Serves: 6

• Ingredients

1 recipe Fudge sauce
1 recipe chocolate sauce
1 recipe Meringue

1 pint coffee or maple walnut ice cream

• preparation

scoop 6 1/3-cup balls of ice cream onto a plate lined with film wrap and freeze.

For the wafer crumb crust:

1 1/4 cups finely ground chocolate wafers
1 teaspoon confectioners' sugar
5 teaspoons unsalted butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Process the wafers and sugar to a powder. Transfer to a bowl. Stir in the melted butter.
Spoon 3 tablespoons of the crumb into the center of 6 3-inch fluted round tartlet pans. Press the crumbs firmly and evenly on the bottom and up the sides of the pans. The crusts should be about 1/4 inch thick.
Place the crusts on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Transfer to a rack and cool. (can be made a day ahead.)

To assemble:
Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Slip the tartlet shells out of their pans and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place an ice cream ball in the center of each tartlet. Freeze.

To serve, spoon 2 to 3 tablespoons fudge sauce onto each of 6 warm dessert plates. Drizzle with chocolate sauce.
Prepare the meringue. Spoon meringue in a pastry bag fitted with a large #5 star tube, pipe and completely cover the ice cream with meringue.
Bake for one minute to brown meringue. Watch carefully.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

16 squares Baker's semi-sweet baking chocolate
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups chopped nuts (optional)

• preparation

Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Coarsely chop 8 squares of the chocolate; set aside.
Microwave remaining 8 squares of chocolate in large microwavable bowl on high 1-2 minutes.
Stir until chocolate is melted and smooth. Stir in sugar, butter eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour and baking powder.
Stir in reserved chopped chocolate and nuts. Drop by 1/4 cupfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until cookies are puffed and feel set to the touch. Cool on cookie sheet 1 minute. Transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

Serves: 10

• Ingredients

1 envelope unflavored gelatin
2 tablespoons cold water
1 cup sugar
4 egg yolks
1 cup scalded milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chestnut puree
1 ounce melted semi-sweet chocolate
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
3 tablespoons dark rum or brandy

• preparation

Dissolve gelatin in cold water. In an electric mixer, cream sugar and egg yolks. Slowly pour and whisk the boiling milk over egg mixture. Pour in saucepan. Stir with a wooden spoon over low heat until the mixture coats the back of the spoon, about 5 to 8 minutes. Do not allow to boil. Stir in the gelatin. Strain into a bowl. Cool mixture.
Mix in the vanilla, chestnut puree, and melted chocolate.Whip the heavy cream to a medium peak. Fold in the cool custard. Mix in the rum or brandy. Pour in a decorative mold. Refrigerate for 2 hours. Unmold and decorate with whipped cream flavored with rum and glazed chestnuts.

Serves: 6

• Ingredients

3 egg whites
1 teaspoon white vinegar or lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
2 to 3 drops red food coloring
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 teaspoon canola oil

• preparation

In the mixing bowl of an electric mixer, combine the egg whites with cream of tartar and vinegar and beat at high speed until soft peaks form, about 1 minute.
Continue beating, and gradually add the sugar. Beat until very stiff, about 2 minutes. Add coloring and continue beating for 5 minutes at medium speed. Spoon the meringue mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2 inch plain tube.
Preheat oven to 200 degrees F.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Pipe 3/4- to 1-inch drops onto prepared baking sheet; after each drop is piped by squeezing the bag, release from squeezing, and pull straight up with the bag to create the very fine curled tip on each drop. Bake until drops are hard to the touch but not browned, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Repeat to use all meringue. Meringue drops may be made a day ahead and kept in an airtight container at room temperature. Melt chocolate in a heatproof bowl, or the top of a double boiler, set over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally. Stir in the oil until well combined. Dip the bottom of each cooled meringue drop into the melted chocolate; stick two together if desired. Turn upside down on a cooling rack, and let chocolate harden. This can take up to 50 minutes at room temperature or just freeze on parchment paper for 5 minutes. Serve.

Serves: 14

• Ingredients

1/4 cup sugar
1 cup cracker crumbs
1 teaspoon cocoa
1/3 cup butter, melted
3 8-ounces cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1/4 cup strong coffee
8 ounces chocolate, bittersweet
1/2 cup sour cream
4 ounces chocolate, bittersweet
1/2 cup heavy cream

• preparation

CRUST:
Combine first 4 ingredients. Press mixture on bottom of a 9 inch springform pan. Refrigerate.
FILLING:
Beat cream cheese with sugar. Add the eggs. Stir in the strong instant coffee, chocolate and sour cream. Pour into pan. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 40 to 50 minutes or until center is barely set. Refrigerate.
GLAZE:
Shave a few curls of chocolate for garnish. Heat the cream with remaining chocolate until melted and smooth. Spoon over cake. Garnish with curls.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

For the crust:

1/4 cup semi sweet chocolate, melted
1/4 cup butter
3/4 cup Graham crumbs
1 tablespoon cocoa


For the raspberry filling:
one 10-ounce package raspberries, pureed and strained
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon corn starch
1 tablespoon lemon juice

For the custard:
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 cup milk
2 egg yolks

1 tablespoon rum
1/4 cup sugar

• preparation

the crust:
In a medium bowl, Mix chocolate with butter. Combine with crumbs. Line bottom and sides of a 9-inch pie dish. Bake 12 minutes at 350 degrees.

the raspberry filling:
Combine ingredients in double boiler. Whisk until thickened. Cool and cover.
Dissolve 1 envelop unflavored gelatin with 1/4 cup water Allow to set for 5 minutes, and mix in with the raspberry filling.

the custard:

In a saucepan, combine sugar, corn starch and milk. Cook over medium heat until thick. Mix in egg yolks.
Cook one more minute. Set aside.
Cool and cover.
Mix half of the custard with 1/4 cup melted semi sweet chocolate.
Pour over crust bottom. Refrigerate until firm.
Spoon in raspberry mixture. Chill to set.
Add 1 tablespoon rum to remaining custard. Cool. Beat egg whites with cream of tartar.
Add 1/4 cup sugar. Continue beating until firm. Fold into custard.
Spoon over pie. Chill.

Serves: 12

• Ingredients

1 1/2 cups unsalted butter, in small pieces
8 ounces unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
2 1/3 cups strong, freshly brewed, dark-roast coffee, cooled to room temperature
3 cups sugar
3 tablespoons Kahlua
3 tablespoons brandy
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup cake and pastry flour, not self rising
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Glaze:
10 ounces bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
7 tablespoons unsalted butter, in small pieces
additional unsalted butter, at room temperature for greasing the pan
16 dark chocolate-covered espresso beans, for garnish
lightly sweetened whipped cream, optional

• preparation

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Grease a 10-inch springform pan, line with a circle of parchment paper, and lightly grease the paper.
Combine the butter, chocolate and coffee in the top of double boiler, or a stainless steel or glass bowl set over a pot of simmering water, and stir frequently with a wooden spoon until melted.
Place the sugar in the bottom of a large mixing bowl, or the bowl of an electric mixer.
Remove the chocolate mixture from the heat, and pour over the sugar. Stir to blend and dissolve the sugar, and allow to cool for 10 minutes. With a wire whisk or the paddle attachment of the electric mixer, add the Kahlua, brandy, and vanilla extract to the cooled chocolate mixture and blend well.
Blend in the lightly beaten eggs, making sure they are thoroughly incorporated. The batter at this point will be extremely thin; don't worry, just make sure to work each added ingredient into it carefully. Sift the flours, baking soda and salt together. Add dry ingredients to the chocolate mixture in two additions, scraping down the sides of the bowl several times.
Beat on medium speed for one minute. The batter may have little lumps, but they won't affect the finished cake.
Place the prepared pan on a baking sheet to catch any leaks, and pour the batter into the pan.
Bake for 1 3/4 hours to 2 hours, rotating the pan several times during that time to ensure even baking. A crust will form on the top of the cake. Test for doneness by inserting a wooden skewer in a fault of the crust, poking near the centre of the cake. It should come out clean.
Remove the cake from the oven, and cool completely in the pan set on a rack. (The cake may be made up to two days ahead of time, and kept in the pan at room temperature, covered tightly with plastic wrap.

To prepare the glaze, combine the chopped chocolate and butter in the top of a double boiler or a bowl set over barely simmering water. Stir frequently until melted, then remove from the heat and cool slightly, stirring occasionally.
Run a thin knife around the cake, and loosen and remove the sides of the pan.
Using a long bladed serrated knife, carefully even off the top of the cake, slicing off any domed or uneven part of the crust.
Place a dab of the chocolate glaze on a 10 inch cardboard circle, and invert the cake onto the board. Remove the pan bottom and the parchment paper.
Brush any crumbs from the cake, and pour the warm glaze onto the centre. Using a metal spatula, coax the glaze to the edges of the cake and over the sides; quickly spread the overflow evenly onto the sides. Garnish with the chocolate cover espresso beans, placing one for each piece around the perimeter of the cake.
Set the glaze an hour or so, then serve with lightly sweetened whipped cream, if desired.

Serves: 12

Delicious and rich chocolate cake. Definitely worth to splurge on good chocolate!
This mousse-like cake really does melt in your mouth. It can be baked up to a day before serving and stored lightly wrapped at room temperature.

• Ingredients

11 oz. semisweet good quality chocolate, chopped
6 oz. (12 Tbs.) unsalted butter
6 large eggs, separated, at room temperature
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 oz. (1/4 cup) all-purpose flour
1/4 cup bourbon
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. kosher salt

For serving:
1 cup heavy cream
1 to 2 Tbs. granulated sugar
Confectioners’ sugar for dusting

• preparation

Position an oven rack on the middle rung and heat the oven to 350°F.

Butter a 9×3-inch round cake pan. Line the bottom of the pan with a round of parchment and butter the parchment. Set the cake pan in a roasting pan large enough to accommodate it.

Melt the chocolate and butter over a double boiler. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.
With an electric mixer (a stand mixer with the whip attachment or a hand mixer), beat the egg yolks with the brown sugar on medium speed until very pale, thick, and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce the speed, add the chocolate mixture, and mix just to combine. Add the flour, mixing just to combine and scraping the bowl as needed. Blend in the bourbon and vanilla. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and set aside.
In a clean mixing bowl with clean beaters, beat the egg whites with the salt on high speed until they hold soft peaks, 1 to 2 minutes. With a rubber spatula, fold one-third of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture to lighten it, and then gently fold in the remaining whites. Scrape the batter into the prepared cake pan.
Set the roasting pan on the oven rack and add enough warm tap water to come halfway up the sides of the cake pan. Bake until the top feels set, 40 to 45 minutes. Remove the cake pan from the water bath and run a paring knife around the inside of the pan (or the inside of the parchment collar) to loosen the cake and then let the cake cool completely in the cake pan on a rack. When the cake is completely cool, loosen the sides once more with a paring knife. Cover the cake with a serving plate and invert the cake onto the plate. The bottom of the cake is now the top. Peel off the parchment. (Don’t worry if the surface looks a little ragged; you’ll be dusting with confectioners’ sugar).

To serve: In a chilled bowl, beat the cream and sugar to medium-soft peaks. Dust the top of the cake with confectioners’ sugar, slice, and serve each slice with the whipped cream.

Serves: 10

• Ingredients

For crumble:
1 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup hazelnuts, chopped coarsely

For filling:
3/4 cup sugar
6 teaspoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup lime juice 6 medium bananas, peeled, cut into 3/4-inch thick slices
2 teaspoons Frangelico or amaretto
10 sheets phyllo dough
3/4 cup unsalted butter
For white chocolate sauce:
6 ounces white chocolate
1 1/2 cups whipping cream.

• preparation

For crumble:
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. In a saucepan, combine butter and sugar. heat to melt. Remove from heat.
Mix in flour and hazelnuts. Spread on baking sheet. Bake until dry and golden, about 30 min. Cool. Break into small pieces. (can be made a day ahead).
For filling:
Stir sugar, butter and lime juice in a non stick skillet. Heat to dissolve. Increase heat to high. Stir to brown around edges of pan. Add bananas and liqueur. Stir until bananas are coated.
Transfer to a large bowl and cool. Mix 1 cup hazelnut crumble into banana mixture. Brush a phyllo sheet with butter. Fold in half crosswise. Brush with butter. Fold in half again, forming square.
Place phyllo in large muffin tins. Spoon 1/4 cup filling in center of square. Bring edges together.
Squeeze firmly at top, forming purse. Repeat with remaining phyllo forming 10 purses. Bake at 350 degrees until golden.
Serve with white chocolate sauce.
White chocolate sauce:
Boil cream. Pour over chocolate. Whisk until smooth.

Serves: 20

• Ingredients

1 cup shortening
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 cup white sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

• preparation

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Cream shortening, brown sugar and white sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda and salt.
Gradually blend into creamed mixture. Stir in the chocolate chips and nuts (optional).
Drop from small spoon onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

for the COCOA SPONGE CAKE:
1 teaspoon unsalted butter
1 teaspoon all purpose flour
4 egg whites
1/2 cup sugar
4 egg yolks
1/2 cup all purpose flour sifted together with 1/4 cup cocoa powder
for the cocoa syrup:
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons cocoa powder

for the chocolate mousse filling:
10 ounces bittersweet chocolate
2 cups heavy cream, whipped until stiff
1/2 cups sliced almonds, toasted
3 ounces chocolate for curls

• preparation

the cocoa sponge cake:
Preheat oven at 350 degrees. Butter and flour an 8-inch springform pan. With an electric mixer, beat the egg whites, slowly adding the sugar, and continue to whip until stiff.
Beat in the egg yolks, then gradually fold in the flour sifted together with cocoa powder. Pour the batter into the cake mold and bake for 15 to 18 minutes Remove from heat and unmold on a pastry rack to cool.
For the cocoa syrup:
Bring 1/4 cup of water, sugar, and cocoa powder to a boil in a small pot. Remove from heat and set aside.
For the chocolate mousse filling:
Melt the chocolate in the top of a double boiler. Cool until warm to touch. Fold in the whipped cream until smooth.
To assemble:
Place the cake on a round cake circle.
Split the cake horizontally into 2 equal disks with a serrated knife. Brush the bottom disk with half of the cocoa syrup.
Spread half of the chocolate filling over the cake, then sprinkle with half of the almonds. Cover with the top disk.
Repeat the same process with the syrup, filling, spreading some filling around the sides.
Decorate the sides with almonds, and the top with chocolate curls.

Serves: 12

This recipe comes from the restaurant Daniel in New york City .
Crispy phyllo packages stuffed with warm, bittersweet chocolate ganache topped with raspberries. The recipe can be prepared 6 to 8 hours in advance.

• Ingredients

Ganache:
7 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup heavy cream
4 teaspoons raspberry brandy (eau de vie de framboise)
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
8 sheets phyllo dough, 10 by 20 inches
1/2 cup sweet butter, melted
1 recipe cocoa sponge cake (see recipe) or commercial pound cake
1 pint raspberries

• preparation

Ganache:
Place the chocolate in a bowl. Bring the cream to a boil in a small saucepan and pour over the chocolate. Stir to melt.
Add 2 tablespoons of the raspberry brandy, and combine until smooth. Set the chocolate ganache to cool.
Syrup:
Combine 1/3 cup of water in a small pot; add confectioners' sugar and stir until dissolved. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of the raspberry brandy. Remove the syrup from heat.

Cut the cocoa sponge cake or commercial pound cake into 12 disks 2 1/2 inches in diameter and 1/2 inch thick with a cookie cutter.
To assemble:
spread 1 sheet of phyllo dough on a work surface, brush with a tin coating of the melted butter, dust with sifted confectioners' sugar, and cover with a second sheet.
Brush with melted butter again and dust with sugar. Cut the rectangular phyllo dough into 3 equal strips, about 6 1/2 inches wide by 10 inches long.
Place a disk of chocolate cake in the center of each strip and moisten each disk with a little of the raspberry syrup. Cover each disk with a generous spoonful of the ganache and place 8 to 10 raspberries on top.
First, fold one end of the phyllo dough over the raspberries and then the other, tucking under to form a small closed purse fully encasing the chocolate and the raspberries.
Repeat this process until you have made 12 packages.
Brush each one with butter and refrigerate (or freeze) until ready to bake.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place the packages on a greased baking sheet and sprinkle with more sugar.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Keep warm.
Top each fontaine with the remaining raspberries and serve hot

Serves: 10

• Ingredients

2 cups sugar
1 cup shortening
2 eggs, beaten
3 bananas, mashed
1/2 cup cocoa
2 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 cup boiling water

Frosting:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla

• preparation

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. In an electric mixer, cream sugar and shortening. Add eggs and bananas.
Mix well. Sift cocoa, flour, soda and salt. Add alternately with buttermilk while whisking.
Mix in boiling water. Bake in a 13 by 9-inch ungreased pan 50 to 60 minutes.

Cool and cover with frosting.

Frosting:
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until sauce comes to a boil.
Remove from heat. Add vanilla, and frost cake while icing is hot.

Serves: 10

• Ingredients

10

For the crust:
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup cracker crumbs
1 teaspoon cocoa
1/3 cup butter, melted

For the filling:
8 ounces semi sweet chocolate
1 envelop unflavored gelatin (or 3 large sheets)
1/4 cup cold water
3/4 cup sugar
8 egg yolks
2 cups scalded milk
2 cups heavy cream

Garnish:
whipped cream
chocolate shavings

• preparation

Crust:
Combine first 4 ingredients. Press mixture on bottom of a 9 inch pie pan . Refrigerate.

Filling:
Melt chocolate over a double boiler. Dissolve gelatin in cold water. If using gelatin sheets, immerse in cold water.
Cream sugar and egg yolks. Slowly pour the boiling milk over egg mixture. Pour into saucepan.
Stir with a wooden spoon over low heat until the mixture coats the back of the spoon.
Do not boil. Stir in the gelatin and melted chocolate. Strain into a bowl. Cool mixture.
Whip the heavy cream to a medium peak. Fold 2/3 into the cool chocolate custard. Save remaining for garnish.
Pour into prepared pie. Refrigerate for 2 hours.
Decorate with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

Serves: 10

• Ingredients

8 ounces semi sweet chocolate
1 envelop unflavored gelatin ( or 3 large sheets)
1/4 cup cold water
3/4 cup sugar
8 egg yolks
2 cups scalded milk
2 cups heavy cream

For chocolate sauce:
4 ounces semi sweet chocolate
1 cup heavy cream

• preparation

Melt chocolate over a double boiler. Dissolve gelatin in cold water. If using gelatin sheets, immerse in cold water.
Cream sugar and egg yolks. Slowly pour the boiling milk over egg mixture. Pour in saucepan.
Stir with a wooden spoon over low heat until the mixture coats the back of the spoon.
Do not boil. Stir in the gelatin and melted chocolate. Strain into a bowl. Cool mixture.
Whip the heavy cream to a medium peak. Fold in the cool chocolate custard. Pour in a decorative mold. Refrigerate for 2 hours.
Unmold and serve with chocolate sauce around bavaroise.
Chocolate sauce:
combine cream and chocolate. Stir over low heat to melt. Cool

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1 9-inch pie crust, unbaked

3 large eggs
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons sweet butter
1 cup dark corn syrup
1 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup Bourbon
1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate
1 cup whole pecans

• preparation

Preheat oven tot 375 degrees. In a large bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, melted butter, corn syrup, vanilla and bourbon until well combined. Strain.
Grate the chocolate into bits. Sprinkle over the bottom of unbaked pie crust. Cover with the pecans.
Pour mixture into pie shell.
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes.
Cool for an hour before serving.

Serves: 12

• Ingredients

1/4 cup all-purpose flour (yes, this is the correct amount!)
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
2 large eggs
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tbsp brewed espresso (or you can use reconstituted espresso powder)
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp unsalted butter
5 oz extra-bittersweet chocolate (70% or higher), chopped
2 oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped
3/4 cup mini chocolate chips

• preparation

Preheat oven to 375°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer, briefly whip the eggs to break them up. Add the sugar, espresso, and vanilla and beat on high speed for 15 minutes, until thick. (This will help add body to the batter because there is so little flour in the recipe.)

While the eggs are whipping, place the butter in the top of a double boiler, or in a small metal bowl suspended over a pot of simmering (not boiling) water, and scatter the extra-bittersweet and unsweetened chocolate on top. Heat until the butter and chocolate melt. Remove the boiler top from over the water and stir the chocolate and butter until smooth.

Gently fold the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture until partially combined (there should still be some streaks). Add the flour mixture to the batter and carefully fold it in. Fold in the chocolate chips. If the batter is very runny, let it rest until it thickens slightly, about 5 minutes.

Drop the batter by heaping teaspoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets and bake until puffed and cracked, 8 to 9 minutes. Cool on a wire rack before removing from the baking sheets.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

For the cake pans:

1 tablespoon soft butter
2 tablespoons flour

For the cake:
1 cup milk, divided
4 ounces semisweet chocolate, grated
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
1. Butter and flour 2 9-inch cake pans.
2. In a medium saucepan, heat 1/2 cup of the milk and the grated chocolate. Stir until chocolate is melted. Set aside to cool then add the vanilla.
3. Cream butter and sugar using an electric mixer. Separate the eggs. Keep the whites in a mixing bowl, and stir the yolks into the butter-sugar mixture, and beat until mixture is light and fluffy. Stir the baking soda into the remaining 1/2 cup milk. Whisk into the butter-sugar mixture until creamy.
4. Combine flour and baking powder in a bowl.
5. Beat the egg whites in an electric mixer until they hold stiff peaks. Fold the egg whites alternately with flour into the butter mixture. Finally fold in the melted chocolate-milk mixture. Pour half of the batter into each of the two prepared pans. Bake for 30 minutes or until the center springs back when pressed lightly.

Serves: 10

• Ingredients

8 ounces (2 sticks) sweet butter
12 ounce dark semi sweet chocolate
10 egg yolks
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
10 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

• preparation

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Put chocolate and butter in a saucepan. Melt over low heat.
Beat egg yolks and sugar in an electric mixer until mixture is light and lemon colored. Add vanilla, and continue beating for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the chocolate-butter mixture and blend well.
Beat the egg whites with the cream of tartar until stiff and fold in the chocolate mixture.
Line the bottom of two 9 inch cake pans with a sheet of parchment paper.
Butter and flour the bottom and sides of pan.
Pour the mixture in the pan.
Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until center is firm.
Let the cake stand on a rack for 10 minutes. Unmold on a rack.

Serves: 10

• Ingredients

1 3/4 cups flour
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup boiling water

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease and flour 2 9-inch cake pans.
Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Add remaining ingredients except the water.
Beat with an electric mixer for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the water. Pour batter in cake mold.
Bake 40 minutes or until center is set and dry. Use a cake tester.

Serves: 16

Recipe by Philadelphia Original Brick Cream Cheese.

• Ingredients

18 vanilla creme-filled chocolate sandwich cookies, finely crushed (about 1-1/2 cups)
2 Tbsp. butter or margarine, melted
3 pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 pkg. (4 oz. each) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, broken into pieces, melted and cooled
3 eggs
1-1/2 cups sliced fresh strawberries

• preparation

Heat oven to 325°F.
Combine cookie crumbs and butter; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Bake 10 min.

Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add chocolate; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Pour over crust.

Bake 45 to 55 min. or until center is almost set. Run knife around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim.
Refrigerate cheesecake 4 hours. Top with strawberries just before serving.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1 cup (2 sticks) soft butter
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups semi sweet chocolate
1 cup chopped walnuts

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream the butter, sugars and vanilla. Add eggs and beat until light. Combine flour, baking soda and salt. Fold in the above mixture. Stir in the chips and walnuts.
Line cookie sheet with brown paper. Using a small ice cream scoop, scoop out equal amount of cookie mix unto sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Slide paper with cookies on a cool surface.
Another quick and efficient method is to pipe the cookies through a pastry bag without a tip in the end of bag.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

Crust:
1 cup Graham cracker crumb
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 teaspoon cocoa

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 cups whipping cream
6 ounces white chocolate, chopped
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
1 cup whole berry cranberry sauce

• preparation

Crust:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine first 4 ingredients. Place in a food processor until fine. Press on bottom and sides of a greased 9 inch pie plate.
Bake for 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
In a mixing bowl, combine chocolate chips and 2 tablespoons cream.
Microwave to melt chocolate or heat over medium heat to melt. Spread chocolate mixture in bottom of pie crust.
Refrigerate until chocolate is set.
Melt white chocolate with 1/4 cup of the cream in microwave or over low heat. Stir until smooth. Refrigerate to cool.
Beat remaining cream in an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Fold 1 cup of the whipped cream into white chocolate mixture until blended.
Fold remaining cream and orange peel into mixture; blend well. Spoon of the whipped cream mixture over chocolate mixture. stir cranberry sauce by spoonfuls over whipped cream to swirl.
Repeat with another of the whipped cream to swirl. Repeat with another of the whipped cream mixture and remaining cranberry sauce.
Spoon or pipe remaining of the whipped cream mixture around edge of pie.
Refrigerate for 6 hours or until firm.

Serves: 12

• Ingredients

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room
temperature
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

• preparation

Note: Using a heaping teasspoon of the dough you get 48 cookies.

Preheat an oven to 350°F. Grease 2 baking sheets with butter.
Put the confectioners' sugar into a bowl and set aside.
In another bowl, using a wooden spoon, stir together the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed until creamy, about 3 minutes. Turn off the mixer and scrape down the bowl with a rubber spatula. Add 1 egg and beat on medium speed until blended. Add the other egg and vanilla and beat until blended.

Turn off the mixer and add the flour mixture. Beat on low speed just until blended.
To form the cookies, using a teaspoon, scoop up a rounded spoonful of dough. Scrape the dough off the spoon into the palm of your hand. Roll the dough into a ball. Roll the ball in the confectioners' sugar until covered. Place 1 1/2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets.
Bake about 12 minutes until tops are puffed and crackled.
(Do not over bake. Cookies are soft when hot but firm and chewy when cool. ) Remove to rack to cool. Store tightly covered up to 3 weeks with wax paper between layers.

Serves: 12

• Ingredients

8 ounces semi sweet chocolate, melted
1/2 milk
2 cups whipping cream

• preparation

In a mixing bowl, combine hot melted chocolate with milk. Mix well. Whip the cream until medium thick.
Gradually pour in the chocolate mixture. Whisk cream at speed until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Serves: 14

• Ingredients

Cake:
2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups strongly brewed coffee
1/4 cup plus 3 tbsp. Irish whiskey
1 cup unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract

For the sauce:

1/2 stick (2 oz) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup packed light brown sugar
3/4 cup 15% light cream
1/4 cup Irish whiskey

• preparation

The cake
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Whisk together flour, baking soda and salt in a large bowl; set aside.
In a medium saucepan, add coffee, whiskey, butter, cinnamon, and cocoa powder. Place over moderate heat and whisk until butter has melted. Remove from heat and add the sugar. Whisk until incorporated. Pour mixture into a large bowl and let cool slightly.
Whisk together eggs and vanilla extract and gradually pour into chocolate mixture. Add flour mixture and whisk until just combined. Mixture will be very thin.
Pour batter into a greased and floured bundt pan.
Bake for 45-55 minutes.

The sauce:
In a heavy saucepan combine butter and brown sugar. Bring to a boil for 3 to 5 minutes until thick and bubbly. Add the cream, boil while stirring about 10 minutes or until slightly thickened. Remove pan from heat and stir in Irish whiskey . Sauce keeps, covered and chilled, 1 week. Reheat sauce before serving.

Turn the cake out and poke holes all over the surface and very slowly drizzle 1 1/2 cups of the sauce over the cake . Wrap in foil and let cool completely. Store in an air-tight container.

Serves: 16

• Ingredients

6 ounces good quality semi-sweet chocolate
6 ounces good quality white chocolate
1 cup toasted chopped nuts or almonds

• preparation

Melt the two chocolates in separate bowls. Stir until completely melted. Stir 1/2 cup of the nuts into each bowl.
Alternately spoon melted chocolates onto waxed paper-lined cookie sheet.
Swirl chocolates together with knife to marblelize.
Refrigerate until firm. Break into pieces.
Note: 1 cup of toasted flake coconut may be substituted for the nuts.

Serves: 10

• Ingredients

For the mousse:
4 ounces semi sweet chocolate
5 large egg yolks
1 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar
4 ounces unsalted butter, softened
1 1/4 cups cocoa powder
2 cups heavy cream

for the orange sauce:
1/2 cup orange juice
2 large eggs
1/3 cup sugar
2 cups milk
1 teaspoon grated orange rind

• preparation

For the mousse:
Melt chocolate in a double boiler.
Beat egg yolks with confectioners sugar until light an thick. Beat in the melted chocolate until mixture is smooth.
Gradually add the soft butter and sifted cocoa, beating until mixture is well blended. Whip the cream to a medium peak.
Fold in the chocolate mixture.
Spoon mousse in a decorative mold. Chill for 2 to 3 hours.
For the orange sauce:
Boil the orange juice and reduce to half. Beat the eggs with the sugar. Add the scalded milk and orange rind. Cook over low heat, stirring with a wooden spoon until thick. Do not boil. Add orange juice. Refrigerate. Unmold mousse. Serve with the sauce.

Serves: 4

• Ingredients

1 teaspoon instant espresso
1 teaspoon hot water
6 ounces semi sweet chocolate
1/4 cup heavy cream
3 egg yolks
1 teaspoon flour
6 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
2 teaspoons sugar
1 cup whipped cream

• preparation

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Butter and flour a 5 cup soufflé mold. Chill until ready to use. Combine espresso with hot water, stir until dissolved. Melt chocolate in on top of double boiler. Stir in the cream and coffee.
Beat egg yolks and flour. Stir this into the chocolate. Beat egg whites with cream of tartar to a soft peak.
Gradually add the sugar, and beat egg whites to a stiff peak. Stir a 1/4 of the whites into chocolate mixture, then fold chocolate mixture into remaining egg whites, a little at a time.
Pour mixture into the prepared mold. Bake for 35 45 minutes. Serve hot with whipped cream .

Serves: 12

• Ingredients

10 ounces semi sweet chocolate
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
6 egg yolks
2 cups heavy cream
6 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/4 cup Cognac (optional)

• preparation

Melt semi sweet chocolate over a double boiler. Combine sugar and water in a saucepan. Boil to a temperature of 225 degrees. Beat egg yolks in an electric mixing bowl until creamy.
Gradually pour hot syrup over egg yolk mixture while whisking. Continue mixing until cool.
In a mixing bowl, whip heavy cream to a firm consistency. Fold cream and chocolate into the egg yolk mixture.
In a mixing bowl, whip egg whites with cream of tartar to a medium stiff consistency. Fold into chocolate mousse together with the cognac. spoon mousse into a clear glass serving bowl or into individual serving glasses. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.
Garnish with whipped cream and chocolate curls.

Serves: 12

Makes 1 12-inch cake or 2 9-inch cake
To make 2 8-inch cakes, use half of the recipe
Fill the cake layers with Chocolate mousse filling and glaze top with Ganache

• Ingredients

1 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 cups boiling water
1 cup butter, softened
2 1/2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder

• preparation

Preheat oven at 350 degrees.
Mix cocoa in boiling water. Cool. Sift dry ingredients.
Beat soft butter with sugar. Add eggs one at the time. Add cocoa mix and flour mix to butter mixture.
Blend at low speed while alternating cocoa and flour. Mix until batter is smooth, scraping edges and bottom of bowl with a spatula.
Line the bottom of one 12-inch cake pan or 2 9-inch pans with parchment.
Grease and flour. Pour batter in mold. Bake 30 to 40 minutes until center is cooked. Cool 10 minutes. Unmold on a rack. Cut in layers.
Fill with the chocolate mousse filling recipe.

Serves: 10

• Ingredients

16 ounces semi sweet chocolate
4 ounces sugar
1/2 cup water
7 egg yolks
1/4 cup Cognac
2 cups heavy cream

• preparation

Melt semi sweet chocolate over a double boiler.
Combine sugar and water. Boil to 240 degrees.
Beat egg yolks until creamy.
Pour hot syrup over yolks while beating continuously at medium speed until cool. Add cognac. Mix.
Whip cream until stiff. Fold cream into egg mixture. Add chocolate and fold thoroughly.
Note:
This recipe is solely designed as a filling in the chocolate mousse cake. The chocolate mousse is a different recipe.

Serves: 6

A fun dessert for children.

• Ingredients

For the honey popcorn:
1/4 cup popcorn kernels
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons honey
2 teaspoons corn syrup
3 teaspoons water

For the chocolate mousse:
8 ounces Swiss milk chocolate
2 1/2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 cup heavy cream

• preparation

For the honey popcorn:
Pop the corn in a microwave oven. Combine the sugar, honey, corn syrup, and water in a heavy-bottom saucepan. Cook over medium heat until the sugar is caramelized to a light brown color.
Add to popcorn and stir to coat. Spread popcorn onto wax paper to cool. When cool, break the honey popcorn into small pieces.
For the chocolate mousse:
Microwave the chocolate with the oil for about 2 minutes to melt. Whisk in 1/4 cup of the cream. Whip the remaining cream to a medium peak. Fold into the chocolate mixture. Fold 3/4 of the honey popcorn into the mousse. Garnish with the remaining popcorn. Refrigerate for several hours.

Serves: 10

Plain thick plain Greek yogurt is a good substitute for the plain yogurt as there is no need to strain the Greek yogurt.

• Ingredients

3 cups plain yogurt
1/2 cup Graham cracker crumbs
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup sifted cocoa
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 8-ounce package light cream cheese, softened
2 eggs
2 egg whites
1 tablespoon finely grated orange rind
2 cans (10-ounce each) mandarin orange segments, drained

• preparation

Line a large sieve with a double layer of cheesecloth; set sieve over bowl.
Pour yogurt into sieve; let drain in refrigerator 4 to 6 hours or until yogurt remaining in sieve measures 2 cups. Discard liquid in bowl.
Spray base and sides of 8-inch springform pan with nonstick baking spray.
Sprinkle cracker crumbs evenly over base of pan; set aside. Stir together sugar, cocoa and cornstarch.
Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese until smooth.
Beat in eggs and egg whites one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Slowly blend in cocoa mixture and orange rind until combined.
Whisk in yogurt until smooth.
Pour cheesecake mixture into prepared pan. Bake for about 1 hour and 10 minutes, until cheesecake is just set but centre still jiggles slightly. Turn oven off.
Run a sharp knife around edge of pan to loosen. Leave cheesecake in oven with door closed for 1 hour. Remove from oven. Place on wire rack; let cool completely. Refrigerate, covered, until chilled. Release sides of pan; place cheesecake on serving plate.

Serves: 14

• Ingredients

1 1/2 cups unsalted butter
12 ounces semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons orange liqueur
1 teaspoon vanilla
6 eggs
sifted unsweetened cocoa powder

Raspberry coulis:
1 package frozen unsweetened raspberries, thawed
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon orange liqueur

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line bottom on 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper.
Over simmering water, melt together butter, chocolate, sugar and orange juice, stirring to blend.
Remove from heat; stir in liqueur and vanilla. Let cool; whisk in eggs, one at a time.
Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until edges are slightly crusty and middle is just set. Let cool on rack.
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 12 hours or up to 24 hours.
Raspberry coulis:
Purée raspberries in food processor; press through sieve to remove seeds. Stir in sugar, and liqueur.
Invert cake onto serving plate.
Sift cocoa powder over cake and garnish with raspberries. Slice and serve with raspberry coulis.

Serves: 10

• Ingredients

16 ounces semi sweet chocolate
4 ounces sugar
1/2 cup water
7 egg yolks
1/4 cup Cognac
1 cup heavy cream

Mocha creme:
8 large egg yolks
3/4 cup sugar
2 cups milk
1 teaspoon espresso instant coffee
1 teaspoon water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• preparation

Melt semi sweet chocolate over a double boiler. Combine sugar and water. Boil to 240 degrees.
Beat egg yolks until creamy. Pour hot syrup over yolks while beating continuously at medium speed until cool. Add cognac. Mix.
Whip cream until stiff. Fold cream into egg mixture. Add chocolate and fold thoroughly.
Spoon in a loaf pan with bottom and sides lined with parchment paper.
Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 4 hours or up to 2 days.
Invert on a platter and slice portions onto plate using a warm carving knife. Decorate with fresh fruit and if desired serve with Mocha creme sauce.

Mocha creme:
Beat the egg yolks and sugar until lemony in color. Bring the milk to a gentle boil. Gradually blend into the egg mixture and cook over low heat while stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. The custard should coat the back of a wooden spoon. Do not boil custard as it will curdle.
Strain into a serving bowl. Dissolve coffee in water. Mix coffee and vanilla into custard.stir to cool.
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. May be prepared two days in advance.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1 9-inch Quick and easy pie crust

1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate, melted
2/3 cup white corn syrup
1/3 cup sugar
3 eggs
3/4 cup pecans, coarsely chopped

• preparation

Preheat oven at 400 degrees.
In a large bowl, thoroughly combine melted chocolate, corn syrup, sugar and eggs. Stir in the pecans.
Pour mixture into pie shell. Bake for 10 minutes.
Reduce temperature to 350 degrees, and bake 20 minutes longer.
Cool then chill. Slice and serve with ice cream and Satin chocolate sauce.

• Ingredients

3/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
2 (1-ounce) squares unsweetened baking chocolate, melted, cooled slightly
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup mini real semi-sweet chocolate chips

Frosting Ingredients:
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1 tablespoon milk
1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 drop green food color

Drizzle Ingredients:
1/2 cup mini real semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon vegetable shortening

• preparation

Heat oven to 375°F. Combine all cookie ingredients except flour and 1 cup mini chocolate chips in large bowl. Beat at medium speed until creamy. Reduce speed to low. Add flour; beat until mixture forms a dough. Stir in 1 cup mini chocolate chips by hand. Shape dough into 1-inch balls.
Place 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Flatten each ball to 1 1/2-inch circle with bottom of glass dipped in flour.
Bake for 5 to 7 minutes or until set. (DO NOT OVER BAKE.) Let stand 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheets. Cool completely on wire rack.

Combine all frosting ingredients in small bowl. Beat at low speed until smooth. (Add additional milk, one teaspoonful at a time, for desired frosting consistency.)
Frost cooled cookies. Place cookies onto waxed paper. Place 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips and shortening in small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH, stirring every 30 seconds, until smooth (60 to 90 seconds).
Drizzle thin lines of chocolate over frosting with teaspoon. Let stand until chocolate is set (at least 30 minutes).

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

200 grams (7 oz) of dark chocolate
150 ml (6 oz) cream
PATE SABLEE, baked (see recipe)
150 grams (5 oz) fresh raspberries
Icing sugar

• preparation

Prepare the PATE SABLEE crust, baked (see recipe)

Melt the dark chocolate in a water bath, then add the liquid cream while mixing vigorously to obtain a smooth and unctuous ganache.

Pour this preparation onto the precooked pie bottom, then allow to cool.

Arrange the fresh raspberries on top and sprinkle with a icing sugar.

Serves: 12

• Ingredients

Crust:
1 1/2 cups chocolate wafer crumbs
2 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup butter
2 tablespoons sugar

Cake:
3 cups chocolate ice cream
2- 10 oz (300g) packages frozen raspberries
1/4 cup raspberry liqueur or schnapps
2 tablespoons sugar
6 cups vanilla ice cream
chocolate curls

• preparation

Crust:
stir together crumbs, chocolate, butter and sugar until well moistened. Press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan.
Bake in 350 F. (180 C.) oven for 10 minutes. Let cool. Line inside of pan above crust with double thickness waxed paper extending 2 inches above pan and overlapping by 1 inch. Tape or staple edges together. Let chocolate ice cream stand at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes or until softened; stir until smooth. Spread over crust and freeze. Meanwhile, reserve 24 raspberries in freezer for garnish.

Cut 1 cup of the remaining berries in half; set aside in freezer. Thaw remaining berries and puree in food processor; press through sieve into bowl to remove seeds. Stir in raspberry liqueur and sugar.
Soften 3 cups of the vanilla ice cream; stir in halved raspberries and 1 1/2 cups of the puree.
Spread over chocolate layer and freeze for 1 hour. Soften remaining vanilla ice cream; spread over raspberry layer, smoothing top.
Freeze for 15 minutes.
Spread remaining puree over top; freeze until solid. (Can be wrapped and stored in freezer for up to two weeks.)
Garnish with chocolate curls and reserved frozen raspberries. Let stand in refrigerator for 1 1/2 hours before serving.
Making chocolate curls:
Melt chocolate and spread evenly and thinly with palette knife onto clean baking sheet. Refrigerate until set but not hard, about 5 minutes, letting warm again at room temperature if necessary. Scrape a knife or scraper across chocolate in opposite direction, forming curls of desired width.

Serves: 8

The perfect Valentine cake

• Ingredients

For the chocolate Crust:

1 2/3 cups finely crushed chocolate graham crackers
1/2 cup butter, melted

For the raspberry Coulis:

12 oz fresh raspberries
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 teaspooons lemon juice

Chocolate Filling:

1 1/2 cup heavy cream
1 lb bittersweet chocolate
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt

• preparation

For The Crust: Preheat the oven to 350 F. Crush the graham crackers in a food processor until it’s fine and resembles coarse sand. Set aside. Melt the butter in a large mixing bowl, and then stir in the crushed graham crackers, mixing until well combined. Press the crust into a tart pan, and bake for 7-9 minutes or until set. Remove from oven and allow to cool while assembling the chocolate filling and raspberry coulis.

For The Raspberry Coulis: Combine the raspberries, sugar and lemon juice in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a low boil, about 5 minutes. Once the mixture reaches a boil, remove from heat. Blend with an immersion blender, or transfer to a blender. Blend until smooth. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve to remove seeds, and set aside.

For The Chocolate Filling: Heat the heavy cream and chocolate together in a mixing bowl in the microwave at 15 second increments, or until the chocolate is fully melted and smooth. Stir in the vanilla extract and salt.

Assembly: Pour 1 cup of the raspberry coulis into the bottom of the crust, making sure it coats the crust evenly. Spoon the chocolate filling evenly on top of the raspberry layer. Transfer to the fridge, and allow to chill for at least 2 hours, and up to overnight. Top with fresh raspberries just before serving, and serve with extra raspberry coulis drizzled on top.

Serves: 8

Store the chocolate sauce in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. Rewarm before serving.

• Ingredients

1 cup (250 ml) water
1/2 cup (100 g) sugar
1/2 cup (160 g) light corn syrup or agave nectar
3/4 cup (75 g) unsweetened cocoa powder (preferably Dutch-processed)
2 ounces (55 g) bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

• preparation

In a medium saucepan, whisk together the water, sugar, corn syrup (or agave), and cocoa powder.

Bring to a boil over medium heat. Once it’s just begun to simmer and boil, remove from heat and stir in the chopped chocolate until melted.

Let the Chocolate Sauce stand for a few hours before serving.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
chilled whipping cream
melted unsalted butter
additional sugar

• preparation

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Sift flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt into large bowl. Mix in chocolate chips.
Mix in just enough chilled cream to form dough that will be firm enough to roll out.
Turn out dough onto well floured work surface. Using well floured hands, pat out dough to 3/4 inch thick rectangle, frequently sliding long knife under dough to prevent sticking.
With floured 2 inch round star shaped cookie cutter, cut out shortcakes. Gather dough pieces; pat out to 3/4 inch thick rectangle and cut out additional cookies
Brush shortcakes with butter, sprinkle with additional sugar. Arrange shortcakes sugared side down on 2 heavy large baking sheets. Brush tops with butter and sprinkle with sugar. Bake until firm about 20 minutes.
Transfer shortcakes to racks and cool.
(Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover, let stand at room temperature.)

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter, softened
1 tablespoon sugar
4 egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup flour
2 cups milk
5 ounces bittersweet chocolate, cut into small chunks
2 egg yolks
8 egg whites

• preparation

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Brush the inside of the soufflé dishes with soft butter. Lightly sprinkle with sugar and rotate the dish so the sugar evenly coats the surface.
In a mixing bowl, whisk the egg yolks and sugar until light and creamy. Add the flour and vanilla. Mix well.
Gradually whisk the scalded milk over the egg yolk mixture, and whisk well to blend. Transfer to saucepan. Whisk over medium heat until mixture thickens and comes to boil, about 5 minutes. Boil 1 minute. Pour into medium bowl. Stir in the chocolate and egg yolks. Press plastic onto surface of pastry cream.
Beat the egg whites with the cream of tartar until stiff.
Fold egg whites into custard mixture.
Spoon the the mixture into the two prepared molds or the small molds.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes for the 6-cup soufflés or 12 to 16 minutes for the small soufflés. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar before serving.

Serves: 10

• Ingredients

8 ounces good-quality semisweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons liqueur such as Cognac or Grand Marnier or plain vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa, sifted

• preparation

Place chocolate in a bowl.
Bring cream to a boil in a small, heavy saucepan. Pour cream over chocolate.
Let stand for 3 to 5 minutes; gently stir until smooth. Add liqueur and stir to combine.
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours. Sift cocoa over a baking sheet.
To shape the truffles use one of the following methods:

1. Using a measuring spoon, scoop up 1 teaspoon of chocolate, and roll into a ball about 3/4 inch across. Drop into cocoa; roll each truffle in cocoa to coat.
2. using a pastry bag with a 3/8-inch opening or tip, pipe into mounds (about 3/4 inch high and 1 inch wide) on parchment-lined baking sheets. Freeze until firm, about 15 minutes. Drop into cocoa; roll each truffle in cocoa to coat.
Chill until firm. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1/2 cup (4 oz) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/3 cup confectioners' sugar
1 large egg yolk
2 tablespoons finely grated lemon zest plus 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 cup macadamia nuts, toasted and finely ground
1 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
5 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees with racks in upper and lower thirds.
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar on medium-high until light and fluffy, 2 minutes.
Add egg yolk, lemon zest and juice, and salt and beat until combined; beat in nuts. With mixer on low, add flour and beat just until combined, 2 minutes.
Form dough into a 4 1/2-inch-long log, wrap in plastic, and freeze until firm, 30 minutes. Cut into 1/4-inch slices, transfer to two parchment-lined baking sheets, and freeze 5 minutes.
Bake until golden at edges, 14 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Let cookies cool completely on wire racks.
Melt chocolate. Dip half of each cookie into chocolate; transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets. Chill until set, 10 minutes.

Serves: 4

• Ingredients

1 teaspoon butter, softened
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon instant espresso
1 teaspoon hot water
6 ounces semi sweet chocolate
1/4 cup heavy cream
3 egg yolks
1 tablespoon flour
6 egg whites
1 pinch cream of tartar
2 teaspoons sugar

• preparation

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Butter a 5-cup soufflé mold. Coat inside with teaspoon sugar. Combine espresso with hot water, stir until dissolved.
Melt chocolate on top of double boiler. In a mixing bowl, combine melted chocolate with cream and coffee.
Beat egg yolks and flour. Stir into the chocolate mixture.
Beat egg whites with cream of tartar to a soft peak. Sprinkle in sugar, and beat until stiff peak. Stir a 1/4 of the whites into chocolate mixture, then fold chocolate mixture into remaining egg whites, a little at a time. Pour this into the prepared mold.
Bake for 35 45 minutes. Serve hot with lightly whipped cream.

Serves: 6

• Ingredients

1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 1/2 cups water
2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
2/3 cup fresh orange juice
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
2 teaspoons grated orange zest

• preparation

Combine sugar and cocoa. Whisk in water. Bring to boil in a saucepan, whisking constantly for 3 to 4 minutes.
Reduce heat, and add remaining ingredients. Stir to melt chocolate. Refrigerate 1 hour or more.
Make sorbet in an ice cream maker.

Serves: 4

• Ingredients

1/4 cup unsalted, shelled raw pistachios
Unsalted butter (for ramekins)
1/2 cup sugar, plus more for ramekins
6 ounces high-quality bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup high-quality raspberry jam or jelly
1 large egg yolk
1/4 teaspoon salt, plus more
6 large egg whites, room temperature
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 cup heavy cream

Special Equipment
4 (6-ounce) ramekins

• preparation

Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 375°F. Toast pistachios on a rimmed baking sheet, tossing once, until fragrant and slightly darkened, 5–6 minutes. Let cool slightly, then coarsely chop.
Meanwhile, butter ramekins, making upward strokes up the sides with a pastry brush. Sprinkle with sugar, tilting to coat completely and tapping out any excess. Arrange prepared ramekins on baking sheet.
Combine chocolate and jam in a medium heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water; stir constantly until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth, 1–2 minutes. Remove bowl from heat. Stir in egg yolk and 1/4 tsp. salt.
Beat egg whites and cream of tartar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment on medium speed until frothy, about 2 minutes. Gradually add 1/2 cup sugar, 1 Tbsp. at a time, and beat until medium peaks form, 6–7 minutes.
Using a rubber spatula, fold one-quarter of the beaten egg whites into chocolate mixture to lighten. Fold in remaining egg whites in 2 batches. Divide batter among prepared ramekins, filling completely.
Transfer baking sheet with ramekins to oven and bake soufflés until puffed and tops feel firm to the touch, 18–20 minutes.
Meanwhile, using an electric mixer on medium-low speed, beat cream in a large bowl until soft peaks form. Dollop soufflés with cream, top with chopped pistachios, and serve immediately.

Serves: 24

• Ingredients

3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 egg whites or 1 whole egg
1 (5-oz) pkg. chocolate fudge pudding and pie filling mix (6-serving size; not instant)
1 (8-oz.) container dairy sour cream
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups chopped pecans
1 (12 oz.) pkg. (2 cups) semi-sweet chocolate chips

• preparation

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease cookie sheets. In large bowl, combine sugar, brown sugar, oil, vanilla, egg whites, pudding mix and sour cream at low speed until moistened; beat 2 minutes at medium speed. Add flour, rolled oats, baking soda and salt; mix at low speed until blended.
Blend in pecans and chocolate chips.
(Tip: If dough is too soft, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate about 1 hour, or stir in an additional 1/4 cup flour for easier handling.)
Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto greased cookie sheets.
Bake at 375 degrees for 6 to 7 minutes or until set. Do not overbake. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets.

Serves: 12

These little maple logs are delicious and a great idea for Christmas. Children love dipping the ends in chocolate.

• Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon maple flavoring
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup quick-cooking oats
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted
3 tablespoons warm milk
3/4 cup ground walnuts

• preparation

In a large bowl, cream the butter, shortening and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla and maple flavoring.
Combine the flour, oats and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.
On a lightly floured surface, shape dough into 1/2-in.-wide logs. Cut into 2-in. pieces. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets.
Bake at 325° for 15-18 minutes or until set and very lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.
Mix melted chocolate and milk; stir until smooth. Dip one end of each cookie into chocolate; allow excess to drip off. Roll in walnuts. Place on waxed paper until set.

Serves: 6

• Ingredients

Cinnamon Ice Cream
1 cup whole milk
1 cup whipping cream
two 6-inch cinnamon sticks, broken into pieces
4 egg yolks
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
pinch salt

SATIN CINNAMON CHOCOLATE SAUCE

8

8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
1/2 cup corn syrup
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons sweet butter

• preparation

In a medium saucepan, bring the milk, cream and cinnamon sticks to a boil. Remove from heat and cover. Leave 30 minutes to infuse, then strain. Meanwhile, whisk the egg yolks, sugar, ground cinnamon and salt until thick and the sugar dissolves.
Whisk in the strained milk and cream mixture. Pour into a clean saucepan and cook over a low heat, stirring until slightly thickened or the mixture reaches 176°F (82°C). Do not boil. Strain immediately into a bowl set over ice and stir until cool. Refrigerate until cold.
Churn in an ice-cream machine.

SATIN CINNAMON CHOCOLATE SAUCE

Combine chocolate, corn syrup, milk and cinnamon in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat for a minute, while stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in the butter.
Can be refrigerated for a week. Serve with ice cream.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1 teaspoon sweet butter
1 teaspoon all purpose flour
4 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 cup sugar
4 egg yolks
1/2 cup all purpose flour sifted together with 1/4 cup cocoa powder

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Brush an 8-inch springform cake mold with the butter and dust with flour.
With an electric mixer, whip the egg whites with the cream of tartar, slowly adding the sugar, and continue to whip until stiff.
With a spatula, fold in the egg yolks, then gradually incorporate the sifted cocoa/flour mixture.
Pour the batter into the cake mold and bake for 15 to 18 minutes. Remove from heat when done and unmold on a pastry rack to cool.

Serves: 24

• Ingredients

4 egg whites
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon water
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups shredded coconut
48 whole almonds
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
3 teaspoons unsalted butter

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease 15 x 10 x 1-inch jelly roll pan. In large bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form.
Gradually add sugar; beat until stiff peaks form, about 7 minutes. Add water, almond extract and vanilla; blend well. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off.
Stir in flour and coconut; mix well. Spread in greased pan. Arrange almonds over top of bars in 8 rows of 6 each.
Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes or until lightly browned and top springs back when lightly touched in center.
Cover pan with foil until cool.
In small saucepan, melt chocolate chips and butter over low heat, stirring occasionally; drizzle over cooled bars.

Serves: 6

• Ingredients

FOR CARAMEL:
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons water

FOR CUSTARDS:
2 cups warm milk
1/4 cup sugar
1 ounce semi-sweet chocolate
2 teaspoons instant coffee
1 teaspoon vanilla
5 egg yolks

• preparation

For Caramel:
In a small saucepan, combine sugar and water. Boil until it turns into a golden caramel. Dip saucepan in water to stop the cooking of the sugar.
For custards:
In a large saucepan, combine milk, sugar, chocolate, coffee, and vanilla. Mix in the warm caramel. Bring to a boil. Beat the egg yolks in a bowl, and gradually whisk in the milk mixture. Strain, and pour into individual ramequin dishes. Bake in waterbath at 325 degrees for 30 minutes or until custards are firm.

Serves: 7

• Ingredients

6 squares white chocolate, coarsely chopped
1-7 ounce package sweetened dried cranberries

• preparation

Place chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat at Medium for 3 minutes or until chocolate is partially melted.
Remove from heat and stir until completely melted. Stir in cranberries.
Drop small spoonfuls of mixture on a foil or waxpaper-lined baking sheet.
Refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.
Wrap and store in refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Serves: 16

• Ingredients

Cupcakes:
1 large egg
4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup sifted cocoa powder (optional for chocolate cupcakes)
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup hot water

Icings:
3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
3 tablespoons sifted cocoa powder (optional for chocolate icing)
2 tablespoons whole milk
2 tablespoons buttermilk
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt

• preparation

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and make sure the oven rack is in the center position.

Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper cups, and place 4 paper cups inside a second muffin tin. Add 2 tablespoons of water to each of the remaining empty muffin wells.

Combine all the cupcake ingredients in a bowl, adding the water last. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Divide the batter evenly between the lined muffin cups. Bake until risen and golden in color and a toothpick inserted into the center of 1 cupcake comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes.

To make the icing, combine all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Blend with a hand-held mixer until smooth and creamy.

Remove from the oven and carefully transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Using a small spatula or butter knife, spread either Vanilla or Chocolate icing onto each cupcake (using about 2 tablespoons per cupcake).

Serves: 16

• Ingredients

1 large egg plus
2 whites
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup canola oil plus extra for preparing pan
2 cups all purpose white flour
2/3 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground allspice
3 cups fresh apples, peeled
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Granulated or confectioners sugar for dusting cake (optional) Caramel Sauce. Recipe follows.

Caramel Sauce

Makes 1 1/2 cups

1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon butter
3/4 cup evaporated skim milk
1 teaspoon molasses
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush oil over the inside of a 10-inch bundt pan. Dust with flour and tap out the excess.
In a mixing bowl, whish together eggs, sugar and oil. In another bowl, stir together flours, cocoa, salt, cinnamon and allspice.
Using a rubber spatula or a wooden spoon, add the dry ingredients to the oil mixture alternately with the grated apples. Dissolve baking soda 1/4 cup hot water and stir into the batter. Stir in the raisins and nuts. The batter will be thick.
Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 1 hour 10 minutes, or until the top springs back when touched lightly and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes before unmolding from the pan. Let cool. Sprinkle with sugar or serve with caramel sauce.
Caramel sauce:
In small heavy-bottomed pot, combine sugar and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Cook, without stirring, for about 15 minutes, or until the syrup turns amber. (Take care not to burn it.)
Remove from heat and cool 2 minutes. Using a wooden spoon, stir in butter. Gradually stir in milk. Return to the heat and cook, stirring, for about 1 minute, or until caramel has dissolved. Stir in molasses and vanilla.
Serve warm. ( The sauce can be cooled, then stored, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Warm slightly before serving.)

Serves: 6

• Ingredients

1 cup whipping cream
8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
2 bananas
5 ounces cooked meringues
1/4 cup Grand Marnier
2 teaspoons cocoa powder

• preparation

Melt chocolate over a double boiler. Whip the cream till it starts to thicken. Gradually add melted chocolate while whisking the cream.
Break the meringue into pieces. Fold into the cream mixture. Slice the bananas, and fold in the cream mixture together with Grand Marnier. The mixture should be thick.
Spoon into a charlotte mold. Freeze for 2 hours. Unmold on platter and sprinkle with cocoa before serving.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1 3/4 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup soft butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 teaspoons milk
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips

• preparation

Preheat oven at 350 degrees.
Combine flour and baking soda and set aside. In a mixer, cream butter, vanilla, sugars, and beat until fluffy.
Beat in egg. At low speed, beat in cocoa and milk. Mix in walnuts (optional) and chocolate chips.
Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto non-stick or foil-lined baking sheets.
Bake for 12 to 14 minutes. Remove from oven and cool slightly before transferring to a rack.

Serves: 12

• Ingredients

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/3 teaspoon salt
1 1/3 cups golden brown sugar
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg
4 teaspoons instant espresso powder
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup milk chocolate chips
1 cup walnuts, toasted, chopped

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease two cookie sheets. Blend together flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt.
Beat, butter, sugar, egg, espresso powder and vanilla until well blended. Mix in dry ingredients.
Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto prepared sheets, spacing well apart.
Bake cookies until brown on top, about 14 minutes.

Serves: 6

• Ingredients

3 tablespoons unsalted butter
6 ounces semisweet chocolate
1 pinch salt
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa
2 egg yolks
4 egg whites
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 teaspoons sugar

For the cream:
1/2 cup heavy cream 1 teaspoon confectioners' sugar 1 teaspoon instant vanilla pudding 1 teaspoon vanilla.

• preparation

Preheat oven at 400 degrees. Melt the butter in a pot. Add chocolate, salt, cocoa and egg yolks, and mix until smooth. Set aside.
Butter 6 ramequins, 3 inches in diameter. Whip the egg whites with the cream of tartar. Gradually add the cornstarch and sugar. Continue beating until the whites are firm. Fold into the chocolate mixture. Spoon into the prepared molds.
Bake for 6 to 8 minutes.
Top should be firm. Remove from heat and unmold immediately on the center of serving plates. Whip the cream with the sugar, vanilla pudding and vanilla. Pipe a star of whipped cream on each warm cake.

Serves: 8

Use the ganache to glaze The Cocolate Cake recipe

• Ingredients

12 ounces semi sweet chocolate
1 cup heavy cream
1 stick (4 ounces) butter

• preparation

Break the semi sweet chocolate in a bowl. In a saucepan, bring the cream to a boil. Pour it over the chocolate, stirring until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth and well blended.
Cool mixture, then add the butter while mixture is still liquid. Allow to cool completely to set the ganache. Do not refrigerate.

Serves: 8

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

• Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
3/4 cup pistachios, coarsely chopped
2/3 cup dried cranberries
12 ounces good-quality white chocolate, chopped
Red and green sugar crystals, for garnish

• preparation

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Line a heavy large baking sheet with parchment paper. Whisk the flour and baking powder in a medium bowl to blend. Using an electric mixer, beat the sugar, butter, lemon zest, and salt in a large bowl to blend. Beat in the eggs 1 at a time. Add the flour mixture and beat just until blended. Stir in the pistachios and cranberries.
Form the dough into a 13-inch long, 3-inch wide log on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until light golden, about 40 minutes. Cool for 30 minutes.

Place the log on the cutting board. Using a sharp serrated knife, cut the log on a diagonal into 1/2 to 3/4-inch-thick slices. Arrange the biscotti, cut side down, on the baking sheet. Bake the biscotti until they are pale golden, about 15 minutes. Transfer the biscotti to a rack and cool completely.

Stir the chocolate in a bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water until the chocolate melts. Dip half of the biscotti into the melted chocolate. Gently shake off the excess chocolate. Place the biscotti on the baking sheet for the chocolate to set. Sprinkle with the sugar crystals. Refrigerate until the chocolate is firm, about 35 minutes.

The biscotti can be made ahead. Store them in an airtight container up to 4 days, or wrap them in foil and freeze in resealable plastic bags up to 3 weeks.

Serves: 12

• Ingredients

Crust:
1 cup wafer crumbs
1/2 cup pecans, chopped
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted

Filling:
3 8-ounces cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup sugar
3 eggs
1/3 cup Irish cream
3 ounces white chocolate, melted

Topping:
whipped cream
chocolate shavings

• preparation

Preheat oven at 325 degrees.
CRUST:
Combine wafer crumbs, pecans, sugar, and butter. Press mixture onto bottom of 2 inch by 9 inch springform pan. Chill.
FILLING:
In an electric mixer, beat cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs one at the time, until just blended. Beat in liqueur and white chocolate. Pour into pan. Bake 50 min. or until center is just set. Remove from oven and run knife around sides of pan to prevent cracking. Cool.
TOPPING:
Top cheesecake with whipped cream and chocolate shavings if desired.

• Ingredients

3/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 to 3 teaspoons Irish cream liqueur**

Topping ingredients:
Powdered sugar, if desired

• preparation

Combine 3/4 cup butter and sugar in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add egg and vanilla; continue beating until well mixed. Reduce speed to low; add flour, cocoa and salt.
Beat until well mixed. Divide dough in half; shape each half on lightly floured surface into 8-inch long square log with 1 1/2-inch sides.
Wrap in plastic food wrap; refrigerate until firm (2 hours or overnight).
Heat oven to 325°F. Cut logs into 1/4-inch square slices with sharp, serrated knife. Place squares 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake for 6 to 8 minutes or until set.
Combine powdered sugar and 1/4 cup butter in small bowl. Beat at low speed, adding enough liqueur for desired spreading consistency.
Spread about 1 teaspoon filling on cookie, top with second cookie. Press together gently. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired.
**Substitute 2 to 3 teaspoons very strong brewed coffee.

TIP: Make sure not to slice the cookie dough too thick or the cookies will not be crisp.

Make Ahead: Prepare cookies as directed; cool completely. Freeze in airtight container up to 1 month. When ready to use, thaw cookies completely. Prepare filling and assemble cookie sandwiches as directed.

A fudgy brownie, layered with mint butter cream and drizzled with chocolate.

• Ingredients

Brownies Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
2 (1-ounce) squares unsweetened baking chocolate
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs

Filling Ingredients:
2 cups powdered sugar
1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
5 drops green food color
2 drops yellow food color

Drizzle Ingredients:
1 (1-ounce) square unsweetened baking chocolate, melted

• preparation

Heat oven to 350°F. Melt 1/2 cup butter and 2 squares chocolate in 2-quart saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly, until smooth (4 to 6 minutes). Stir in all remaining brownie ingredients until well mixed. Spread into greased 8-inch square baking pan.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until brownie just begins to pull away from sides of pan. Cool completely.
Combine all filling ingredients except chocolate in small bowl. Beat at medium speed until creamy. Spread over cooled bars.
Drizzle with melted chocolate. Cool completely; cut into bars. Cover; store refrigerated.

Serves: 6

Small bananas wrapped in French crepes.
A French carribbean recipe known as TI FIGUES EN PYJAMAS

• Ingredients

12 tiny bananas
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 cup dark rum
12 small crepes
1 teaspoon butter
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1 cup chocolate sauce

• preparation

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Peel the bananas. Saute in butter until evenly brown but firm. Sprinkle brown sugar over bananas. Continue cooking to make a caramel with the sugar. Pour dark rum over the bananas. Ignite the rum. Transfer the bananas to a platter. Save the cooking juice.
Roll each banana in a small crepe. Cut the ends of crepes extending beyond the bananas.
Butter an oven-proof baking dish. Line the banana crepes in the dish. Sprinkle with brown sugar.
Bake for 10 minutes. Arrange the bananas in a serving platter. Combine the chocolate sauce with the pan juice. Serve with the banana crepes

Serves: 6

• Ingredients

Makes six 1-cup soufflés

1 teaspoon butter, softened
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
5 ounces bittersweet chocolate, cut into small chunks
1/3 cup light cream
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon water
8 egg whites

• preparation

Brush the inside of the soufflé dishes with soft butter. Lightly sprinkle with sugar and rotate dishes so the sugar evenly coats the surface. Refrigerate until needed.
In a medium bowl, combine cocoa and chocolate. In a small pan, combine light cream with water, and bring to a boil. Pour into bowl of chocolate, and whisk until smooth. Set aside.
In a small pan, combine sugar with water. Bring to a boil, and heat to the soft- ball stage, or 250 degrees on the candy thermometer. Meanwhile, using an electric mixer fitted with a whisk, whip egg whites until fluffy.
Slowly add hot sugar to the egg whites, pouring it down the side of the bowl as the whites whip. Whisk egg whites to soft peaks; do not overbeat. Add warm chocolate mixture to beaten egg whites.
Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in until thoroughly combined. Spoon or pipe into soufflé molds.
Refrigerate, uncovered, up to 24 hours ahead of serving.
To serve, preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
Allow soufflés to come to room temperature, 15 to 20 minutes. Place on a baking sheet, and bake until risen, 6 to 8 minutes. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar before serving. Serve immediately.

Serves: 9

• Ingredients

1 1/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup molasses
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup raisins

• preparation

Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Sift together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and ginger in a medium bowl.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream vegetable shortening and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add molasses, and beat to combine. Add eggs, one at a time, and mix until fully incorporated.
Add the flour mixture, one cup at a time, beating on low speed until dough comes together.
Remove bowl from mixer.
Using a wooden spoon, stir in chocolate chips, oats, walnuts, and raisins. Using a 2-inch ice-cream scoop, drop dough on baking sheet, about 3 inches apart.
Bake until firm, 15 to 18 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes before transferring cookies to wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with remaining dough.

Serves: 8

The filling can also be a lemon curd and whipped cream   

• Ingredients

meringue
• Baking spray
• 1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar
• 4 large egg whites, at room temperature
• Pinch of cream of tartar
• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 3/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• Scant 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 3/4 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
cocoa swirl
• 2 teaspoons espresso powder or instant coffee
• 2 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
walnut praline
• 1/2 cup walnuts
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon corn syrup
whipped cream
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons grated bittersweet chocolate
Blackberries and pomegranate seeds, for garnish (optional)

• preparation

1. Make the meringue Preheat the oven to 400°. Grease a 9-by-13-inch metal baking pan with baking spray. Line the pan with parchment paper, leaving 1 inch of overhang on the short sides. Grease the parchment with baking spray and dust with the confectioners’ sugar.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk, beat the egg whites with the cream of tartar at medium speed until frothy, about 2 minutes. With the machine on, slowly beat in the granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time. Increase the speed to medium-high and beat until the meringue is shiny and tripled in volume and stiff peaks form, about 10 minutes. In a small bowl, mix the cinnamon with the cornstarch, nutmeg and salt. Sift the cinnamon mixture over the meringue, then add the orange zest. Fold until well combined. Spread the meringue evenly in the prepared baking pan.
3. Make the cocoa swirl In a small bowl, combine the espresso powder, cocoa and vanilla with 2 teaspoons of water and mix well. Spoon small dots of the cocoa mixture all over the top of the meringue. Using a skewer or a bread knife, swirl the dots decoratively. Reduce the oven temperature to 350° and bake the meringue for about 25 minutes, until puffed and cooked through. Transfer to a rack to cool completely.
4.Meanwhile, make the walnut praline. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread the walnuts in a pie plate and toast in the oven for about 10 minutes, until golden. Let cool, then chop into 1/2-inch pieces.
5. In a small saucepan, combine the granulated sugar, corn syrup and 2 tablespoons of water and bring to a simmer, brushing down the side of the pan with a wet pastry brush. Cook over moderately low heat, swirling the pan, until an amber caramel forms, about 10 minutes. Stir in the walnuts, then scrape the praline onto the prepared baking sheet and spread in an even layer. Let cool completely, then chop into 1/2-inch pieces.
6. Make the whipped cream In a medium bowl, using a hand mixer, beat the cream with the vanilla at medium speed until medium peaks form.
7. Assemble the roulade Gently invert the meringue onto a parchment paper–lined work surface with the long side facing you and peel the parchment off the meringue. Spread the whipped cream all over the meringue, leaving a 1-inch border. Sprinkle the walnut praline over the whipped cream, then scatter the grated chocolate on top. Starting at the long side, roll up the meringue to form a log. Transfer to a platter and refrigerate until chilled, at least 3 hours or up to 1 day. Serve garnished with blackberries and pomegranate seeds, if desired.
Make Ahead
The baked meringue and walnut praline can be stored separately at room temperature overnight.

Serves: 6

• Ingredients

1 1-inch piece ginger root
2/3 cup sugar
2 cups whipping cream

Meringues:
5 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 1/4 cups sugar
pinch of salt

SATIN CHOCOLATE SAUCE:
8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
1/2 cup corn syrup
1/4 cup milk
2 teaspoons butter

• preparation

Meringues:

Grease and flour 17x11-inch jelly roll pan or line with parchment paper. Beat egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in sugar and salt until stiff and glossy. Pipe or spoon meringues, about 1/2 inch high, into 8 individual circles.
Bake in 250 degree oven for 1 1/2 hours or until light golden. Turn off oven; let stand in oven for 1 hour.
In food processor fitted with metal blade or in blender, blend ginger with sugar. Whip cream until soft peaks form; gradually beat in half of the ginger sugar until firm. Break two of the meringues in small pieces; fold into whipped cream. Pack into airtight container and freeze for 4 hours or until set, or for up to 5 days.
Let ice cream soften in refrigerator for about 20 minutes before using.

SATIN CHOCOLATE SAUCE:
Combine chocolate, corn syrup, remaining ginger sugar and milk in a saucepan. Heat over medium heat until melted, while stirring constantly.
Remove from heat and stir in the butter.
Stores well for up to a month in refrigerator.

To assemble, place meringues on individual plates; top with scoops of ice cream and drizzle with chocolate sauce.

Serves: 12

Mole is a rich and complex Mexican sauce made from various ingredients, including chili peppers, chocolate, spices, and sometimes even fruit. It's traditionally served warm or hot and is often used as a sauce for dishes like chicken, turkey, or enchiladas. The heat helps to bring out the flavors and aromas of the sauce. However, the specific temperature at which it's served may vary depending on personal preferences and the dish it accompanies.

• Ingredients

3 dried chipotle chiles, stemmed and seeded
2 dried guajillo chiles, stemmed and seeded
2 dried ancho chiles, stemmed and seeded
2 ½ cups low-sodium chicken stock
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup white onion, chopped
½ poblano pepper, diced
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon cinnamon
5 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
¼ cup dark chocolate chips
3 tablespoon almond butter
1 tablespoon tomato paste
½ teaspoon sea salt

• preparation

Toast chipotle, guajillo, and ancho chiles in a dry pan over medium heat, stirring constantly, until warm and aromatic, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a blender.
Heat 2 cups chicken broth in a saucepan until it begins to simmer, about 5 minutes. Pour broth into the blender with mushrooms. Puree until smooth.
Heat olive oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, poblano pepper, oregano, cumin cinnamon and garlic and cook for about 10 minutes or until onion is tender, stirring occasionally.
Mix in flour and stir for about 2 minutes until combined. Gradually add chicken and mushroom puree, whisking constantly and scraping up bits on bottom of pan. Bring to boil and simmer for about 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and use immersion blender to puree until smooth.
Return saucepan to medium-high heat and stir in the chocolate, almond butter, tomato paste and salt. Simmer for 5 minutes or until sauce has thickened. Adjust for salt if needed. Serve warm.

Serves: 12

The Nanaimo bar is a dessert item of Canada origin popular across North America. It is a bar dessert which requires no baking and is named after the west coast city of Nanaimo, British Columbia.

• Ingredients

bottom layer
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup sugar
5 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg, beaten
1 3/4 cups Graham crackers crumbs
3/4 cup fine coconut
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts

second layer
1/2 cup butter
3 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons instant vanilla custard powder
2 cups icing sugar

third layer
2/3 cup semisweet chocolate
2 tablespoons butter

• preparation

bottom layer:
Melt butter, sugar, and cocoa in a heavy saucepan.
Add beaten egg and stir to cook and thicken. Remove from heat . Stir in crumbs, coconut and walnuts.
Press firmly into ungreased 9 by 9 inch pan.
Second layer:
Cream butter, milk, custard powder and icing sugar together well. Beat until light. Spread over bottom layer.
Third layer:
Melt chips and butter over low heat. Cool. When cool but still runny, spread over second layer. Chill in refrigerator. Cut into 36 squares.

Serves: 8

Fun and easy to make with my kids Enjoy eating and baking them.

• Ingredients

2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup half and half or 15% cream
1/2 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
pinch salt
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 cup coconut flakes
2 cups quick oatmeal

• preparation

In a thick bottom saucepan, combine sugar, cream, butter, vanilla and salt. Bring to a boil. Let boil for 3 minutes.
Stir in the cocoa powder.
Remove from heat and mix in the coconut and oatmeal.
Line a buttered cookie sheet with spoonfuls of the mixture.
Refrigerate. Store cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Serves: 8

you can make your own crust using chocolate wafer cookies or graham cookies and melted butter, instead of buying a ready made crust.

• Ingredients

2/3 cup Nutella
8 oz Cream Cheese at room temp
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 8 oz container non-dairy whipped topping (defrosted)
1 Oreo Cookie Pie Crust
1 bar chocolate (optional)

• preparation

In a large bowl, mix Nutella and cream cheese together until well blended and smooth. Add vanilla extract. Fold in whipped topping until no white streaks are left. Pour into Oreo Pie crust. Refrigerate or freeze at least 2 hours to overnight.
Remove cheesecake from the fridge, slice and serve immediately. If removing from the freezer, allow the cheesecake to sit at room temperature for 5 minutes before slicing & serving.
Optional: Shave chocolate with veggie peeler on top of pie for garnish.

Serves: 12

• Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup Nestle's Quick powder
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
12 ounces miniature semisweet chocolate chips

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350° F.
Into a bowl sift together flour, baking soda, and salt and stir in oats. In bowl of a standing electric mixer beat butter with sugars until light and fluffy.
Beat in Nestle's Quick until combined well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, and beat in vanilla.
Add flour mixture, beating until just combined, and stir in chocolate chips.
Arrange rounded tablespoons of dough about 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets and bake in batches in middle of oven 12 minutes, or until golden.
Transfer cookies to racks to cool.

Serves: 12

A recipe adapted from marthastewart.com.
This oatmeal-cookie dough can be baked immediately, refrigerated for one to two days, or frozen for up to a month.

• Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup light-brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups oatmeal
1 cup dried cherries
1 cup bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 cup toffee pieces, (5 1/2 ounces)

• preparation

Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Sift together flour and baking soda, and set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl once or twice during mixing.
Add egg, and mix on high speed to combine. Add vanilla extract; mix to combine. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Add the sifted flour a bit at a time on a low speed until well combined. Add oatmeal, cherries, chocolate, and toffee pieces; mix to combine.
Divide dough into three equal portions, and roll into logs using plastic wrap, approximately 1 1/2 inches in diameter. To bake, cut logs into 3/4-inch pieces. Bake on parchment-lined baking sheets, until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven, and transfer to a baking rack to cool.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 egg
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups rice crispies
1/2 cup chocolate chips

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together, butter and sugar. Beat in the egg.
Combine flour, salt and baking soda. Gradually mix into the creamy mixture.
Stir in rice crispies and chocolate chips. Spoon mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a plain tip.
Squeeze onto a cookie sheet about one inch apart.
Bake for 10 minutes. Transfer onto a rack and cool.

Serves: 12

• Ingredients

1 cup unsalted dry-roasted peanuts ( 5 ounces)
1 stick ( 4 ounces) butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled

• preparation

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a food processor, pulse the peanuts until finely ground.
In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until fluffy. Beat in the egg well.
Stir in the ground peanuts, then stir in the flour and baking powder until just combined.
Drop heaping spoons of the batter about 2 inches apart on large ungreased cookie sheets. Bake the cookies, 1 sheet at a time, for about 8 minutes, until golden brown.
Let the cookies cool on the sheets for 2 minutes, then transfer them to a rack to cool completely.
Drizzle the melted chocolate over the cooled cookies. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Serves: 10

You can make the meringue a week ahead and store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place (though not in the freezer or refrigerator). Any humidity or moisture will soften the meringue.

• Ingredients

3 large egg whites
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
Red gel-paste food coloring
1 cup heavy cream
6 ounces good-quality semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

• preparation

Preheat oven to 175 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper; secure corners with masking tape. Fit a pastry bag with a small open-star tip (such as Ateco #22). Set aside.

Make meringues: Put egg whites and sugar and cream of tartar in the heatproof bowl of an electric mixer. Set bowl over a pan of simmering water, and stir gently until sugar has dissolved and mixture is warm to the touch, 2 to 3 minutes.
Transfer bowl to an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Mix on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form. Mix in peppermint extract.
Using a new small paintbrush, paint 2 or 3 stripes of red food coloring inside the pastry bag. Fill bag with 1 to 2 cups meringue. Pipe small (3/4-inch-high) star shapes onto prepared baking sheets. Refill bag as necessary, adding food coloring each time.

Bake cookies until crisp but not brown, about 1 hour 40 minutes. Let cool completely on sheets on wire racks.

Meanwhile, make ganache: Heat cream in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until just simmering. Pour over chocolate in a small bowl. Let stand 5 minutes. Gently stir until smooth, about 5 minutes. Let ganache cool at room temperature, stirring every 5 to 10 minutes, until thick enough to hold its shape, about 45 minutes. (If ganache sets before using, reheat in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water; repeat the cooling process.)

Before serving or mailing, fill a pastry bag fitted with a small plain round tip with ganache. Pipe a small amount onto bottom of 1 meringue. Sandwich with another. Repeat with remaining ganache and meringues. Transfer to wire racks; let set 30 minutes.

Serves: 10

30 minutes

• Ingredients

4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
3/4 cup sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 large eggs, separated
1/2 cup poppy seeds, ground (about 3 1/2 ounces)
2 tablespoons flour
powdered sugar
whipped cream

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Generously butter and flour 9-inch springform pan.
Melt chocolate in top of double boiler over simmering water, stirring chocolate until smooth.
Remove chocolate from over water.
Cool chocolate 10 minutes. Beat 3/4 cup sugar, butter and vanilla extract to blend.
Add egg yolks 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add melted chocolate; beat until just combined. Mix in poppy seeds.
Beat egg whites until stiff but not dry.
Fold half of beaten egg whites into chocolate mixture.
Fold flour into remaining beaten whites. Fold egg white mixture into chocolate mixture.
Pour batter into prepared pan. Spread to level.
Bake until tester inserted in center of torte comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Transfer pan to rack and cool completely.
Remove pan sides.
Sift powdered sugar over torte. Serve with whipped cream.

Serves: 16

The chocolate Mousse Cake is a stunning 4-layer dessert

• Ingredients

For the Chocolate Cake:
• 2 oz soft butter
• 1/4 cup (1.75 oz) granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup (1.75 oz) brown sugar
• 1 egg at room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup (4 fl oz) buttermilk at room temperature
• 2/3 cup (2.66 oz) all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup (1 oz) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
For the Pumpkin Cinnamon Mousse Layer:
• 9 oz cinnamon chips
• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream divided
• 1/3 cup canned pumpkin puree
• Pinch salt
• 2 tsp unflavored powdered gelatin
• 2 tbsp water
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
For the Pumpkin Butterscotch Mousse Layer:
• 9 oz butterscotch chips
• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream divided use
• 1/3 cup canned pumpkin puree
• Pinch salt
• 2 tsp unflavored powdered gelatin
• 2 tbsp water
For the Salted Caramel Mousse Layer:
• 9 oz salted caramel chips or white chocolate chips
• 1 1/2 cups heavy cream divided use
• 1/3 cup thick salted caramel sauce
• Pinch salt
• 2 tsp unflavored powdered gelatin
• 2 tbsp water
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the Chocolate Ganache on Top:
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 3 oz semi-sweet chocolate finely chopped
To Decorate:
• Whipped cream
• Cinnamon
• Candy of your choosing

• preparation

To Make the Chocolate Cake:
1. Line a 9-inch cake pan with parchment, and spray it with non stick cooking spray. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
2. Add the butter and both sugars to the bowl of a large stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat them together on medium-high speed, until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add egg and vanilla extract, and beat well until they’re fully incorporated.
3. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. With the mixer running on low, add a quarter of the sifted flour mixture. Add a third of the buttermilk to the mixing bowl. When that’s incorporated, continue to add the dry and wet ingredients in an alternating pattern, ending with the dry ingredients.
4. Finish mixing the cake by hand. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth it into an even layer. Bake the cake for 22-25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached. Cool the cake completely before using.
To Make the Mousse Layers:
1. Prepare your pan. You need a 9-inch pan with sides at least 3 inches tall, and the ability to remove the bottom. Either a cake pan with a removable bottom or a springform pan will work. Line the inner wall with a 4-inch high acetate cake collar or a strip of aluminum foil or waxed paper. Make sure the acetate or waxed paper is long enough so that it overlaps itself, and if you are using foil/waxed paper, make sure you cut the strip tall enough to extend at least an inch over the pan’s sides, since the cake is about 4 inches tall.
2. Place a cake cardboard in the bottom of the pan, then carefully place the baked cake on top of the cardboard. This is optional, but it makes it easy to transfer the cake cleanly and neatly to your serving plate.
3. Prepare the cinnamon mousse layer: combine the cinnamon chips, pumpkin puree, 1/2 cup of cream, and salt in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second increments, stirring every 30 seconds, until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth. Pour it into a large bowl, and let it cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally.
4. While you wait for the cinnamon mixture to cool, prepare the gelatin. Whisk together the gelatin and the cold water in a small bowl, and set it aside to let the gelatin absorb the water. When the cinnamon is at room temperature, microwave the bowl of gelatin for 15 seconds, until it is melted. Whisk the melted gelatin and cinnamon mixture together, and whisk in the ground cinnamon.
5. Whip the remaining 1 cup heavy cream to firm peaks. Fold half of the whipped cream into the cinnamon, and once it’s incorporated, gently fold in the remaining whipped cream. Scrape the mousse on top of the cake, and spread it into an even layer. Refrigerate the cake for 25 minutes, until the mousse has started to set and is firm enough that a second layer can be added.
6. For the pumpkin-butterscotch mousse, combine the butterscotch chips, pumpkin puree, 1/2 cup of heavy cream, and salt in a microwave-safe bowl. Continue to make this layer the same way you made the cinnamon layer, by melting and cooling the butterscotch mixture, whisking in the melted gelatin, and folding in whipped cream. When the pumpkin-butterscotch mousse is ready, pour it over the cinnamon mousse layer. Spread it into an even layer, and refrigerate again.
7. Finally, prepare the salted caramel layer. Combine the salted caramel chips (or white chocolate chips), 1/2 cup heavy cream, salted caramel, salt, and vanilla in a microwave-safe bowl. Continue to make this layer the same way you made the previous two layers. Pour it over the pumpkin-butterscotch mousse, and refrigerate to set the mousse layers for at least 30 minutes.
8. Make a quick chocolate ganache by putting the chopped chocolate in a small bowl and heating the cream to a simmer. Pour the hot cream over the chopped chocolate and whisk gently until the chocolate melts and you have a smooth, shiny mixture. If it is very hot, let it cool slightly so it’s still warm and spreadable, but not so hot that it will melt the mousse. Pour the ganache over the top of the cake, and use a spatula to nudge it right to the edge and spread it in an even layer. Refrigerate the cake for at least 4 hours or overnight, so that the mousse layers can be very firm when slicing.
9. To finish the cake, push the bottom out from the pan, or unhinge the sides, and unwrap the acetate strip. Transfer the cake to your serving platter. Pipe rosettes of whipped cream around the edges, and sprinkle the cream with a bit of cinnamon. Top the rosettes with chocolate candies or chocolate curls, or leave them plain.
10. For the cleanest slices, cut the cake when it is well chilled. Use a large sharp knife, and wash it frequently between cuts. For the best taste and texture, allow the cake slices to sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving.

Serves: 20

• Ingredients

4 10-ounce packages frozen raspberries
3 envelopes unflavored gelatin
12 large eggs
3/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 cup sugar
3 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup sugar
3 cups hazelnut praline paste
2 1/2 cups Frangelico sauce (recipe follows)

FRANGELICO SAUCE:
1 cup sugar
6 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1 cup light cream
1/2 cup Frangelico (a hazelnut flavored liqueur)

• preparation

Prepare the soufflé dishes:
Fit each of two 1 1/4 quart soufflé dishes with a 6 inch wide band of wax paper to form a collar extending 3 inches above the rim.
Puree raspberries with syrup and strain to remove seeds. Dissolve gelatin in 1/3 cup water.
Beat egg yolks with a cup raspberry puree over a double boiler until thick. Heat gelatin to melt and stir in egg yolk mix. Add remaining raspberry puree. Beat egg whites with cream of tartar to soft peaks. Beat cream until stiff. Fold in raspberry mix the egg whites and cream and praline.
Spoon mousse into soufflé molds. Chill covered for 3 hours. Garnish top with whipped cream. Serve with Frangelico sauce.
FRANGELICO SAUCE:

In a heavy saucepan combine sugar and water. Bring mixture to a boil until sugar is dissolved. Remove pan from heat. Stir in the chocolate until sauce is smooth. Mix in light cream and Frangelico, and allow the sauce to cool at room temperature.

Serves: 20

• Ingredients

11 ounces Valrhona chocolate (56% cacao)
2/3 cup heavy cream
Valrhona cocoa powder for dusting

• preparation

Finely chop 8 ounces of the chocolate and put in a bowl. Bring heavy cream to a boil in a small heavy saucepan.
Make sure your pan is small, so you'll lose the least amount of cream to evaporation, and heavy, which will keep the cream from scorching. Linxe boils his cream three times - he believes that makes the ganache last longer.
If you do this, compensate for the extra evaporation by starting with a little more cream.
Pour the cream over the chocolate, mashing any big pieces with a wooden spoon.
Then stir with a whisk in concentric circles (don't beat or you'll incorporate air), starting in the center and working your way to the edge, until the ganache is smooth.
Let stand at room temperature until thick enough to hold a shape, about 1 hour, then, using a pastry bag with a 3/8-inch opening or tip, pipe into mounds (about 3/4 inch high and 1 inch wide) on parchment-lined baking sheets.
When piping, finish off each mound with a flick of the wrist to soften and angle the point tip. Freeze until firm, about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, melt 3 more ounces of the same Valrhona and smear some on a gloved hand.
Gently rub each chilled truffle to coat lightly with chocolate. The secret to a delicate coating of chocolate is to roll each truffle in a smear of melted chocolate in your hand.
Linxe always uses gloves. Toss the truffles in unsweetened Valrhona cocoa powder so they look like their namesakes, freshly dug from the earth.
A fork is the best tool for tossing truffles in cacao. Shake truffles in a sieve to eliminate excess cacao.
Store truffles in the refrigerator.

Serves: 4

• Ingredients

2 egg whites - aged at room temperature for 3 days (measure 57 g after aging - I’m using 55 g eggs)
70 g ground almond powder
113 g icing / confectioners’ sugar
21 g super fine sugar
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp rose water essence

Rose water buttercream filling:
90 g unsalted butter – room temperature
3/4 cup (100 g) icing / confectioners’ sugar
28 g (1 oz) white chocolate – melted
1 1/2 tbsp. rose water essence

• preparation

1. In a food processor, add in icing sugar, ground almond powder and pulse for 30 secs into fine powder.
2. Put the mixture through a sieve and remove any lumps. Transfer to a mixing bowl and set aside.
3. In a mixing bowl, add in egg whites, cream of tartar. Using an electric hand mixer or stand mixer, whisk until foamy.
4. With the mixer on low speed, add in the sugar slowly and whisk until soft peaks.
5. Drizzle in rose water essence and turn up the mixer to high speed. Continue to whisk the meringue until stiff peaks.
6. Add in pink color gel by using a stick or skewer.
7. Turn on the mixer and mix until the color is well combined.
8. In 3 batches, fold the meringue with a spatula into the icing sugar and almond powder.
9. It should resemble a lava-like texture. When you raise the spatula, the batter should flow down slowly and perfectly okay if it breaks in between.
10. Pipe the meringue onto a baking tray lined with non-stick baking sheet.
11. Rap the tray a few times on the counter to remove air bubbles. Use a skewer to break up large air bubbles.
12. Set it to dry at room temperature for 45 – 60 mins or in an oven preheated at 40C for 15 mins.
13. While waiting, prepare the buttercream filling by creaming the butter and icing sugar together till light and fluffy.
14. Add in melted chocolate and rose water essence. Continue to whisk for another 1 min.
15. Fill the buttercream in a piping bag.
16. Check the meringue by gently touching the skin of the meringue. It should be dry to the touch.
17. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 305F (150C) for 15 minutes.
18. Cool them on a wire rack completely before piping the buttercream filling.
19. If making ahead, store the cooled macaron shells in an air-tight container.
20. Macarons always taste better the next day so you could make them a day in advance and store them in air-tight containers before serving.
21. If you are staying in humid environment, store them in the fridge.

Serves: 10

The filling for the shorbread cookies may be other than Nutella and small pieces of chocolate, soft chopped dates, or chopped prunes.

• Ingredients

1 1/2 cups (150 g) all purpose flour
1/2 cup (50g) cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
4 oz (125g) unsalted butter, softened
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 tablespoons Nutella or semi sweet chocolate bits
1/2 cup ground coconut flakes
1/3 cup melted seedless raspberry jam

• preparation

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Combine the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, butter, sugar, egg and vanilla extract in the bowl of a food processor. Mix for a minute to form a ball. Transfer to a work surface to gather all the dough. Place in a covered bowl and refrigerate 30 minutes.
(You may also use a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment to accomplish the same results).
Divide the chilled dough into 20 equal pieces. Shape into balls. Make an indentation in each ball and spoon about 1 teaspoon of Nutella or chocolate bits inside. Close the dough over the filling, making sure dough is covering the filling on all sides, and pinch the top to seal the cookie. Roll to shape evenly into round or oval shapes.
Place cookies on cookie sheet. Bake for 18-20 minutes. Let cool on the pans. Brush cookies with jam and sprinkle with coconut.

Serves: 6

• Ingredients

1 1/2 cups heavy cream
6 ounces semi sweet chocolate, melted and cooled
1 1/2 pints strawberries, cleaned

• preparation

Whip the cream until firm. Fold in the melted chocolate.
Reserve 6 strawberries for garnish.
Puree remaining and strain.
Alternate strawberry puree and chocolate cream in parfait glasses. Top with whole strawberries. Serve cold.

Serves: 8

• Ingredients

For crust:
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup whole almonds, toasted
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold
2 teaspoons cold water

For filling:
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/2 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
3/4 cup chilled whipped cream, (divided into 1/4 cup and 1/2 cup)
5 ounces white chocolate
1 teaspoon grated lime peel
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons sour cream

Topping:
3 12-ounce baskets strawberries, washed, hulled, sliced
1/3 cup seedless raspberry jam

• preparation

Crust:
Preheat oven at 375 degrees.
Blend first 4 ingredients in processor until nuts are ground. Add butter cut into small pieces, and mix until dough has a fine texture. Blend in enough water until mixture forms a ball. Press dough evenly over bottom and up sides of tart pan. Freeze crust for 30 minutes. Bake until golden brown for about 30 minutes.
Filling:
In a small bowl, combine the lime juice and gelatin. Let stand for 10 minutes to soften. Bring 1/4 cup cream to simmer in medium saucepan. Stir in the white chocolate. Add gelatin mixture; stir to dissolve. Mix in peel. Chill until cold and beginning to thicken but not set, stirring often.
Whip sugar, sour cream and remaining 1/2 cup cream to medium-stiff peaks.
Fold whipped cream mixture into the white chocolate mixture. Spoon mousse into crust.
Chill until mousse sets, about 2 hours.
Arrange berries atop the mousse.
Melt jam in small saucepan over low heat. Brush jam over strawberries to glaze.

Serves: 8

The weight of air is a phenomenon most cooks seldom contemplate.
But if you live in Breckenridge or a host of other high-altitude locales, you'll face fallen cakes and overflowing batters if you don't adjust your recipe to the higher elevations. This birthday cake was specially designed to alleviate the uncertainties of high altitude baking.

• Ingredients

1 recipe
Spanish olive oil tortas
4 oz melted semi sweet chocolate
2 cups whipping cream
2 tablespoons instant vanilla pudding
4 (6-oz) containers fresh raspberries
white icing

• preparation

Make 5 8-inch round tortas according to the recipe
Mix 1/4 cup whipping cream with the melted chocolate
Combine remaining whipping cream with instant vanilla pudding and chocolate mixture in the mixing bowl of an electric mixer.
Beat at medium speed until cream is firm.
To assemble the cake:
Arrange one circle of tortas on a serving tray. spoon 1/4 of the cream over and top with raspberries. Continue the same process with the remaining tortas, cream and raspberries. Cover the top with white icing.

Serves: 10

• Ingredients

The Cocoa and Almond Sponge Cake :
Allows to make 2 squares 16x16 cm
- 3 egg-whites
- 40 gr sugar
- 3 egg yolks
- 30 gr flour
- 50 gr ground almonds
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder

The Praliné Feuillantine (Crispy Praline) :
- 100 gr praline paste
- 65 gr milk chocolate
- 50 gr crèpes dentelles (if not available use corn flakes or rice crispies)

The Chocolate Mousse :
- 200 gr dark chocolate
- 50 gr cream
- 4 sheets gelatin
- 3 egg-yolks
- 1 whole egg
- 50 gr sugar
- 2 tbsp water
- 350 gr cream

The Chocolate Glaze :
- 150 gr water
- 180 gr sugar
- 60 gr cocoa powder
- 6 gelatin sheets
- 100 gr cream

• preparation

The Cocoa and Almond Sponge Cake

Start beating the egg-whites and when it forms peaks add the sugar and keep beating until fluffy. Then the yolks, beat until homogeneous
Mix together the ground almonds, the flour and the cocoa then blend them into the meringue delicately
Spread this mixture over 2 sheets of baking paper, shape 2 squares a bit larger than 16x16 cm and put in a preheated oven (medium heat) for 7-10 minutes (according to your oven). Then leave to cool down for 5 minutes, remove from the baking paper (turn them upside down), reserve.

The Praliné Feuillantine (Crispy Praline)
Warm up the praline paste over a hot water bath, add the chocolate, stir until completely melted.
Crush the crèpes dentelles (or the corn flakes or even crispy rice), and mix them into the praline paste and chocolate.
Spread this mixture over a sheet of baking paper, try to shape a square 16x16 cm... Place in the freezer right away.

The Chocolate Mousse :
Hydrate the gelatin in cold water for 5 minutes. Melt the chocolate over a warm water bath. Heat up the 50 gr cream and add the gelatin (drained), stir until dissolved, then blend the cream into the chocolate, mix until homogeneous. We get a ganache. Leave to cool down, until it reaches about 30°C/86°F.
Place the yolks and the whole egg in a large bowl (glass or metal). Then prepare the syrup, gather the water and sugar in a pan and heat it up until it reaches 115°C/239°F, pour it right away in a thin stream over the eggs, whipping all the time until it reaches the room temperature. We get a smooth mousse. Blend delicately this mousse into the ganache. Then prepare the whipped cream with the 350 gr cream and fold it delicately as well into the previous mixture.

The Chocolate Glaze :
Hydrate the gelatin in cold water for about 5 minutes.
In a pan bring to the boil the water and sugar. Add the cocoa powder, mix until homogeneous. Add the gelatin (drained), mix until dissolved, then add the cream. Reserve (we want to use it below 30°C/86°F).

The Assembly :

Place one square of sponge cake in the middle of the cake frame. Place over it the crispy praline (still frozen). Then pour the chocolate mousse almost to the top.Place the second square of sponge cake, press a bit then cover with the rest of mousse to the top. Level with a large spatula. Put right away in the freezer for about 2 or 3 hours. This step will help to remove the cake from the cake frame and to set quickly the chocolate glaze.
Remove the cake from the freezer, and delicately from the cake frame.
Place the cake on a shelf and pour the chocolate glaze over it and leveling the top with a large spatula.

When the glaze is completely set, decorate as you want, here with some macaroons. Leave it at room temperature for 1 hour in order to defrost and then serve right away.

Serves: 14

• Ingredients

For the crust:
2 cups chocolate graham crackers crumbs
6 tablespoons (85 grams) unsalted butter, melted

For the filling:
8 ounces (227 grams) semisweet chocolate, chopped
24 ounces (680 grams) full fat cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup (200 grams) super fine sugar
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup (21 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
4 large eggs, at room temperature

For the topping:
5 oz (150 grams) semisweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup heavy cream

• preparation

For the crust:
Preheat the oven to 325°F. Process the cookies in the bowl of a food processor. Add the butter and pulse until moistened. Press into the bottom and halfway up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Let cool slightly.

For the filling:
Melt the chopped chocolate until smooth. Let cool.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth, about 1 minute. Add the sugar, cream, and cocoa powder and beat** until well combined. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating just until smooth. Beat in the melted chocolate until just combined. Do not to overbeat.

Pour the batter into the cooled crust. Place the springform pan on a rimmed baking sheet and bake for about 50 minutes, or until the top looks slightly dry and the middle is slightly wobbly. Turn off the oven and crack the oven door open and allow to cool for 10 minutes as this helps prevent cracking. Remove the cheesecake from the oven to a wire rack to cool to room temperature.

Refrigerate until completely chilled, at least 4 hours. Release the cheesecake from the pan onto a cake stand or serving plate.


For the topping:
Place the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. In a small saucepan, heat the cream just until simmering. Pour over the chocolate. Let sit for 3 minutes before stirring until the mixture is melted and smooth. If needed, allow to cool and thicken. Pour over the cheesecake.

** Do not overbeat the batter as it adds air which causes the cake to crack in the center when cooked as it cools.

Serves: 12

• Ingredients

Truffle Cream:
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1/3 cup whipping cream
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup crème de cassis
Cake:
1 3/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter
4 large egg yolks
1 cup buttermilk
Glaze:
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped (such as Valrhona)
1/4 cup unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup crème de cassis
fresh raspberries

• preparation

For truffle cream:
Stir chocolate, cream and butter in heavy saucepan, over low heat until chocolate and butter melt and mixture are smooth. Mix in liqueur. Let stand at room temperature until very thick and spreadable, stirring occasionally, about two hours.
For cake:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter 9-inch heart-shaped pan with 1 1/4-inch high sides. Dust with flour. Sift first four ingredients into bowl. At high speed beat sugar and butter until fluffy. Add yolks one at a time, beating just to combine after each addition.
With rubber spatula, mix in dry ingredients alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with dry ingredients.
Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake until tester inserted in center comes out clean, about thirty five minutes. Turn out onto rack and cool. Cut cake horizontally in half. Spread truffle cream over bottom layer. Arrange top layer over and press gently. Smooth cream on sides of cake if necessary. Chill at least one hour.
For Glaze:
Stir chocolate and butter in saucepan over low heat until melted and smooth. Remove from heat. Add corn syrup and liqueur and whisk until smooth. Let glaze stand until lightly thickened, stirring occasionally, about thirty minutes.
Place cake on rack. Pour glaze over cake, coating completely. Chill cake on rack until glaze is set, about thirty minutes.
Transfer cake to platter. Garnish with raspberries.

Serves: 12

• Ingredients

3 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1/2 cup soft butter or shortening
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar, granulated
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups walnuts, chopped
1/3 cup raspberry jam

chocolate glaze:
1 ounce unsweetened chocolate
2 teaspoons butter
2 teaspoons light corn syrup
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• preparation

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Melt chocolate with shortening over warm water; Cool. Blend together eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt; stir in chocolate mixture. Stir in flour. Fold in walnuts.
Turn into well greased 8 inch square pan. Bake for about 40 minutes. Spoon jam over hot brownies; spread carefully. Let cool.
Spread chocolate glaze over brownies and top with chocolate dipped walnuts, if desired.
Cut into 12 bars.
Chocolate glaze:
Melt unsweetened chocolate. Blend in butter and corn syrup. stir in powdered sugar, milk and vanilla. Mix well.

Serves: 20

Original recipe: Canadian Living

• Ingredients

3/4 cups walnut halves
1 1/4 cup icing sugar
1 cup butter softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cups white chocolate chips

• preparation

Line rimless baking sheets with parchment paper or leave ungreased; set aside.

In food processor, whirl walnut halves with 1/4 cup (50 mL) of the sugar until finely ground.

In large bowl, beat butter until fluffy; stir in nut mixture, then vanilla and salt. Stir in flour, 1 cup (250 mL) at a time. Sprinkle with chocolate chips; stir in. Shape by heaping teaspoonfuls (5 mL) into 1-inch (2.5 cm) balls. Arrange, 2 inches (5 cm) apart, on prepared pans. Cover lightly; chill until firm, about 30 minutes.

Bake in top and bottom thirds of 325?F (160?C) oven, rotating and switching pans halfway through, until bottoms are golden, about 22 minutes. Let rest on pans for about 3 minutes.

Sprinkle remaining icing sugar into shallow wide bowl. Working with about 6 cookies at a time, place, rounded side down, in sugar; roll to coat all sides. Place, right side up, on racks to let cool.

Press icing sugar through sieve to sift. Roll cookies again. (Make-ahead: Layer between waxed paper in airtight container and store at room temperature for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 1 month.)

Serves: 10

• Ingredients

10 ounces bittersweet chocolate, such as Caillebaut, or Valrhona, coarsely chopped
10 ounces sweet butter, soft
9 egg yolks
1/2 cup granulated sugar
5 egg whites
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
confectioners' sugar for dusting

• preparation

Preheat oven at 300 degrees.
Butter the inside of 10 3 1/4 -or 4-by 1-inch rings.
Use empty 6-oz pineapple cans, with tops, bottoms, and labels removed or use circles of same diameter. Set rings on a buttered baking sheet.
Melt chocolate on low heat or in double boiler. Set aside to cool. Cream the butter in an electric mixer. Beat in the cooled chocolate.
In a large bowl, beat the egg yolks with 6 teaspoons sugar until lemony colored. Beat in the chocolate mixture.
Beat egg whites with cream of tartar to form soft peaks. Add the remaining 2 teaspoons sugar and beat at high speed to hold soft peaks. Fold in the chocolate mixture.
Fill rings 1/2 full. Recipe can be made 3 hours ahead to this point.
Bake 15 to 20 minutes. Set baking sheet on a rack to cool. After 10 minutes.
Twist rings and remove from the tortes.
Transfer to dessert plates. Dust with sugar. Serve with ice cream. Drizzle with bittersweet chocolate sauce.
Bittersweet chocolate sauce:
In a medium saucepan, combine 5 oz bittersweet chocolate with 1 1/4 cups warm water. Melt chocolate on low heat.
Away from heat, whisk in 2 teaspoons sweet butter. Cool and refrigerate.