
With the mixer on low speed slowly pour the sugar syrup into the dissolved gelatin. Put the mixer on high speed and whip until the mixture is very thick, about 15 minutes. Add the vanilla and mix thoroughly.
With a sieve, generously dust an 8 x 12-inch non-metal baking dish with confectioners’ sugar. Pour the marshmallow mixture into the pan, smooth the top and dust with more confectioners’ sugar. Allow to stand uncovered overnight until it dries out.
Turn the marshmallows onto a board and cut them in squares. dust them with more confectioners’ sugar.
Yield: 20 to 40 marshmallows, depending on cut size
Source: The Barefoot Contessa Family Style by Ina Garten
Chocolate Espresso Mousse:
2 cups heavy cream
8 ounces semisweet chocolate
5 ounces butter
5 egg yolks
2 ounces sugar
1 ½ Tablespoons water
¼ teaspoon salt
1 TBSP espresso powder
1 tsp vanilla
Whip cream to medium peaks and keep refrigerated. Melt chocolate and butter over a baine marie and keep warm. In an electric mixer bowl, whip yolks until thick. Meanwhile, add sugar to a small pot. Drizzle water over sugar to moisten. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and slowly drizzle syrup into egg yolks while mixing on medium speed. Remove bowl from mixer. Wash the whisk and set aside. Place bowl over a baine marie at a bare simmer. Whisk constantly until mixture is hot. Return bowl to electric mixer and mix on high speed for several minutes with clean whisk. Reduce speed to low and slowly drizzle in warm chocolate-butter mixture. Add salt and vanilla extract and espresso powder, and mix until incorporated, scraping down sides as necessary. Add ¼ cup of whipped cream to chocolate mixture and mix until smooth. Scrape. Repeat 2 more times. Once mixture is smooth, fold in remaining cream. Refrigerate until firm enough to pipe.
To Assemble:
Place mousse in cup(if you want to pratice your piping skills feel free to pipe the mousse in there). Chop up your marshmallow and throw a couple on there. Shave some dark chocolate and serve to the ones you love. 🙂
gattina says
Peabody,
wow! You’re such a good cook! That marshmallows even look better than store-bought! And that chocolate cup you made is very smooth, very pretty!
Evan says
hi peabody, thx for dropping by my blog! can i link u up? =)
Laura Rebecca says
WOW. Just, wow. Everything looks superb!
Lisa says
These look fabulous.. I’ve seen chocolate cups for sale but never knew what I could do with them.. now I know, thanks! =)
peabody says
Evan-link away
Jeff says
That looks divine…making your own marshmellow too…that is impressive 🙂
Alison says
Your marshmallows look great, it makes me wish it wasn’t so hot in Texas or I’d be having hot cocoa right now. I’ve never tried to make my own, candy has never been my forte, but yours look so much better than store bought.
Claire says
I love your site. There are so many recipes that I already want to try! Oh, your pictures are awesome! You must have a great camera. Mine won’t take up close pictures AT ALL! If I want a change of something up close I have to get far away and zoom in through a picture maker AFTER I’ve taken the picture! Maybe I’ll get a new one sometime.
Nazca says
I thought it only fair to check out your site after your kind comments on mine (heart attack on a plate ;-)). Marshmellows are something I’ve never thought of making myself, don’t think I ever will, but if I decide to I’m coming back here! 🙂
PS what’s kosher salt? is it a brand name, or is it to do with the Jewish faith?
Mark
Ivonne says
Well done, Peabody!
This is on my list of foods to try … and I can’t wait for the cold so I can put my marshmallow in hot chocolate!
Kirsten says
So glad you found me and my brussel sprouts, because now I found your fabulous blog! A new favorite! I’ve always wanted to try homemade marshmellows, and now I am inspired to try it.
Thanks. 🙂
peabody says
Gattina- Thanks….I’m not always a good cook though(don’t put me near a grill 🙂 )
Laura Rebecca- thanks for the compliment
Lisa-Chocolate cups are lots of fun to fill with things from mousse to berries
Jeff- marshmallows are acutally pretty easy
Claire- I have a cheap $100 camera(Nixon Coolpix 4600). The Cream Puff(Ivonne) was nice enough to give me suggestions and I checked out a few books at the library. You would be suprised. Go back and see my old photos….all photos taken with the same camera.
Nazca- I’m pretty sure most of my stuff causes heart attacks too 🙂
Ivonne- they are really easy(a little sticky) so I have no doubt you will tackle them
Kriten- thanks for stopping by and for the kind words
heatherlorin says
Oh this is torture – I was just sitting her trying to convince myself that I do NOT need to get in the car and drive to my favorite sweeterie for a piece of their chocolate cake and a chai tea when I ran across your post with all that gorgeous chocolate. Must…resist…. 😉
Wandering Coyote says
Hi Peabody,
Thanks for stopping by ReTorte.
Those chocolate mousse cups looks so totally decadent. I’ve made a lot of mousse but never used egg yolks, though. The marshmallows also look fabulous.
Jaishree says
I love baking, just discovered your blog and have been indulging in my love for baking,your blog is so good with recipes and tips and the photos are amazing.
Tina Roach says
Mmmm… so tasty pics! They made me hungry 🙂