Profiteroles (GF) (LF)

Profiteroles are always a delicious favourite. These are gluten-free and filled with dairy-free creme patisserie, topped with a drizzle of melted chocolate, strawberry coulis and served with a side of strawberries... how can you go wrong? I made these for dessert when I visited my brother and sister-in-law for dinner and they loved them. As an experiment I made pear creme patisserie and filled a few with that for a more indulgent treat.

Profiteroles

 
INGREDIENTS:
Profiteroles:
55g margarine
70g rice flour
125ml water
2 eggs

Soy Creme Patisserie:
450ml soy milk
55g caster sugar
55g cornflour
2 eggs


METHOD:
For the creme patisserie:
Whisk all ingredients in a pan and cook over a medium heat until thick.
Remove from heat and cover with non-stick baking paper.
Refrigerate for at least an hour.

To make pear creme patisserie:
Stew 3 pears until soft, puree and add to creme patisserie with 1/4 cup of softly whipped cream.

Creme Patisserie, Pear Puree and Cream

 For the Profiteroles:
Preheat oven to 220 degrees Celsius.
Heat water and margarine for profiteroles in a pan.
Once boiling, remove from heat.
Add flour and beat with a wooden spoon until mixture leaves the side of the pan.

Profiterole Mix - Ready for eggs to be added

Beat eggs in one at a time.

Profiterole Mix - Just after 2 eggs have been added

 Continue beating until mix is smooth and shiny.
Place mixture into a piping bag and pipe rounds onto a baking tray lined with non-stick baking paper.
Bake for 25 minutes or until puffed up and golden.

Profiteroles - Just out of the oven

When ready, remove profiteroles from oven and quickly pierce the base of them with a cross.

Profiterole - Cross in the base

Leave to cool on a wire rack.
Once cooled fill the profiteroles with the creme patisserie.
Serve with fresh strawberries and a drizzle of melted chocolate and strawberry coulis.

Enjoy!


Tips and tricks:
- Just omit the cream if you want to make dairy-free creme patisserie

Creme Patisserie and Pear Puree

 - Leave about 5cm between each piped profiterole to give them room to expand
- If you're after a rustic look, just drop tablespoonfuls of mix onto the tray rather than piping
- The cross in the base after cooking the profiteroles is to allow steam to escape, preventing them from going soggy so you can just stab a hole in the side if you aren't too worried about presentation.

Frozen Rocky Road (LF)

Frozen Rocky Road is a recipe I made up as a quick dairy free dessert for Christmas this year. Having moved away from where our families live, we always have to travel to be with them for Christmas so when my sister suggested I make a dessert to contribute to the Christmas feast I said "sure" and quickly put my thoughts into what I could easily make in my mum's not so well equipped kitchen on short notice. Then 'BOOM!'  Frozen Rocky Road was born. It's chocolate frozen goodness with chewy dried fruit, crunchy hokey pokey(honeycomb) chunks and nutty nuts. Delicious!

Frozen Rocky Road

INGREDIENTS:
5 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp golden syrup
1/2 tsp baking soda
200 g dairy-free chocolate
90g blanched almonds
90g shelled pistachios
150g margarine
85g dried cranberries
100g dried apricots


METHOD:
Lay a silicon mat onto a cookie sheet and brush with vegetable oil.
Melt sugar and golden syrup in a saucepan over low heat.
When sugar mix is 115 degrees celcius or is a caramel gold colour turn the heat up to high.
Quickly whisk in the baking soda and pour mixture onto prepared silicon mat.
 

Hokey Pokey (Honeycomb)

 Let it cool for 30 minutes, remove the hokey pokey from the tray and chop into chunk sized pieces.

Hokey Pokey Chunks

Line a loaf tin with at least 4 layers of cling film, ensuring it overhangs the sides of the tin enough to cover over the mix when it's full.
Chop up the almonds and pistachios then mix together with cranberries and apricots. Set aside.

Dried Fruit

Chopped Almonds

Break up the chocolate into a heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water.
Add margarine to chocolate and stir together until melted together.

Chocolate & Margarine Mix

 
Take off the heat and add the chopped nuts and dried fruit.

Rocky Road Mix

Spoon and press into prepared loaf tin.
Fold overhanging cling film over the rocky road mix.

Rocky Road Mix Set in Loaf Tin

Freeze overnight or at least 6 hours.
Remove frozen rocky road from tin, unwrap cling film and cut into slices.
Serve with fresh summer fruit like strawberries and raspberries.

Enjoy!

Tips and Tricks:
- Work quickly once you add the baking soda to the sugar mix when making the hokey pokey otherwise you may end up with a sticky claggy mess in your pot to clean up.

-If you do end up with a sticky hard goo in your pot or on your utensils just rinse it hot water and the mix will dissolve off.

-Keep a large glass of hot water handy whilst making the hokey pokey so you can easily dissolve the sugar mix off your thermometer in between measuring and stirring.

-Make sure your silicon mat is brushed well with vegetable oil so the hokey pokey easily slides off. Baking paper is not a good alternative.

-Once the frozen rocky road is set; the slices can be kept in the fridge sif you prefer the slices to be firm but nit rock hard.

Vegan Chocolate Fudge Cake (LF) (GF)

Vegan Chocolate Fudge Cake is just yum! I made it for my birthday cake this year and of course it's dairy-free and lactose-free so my awesome partner could help me devour it. As a bonus it's also gluten-free! Here I served it with dairy-free creme patissiere, berry coulis, strawberries and a sprig of mint. Amazingly simple and quick to make, it even kept moist for 3 days. I can't wait for an excuse to make another.

Vegan Chocolate Fudge Cake

 

INGREDIENTS:

190g rice flour
145g maize cornflour
60g almond meal
1 1/4 tsp xanthan gum
380g sugar
80g cocoa powder
3 tsp baking soda
2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla essence
500ml cold water
150ml coconut oil, melted
1 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar

METHOD:

Turn on oven to bake at 180 degrees celcius.

Line two 24cm x 15 cm loaf tins with non-stick cooking paper.

In a bowl mix together rice flour, cornflour, almond meal, xanthan gum, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt.

Add the vanilla essence, water, coconut oil and vinegar. Mix well.

Pour mixture evenly into loaf tins.

Bake for 30 minutes or until an inserted skewer comes out clean.

Serve with Creme patissiere, strawberries and berry coulis.

Enjoy!

Chocolate Raspberry Tarts (LF)

Chocolate Raspberry Tarts are little morsels of awesomeness! Topped with epic vegan raspberry jelly and filled with dairy free chocolate mousse you just have to go back for one more. Substitute the sweet short crust pastry (base) with a vegan alternative such as the base from my Chocolate Mousse Cake Recipe to make this an amazing vegan dessert.

Chocolate Raspberry Tarts

INGREDIENTS:

For Base:
1 2/3 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup sugar
10 tbsp dairy-free margarine
1 tsp vanilla
2 tsp water
2 egg yolks

For Filling:
350g silken tofu
350g vegan chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla essence

For Raspberry Jelly:
1 cup raspberries
1/4 cup water
4 tbsp sugar
1 tsp agar agar powder

METHOD:

Turn on oven to bake at 180 degrees celcius

For Base:
Put flour, salt and sugar into a bowl.
Add margarine and rub until mixture is like breadcrumbs.
Add vanilla, water and egg yolks.
Mix together and knead into a soft smooth ball of dough.
Place in fridge for at least 15 minutes.
Roll out pastry to about 2-3mm thickness.
Cut circles out of the pastry to line the holes in a mini-muffin tray.
Bake blind for 8 minutes. Remove baking blind material and bake for 1 minute.
Remove from oven tray and set aside to cool.
Continue to bake pastry cups until pastry is used up.

For Filling:
Place tofu and vanilla essence into a blender or food processor.
Over a double boiler, melt chocolate.
Add melted chocolate to blender and quickly start whizzing the mixture until smooth.
Spoon into the cooled bases.

Place into fridge for at least 2 hours or until set.

For the Jelly:
Put raspberries and water into a small saucepan.
Mash the raspberries into the water with a fork.
Add the sugar and bring to the boil.
Add agar agar powder and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
Place a non-stick silicon mat into a large flat bottomed tray (such as a swiss roll tin).
Pour raspberry jelly mixture onto mat and refrigerate overnight or until set.
Cut small shapes from the jelly and layer over the set chocolate tarts - I used a square cutter and two jelly layers to give the tarts some height.

Makes 48 bite-sized tarts.

Quick Tips:
- I don't have a double boiler so to melt the chocolate I use a glass or metal bowl on top of a saucepan of boiling water - just need to be careful of the steam, I often wear an oven glove on the hand holding the bowl.
 - You can also use a microwave to melt the chocolate by microwaving in stints of no more than 20 seconds at a time (often much less once heated through), stirring in between each stint.
 - Make sure you start whizzing the filling mixture as soon as the melted chocolate has been added because the chocolate will start cooling and solidifying as soon as you add it.

Enjoy!

Vanilla Cupcakes (GF) (LF)

Vanilla cupcakes - yum! Classic sweetie goodness. Bonus with these ones is they're gluten free and lactose free yet still very soft, fluffy and delicious. I made a batch to celebrate a friend's birthday only to have to make another so I could blog them here.

Gluten Free Vanilla Cupcakes

INGREDIENTS:
130g margarine
130g caster sugar
125g rice flour
1tsp xantham gum
2 eggs
1tsp vanilla essence
2tsp baking powder

METHOD:
Preheat oven to 180 degrees celcius.
Cream margarine and sugar until fluffy and pale.
Mix flour with xantham gum and baking powder.
Fold half the flour and one egg in to the margarine/sugar mixture.
Fold remaining egg and flour into the mixture.
Fold in vanilla essence.
Line a cupcake tin with patty cases.
Fill cases 3/4 full and bake for 12-15 minutes.
Remove when golden or an inserted skewer comes out clean.
Cool the cupcakes on a wire rack.

For vanilla icing:
Cream 100g margarine with 100g icing sugar until light and fluffy.
Mix in 1tsp vanilla. (Add 50g sifted cocoa if chocolate icing required).
Spread over cooled cupcakes.

Enjoy!

Just desserts here

Chocolate Cherry Mousse Cake

Chocolate Cherry Mousse Cake is like a combination of desserts...black forest gateaux and chocolate mousse. I think it works well and most of it was destroyed at the girl's night I made it for. It is a bit of effort to make but I loved the challenge and thoroughly enjoyed the result. 

Chocolate Cheery Mousse Cake

INGREDIENTS:

For Chocolate Genose Sponge:
75g flour, sifted
60g cocoa, sifted
4 size 6 eggs
125g castar sugar
30g melted butter

For Cherries:
400g of pitted cheeries, from a jar or tin.
150g castar sugar
Zest of 1 orange
2 cloves

For Chocolate Mousse:

500mL milk
125g castar sugar
1 vanilla pod, split and seeds scraped.
200g dark chocolate (at least 50% cocoa solids)
6 eggs yolks (size 6 eggs)


METHOD:

For the chocolate genose:
Preheat oven to 190 degrees celcius
Grease and line a 23cm springform cake tin

Whisk eggs and sugar together in a bowl for about 15 minutes or until the misture leaves trails when you lift the whisk.
Fold in flour and cocoa.
Add melted butter and fold into mixture until just combined.
Pour into prepared tin.
Bake for 30 minutes or until springy to the touch.
Remove from oven and invert onto a wire rack to cool.

For the cherries:
Put cheeries into a saucepan, cover with juice from the can/tin, add water if necessary to ensure the cherries are covered.
Add sugar, orange zest and cloves.
Over medium heat stir until sugar has dissolved.
Remove from heat and leave until required.

For the Chocolate Mousse:
Make a creme anglaise... slowly bringing to the boil, the milk, two-thirds of the sugar, vanilla seeds and the vanilla pod in a saucepan.
Whisk egg yolks and remaining sugar in bowl until pale and leaves a light trail when the whisk is lifted.
Whilst whisking, pour hot milk mixture into egg yolk mixture, then pour back into saucepan.
Cook over a low heat but do not allow it to boil or it may curdle.
Once it thickens and lightly coats the back of a spoon, remove from the heat.
Break up the chocolate and place ina bowl.
When the creme anglaise is 75 - 85 degrees celcius, pour onto the chocolate and stir with a wooden spoon.
Whisk until smooth.
Whip the cream in another bowl until a trail is left when the whisk is lifted out.
Fold the cream into the chocolate mixture until just combined.

To Assemble:
Drain the cherries, discarding the cloves and orange zest.
Pour syrup into a saucepan and bring to the boil then remove from the heat.
Split the chocolate genose sponge horizontally and soak the cut sides with hot syrup.
Place outer ring of the springform pan on a flat plate.
Place top half of sponge, cut side up int he ring.
Spread a layer of chocolate mousse over the sponge about 1.5cm thick.
Evenly scatter the cherries over the mousse - reserving a dozen for serving.
Place second sponge, cut side down, on top and lightly press down.
Spread a thin layer of mousse on top.
Place int he fridge to set for at least 4 hours, until ready to serve.

To Serve:
Soak a tea towel in hot water, wring out and wrap around the tin then slowly lift off the outer ring.
Scatter chocolate shavings over the top of the cake and around the sides.
Dip a sharp knife into hot water, quick wipe dry, and cut the mousse cake into 12. Cleaning and dipping the knife into hot water between each slice.
Serve with a cherry on top and a quinelle of cream or fresh fruit to cut through the rich chocolate goodness.

Tips:
-Make sure the genose sponge is soaked as much as possible to give a moist and delicious result.
-Fresh cherries can be used too, just simmer them with the sugar, orange zest and cloves until they are soft.
-This can be made the day before serving and the leftovers kept in the fridge for the following day (ie lasts for 2 days).

Enjoy!

Just desserts here

Chocolate Mousse Cake Recipe (GF) (LF)

Chocolate Mousse Cake is yummy but a bit different. Similar in texture to cheesecake, you'll love this one if you're lactose-intolerant. Again, amazingly it's also gluten-free and vegan - no animal products here. I used 4 mini-springform pans here but a single 20-24cm springform pan can be used. 

Chocolate Mousse Cake

INGREDIENTS:

For Base:
2 cup ground almonds
1/2 cup ground toasted pecans
1/2 cup almond meal
4 tbsp melted margarine
1/2 tsp baking soda

For Filling:
1 pkt (~320g) silken tofu
2 cups (~340g) vegan chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla essence

For Garnish:
Berries such as blueberries, raspberries, boysenberries etc

METHOD:

For Base:
Preheat oven to 180 degrees celcius.
Lightly oil 4 mini-springform pans [or a single 20-24cm springform pan]
Combine almond and pecan ingredients into a bowl.
Mix in baking soda.
Stir in melted margarine.
Press into springform pan(s) using the back of a spoon.

Pressing in the base...

Bake for 10 minutes.
Remove from oven and leave to cool.

For Filling:
Place tofu and vanilla essence into a blender (or food processor with an 's' blade).
Over a double boiler, melt chocolate.
Add melted chocolate to blender and quickly start whizzing the mixture until smooth.
Spoon into cooled bases in the springform pans and level off with a spatula.

Adding the Filling

Place into fridge for at least 2 hours or until set.

All filled, levelled off and now in the fridge to set

To remove, gently warm the outside of the tin before removing outer ring of the pan.
Serve with a mixture of berries.

Quick Tips:
- I don't have a double boiler so to melt the chocolate I use a glass or metal bowl on top of a saucepan of boiling water - just need to be careful of the steam, I often wear an oven glove on the hand holding the bowl.
 - You can also use a microwave to melt the chocolate by microwaving in stints of no more than 20 seconds at a time (often much less once heated through), stirring in between each stint.
 - Make sure you start whizzing the filling mixture as soon as the melted chocolate has been added because the chocolate will start cooling and solidifying as soon as you add it.
- If you don't have berries, fresh oranges can be used; this is more than just garnish, it helps to cut through the richness of the chocolate filling by giving a refreshing fruity burst.

Enjoy!

Chocolate Fudge Cookies Recipe (LF)

Chocolate Fudge Cookies are soft, chewy and delicous! Perfect to satisfy most sweet tooths. With dried fruit bits and chocolate chunks every mouthful contains a pleasant surprise. Bonus is, this recipe can be made lactose-free by ensuring lactose-free chocolate and margarine are used. Make them and eat them fast because they definitely won't last!

Chocolate Fudge Cookie Stack!

INGREDIENTS:
125g margarine
1 tsp vanilla essence
275g brown sugar
1 egg
1 cup flour
1/4 cup self-raising flour
1 tsp baking soda
30g cocoa powder
1/2 cup sultanas
1/2 cup diced dried apricots
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup dark chocolate melts

METHOD:

Preheat oven to 180 degrees celcius and line 2 baking trays with baking paper.
Beat margarine, sugar, vanilla and egg in a bowl until smooth
Sift flours, baking soda and cocoa into the mixture.
Stir mixture together then add fruit and chocolate.
Put round spoonfuls of mixture onto the trays about 4cm apart; gently pressing each one flat.
Bake for 10 minutes.
Stand cookies for 5 minutes to cool before transfering to a wire rack to cool completely.


TIPS:
 - Try to leave ample space around each cookie when placed onto the tray because as they cook in the oven, they will spread out quite generously.
- It is quite a sticky mixture and can be difficult to drop portions onto the trays. I use two tablespoons, one to scoop and drop and the other to scrap it off.

Enjoy!

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Chocolate Walnut Cake Recipe (LF) (GF)

Chocolate Walnut Cake is soft, moist, crumbly and delicious. Full of chocolate bits, walnut pieces and covered in rich chocolate icing, this cake is indulgent yet surprisingly light. With the omission of standard flour in favour of rice flour and almond meal, this recipe is gluten-free as well as lactose-free. Just be sure to use gluten-free and lactose-free dark chocolate.

Chocolate Walnut Cake

INGREDIENTS:

140g margarine
140g caster sugar
85g dark chocolate (lactose-free, gluten-free), coarsely chopped
3 eggs, beaten
30g ground almonds
pinch of salt
100g rice flour
1 heaped teaspoon of baking powder
115g walnuts, roughly chopped
1tbsp strong black coffee

Icing Ingredients:
100g dark chocolate (lactose-free, gluten-free)
30g margarine
Walnut halves


METHOD:

Preheat oven 180 degrees celcius.
Cream margarine and sugar until pale and fluffy.
Slowly add eggs, flour, almonds and salt. Mix briefly.
Fold in baking powder, chopped chocolate, chopped walnuts and coffee.
Spoon mix into a greased and lined 20cm square or round springform pan.
Bake for 30 minutes or until firm to touch.
Cool inside tin for 15 minutes. Then lift out, remove the base with lining and put onto wire rack until cold.
Peel off lining.
Melt chocolate for icing with margarine in a bowl in the microwave. Stir until smooth.
Spread icing over cake and top off with walnuts placed around the edge.
Cut and place in airtight container until required

Enjoy!

Just desserts here 

Dark Chocolate Cupcakes Recipe (LF)

Chocolate cupcakes are just perfect for afternoon tea or as a treat when feeling a little peckish. These are made with lactose-free dark chocolate and lactose-free margarine then topped off with sprinkles and dairy-free chocolate butter cream icing (the recipe for which can be found here). Making them a special treat for my lactose intolerant partner.

Chocolate Cupcakes with Sprinkles and Dairy-Free Butter Cream Icing

INGREDIENTS:

150g margarine
200g dark chocolate (lactose-free)
185g self-raising flour
30g cocoa powder
285g caster sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
185ml water
Dairy-free Chocolate Butter Cream Icing

METHOD:

Sift flour and cocoa into a large bowl; set aside.
In a heat proof bowl, add margarine and chocolate.
Sit bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, making sure the bowl does not touch the water.
Stir the mixture constantly until melted.
Combine margarine and chocolate mixture with sugar, eggs and water. Mix well.
Add chocolate mixture to flour and cocoa.
Stir until well combined.
Heat oven to 180 degrees celcius.
Line 20 standard muffin holes with paper cases.
Divide mixture evenly among the cases.
Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean.
Transfer onto a wire rack.

Once cooled, ice with butter cream icing and top off with sprinkles or chocolate hail.

Makes 20.

Enjoy!

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Chocolate Almond Torte Recipe (GF)

This Chocolate Almond Torte is a gluten free, moist and irresistable dessert. Served cold with cream it's perfect to accompany a great cup of coffee with friends. For a more decadant dessert, create a Sachertorte by brushing the surface with 2 tablespoons of apricot or raspberry jam then a generous spread of chocolate icing. To ensure it is gluten free be sure to check that the chocolate you use does not use gluten flours as a thickener.

Chocolate and Almond Torte

INGREDIENTS:
310g dark chocolate
115g margarine
100g caster sugar
100g ground almonds
5 eggs (size 6), separated
55g corn bread crumbs

METHOD:
Preheat oven to 180 degree celcius.
Melt chocolate in microwave until just melting; stir until smooth.
Cream margarine and sugar together until well combined.
Mix in egg yolks, ground almonds and bread crumbs.
Fold into mixture the melted chocolate.
Whisk egg whites until dry.
Fold egg whites into mixture.
Pour mixture into and greased and baking paper lined 23cm springform tin.
Bake for 40 minutes.
Remove from oven and leave to cool for 45 minutes.
Remove from tin and dust with icing sugar.

Enjoy!

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Feijoa Cake Recipe

Lovely and moist, this feijoa cake recipe topped off with chocolate butter cream icing it's absolutely delicious. The addition of sultanas and cinnamon compliments the fruitful feijoas perfectly giving a great feijoa dessert.

Feijoa cake with chocolate butter cream icing

INGREDIENTS:
300g self-raising flour
1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
110g brown sugar
110g raw sugar
50g sultanas
110g butter, melted
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
175ml milk
250g feijoas, peeled and chopped
Chocolate butter cream icing (see Dairy-free Chocolate Butter Cream icing for a great recipe)

METHOD:
Preheat oven to 180 degrees celcius.
Lightly grease and line a 20cm round or square cake pan with baking paper.
Sift flour, cinnamon and salt into a bowl.
Stir in the sugars and sultanas.
Mix in the butter, eggs, milk and feijoas.
Beat until smooth.
Pour the mixture into the prepared pan.
Bake for 35-45 minutes, or until the cake springs back when lightly pressed.
Turn onto a wire rack to cool.
Once cool, frost with butter cream icing.

Enjoy!

Just desserts here 

Chocolate Wassant Recipe

Chocolate wassants have a tasty crust that conceals a soft sweet bread swirled with chocolate. Great as a snack as well as an after dinner treat. This recipe is similar to that found at My Little Space with a couple of small changes and added details. The recipe for the chocolate paste used can be found here or for a version that is made from cocoa powder try the recipe found here

Chocolate Wassants - Fresh out of the oven

INGREDIENTS:
Starter Dough:
225g    flour
1 tsp    dried yeast
100ml    luke-warm water

Main Dough:
225g flour
100g  sugar
1 egg
60ml   water
70g  butter, melted
1 tsp  salt

1 batch of Chocolate Paste

METHOD:
For starter dough, sift flour into a bowl. Dissolve yeast in water and add to flour, mix/knead until just combined. Cover and leave in a warm place for about an hour or until doubled in size.
For main dough, sift flour into a bowl. Add sugar, egg, water, butter and salt.
Break risen starter dough into pieces and add to main dough.
Mix to form a soft dough, cover and leave in warm place for about an hour or until doubled in size.
On a floured surface, knead dough until smooth then roll out dough to a size that is larger than your chocolate paste.

Chocolate Paste in the middle of Wassant dough

Place chocolate paste in middle, then one third either side into the middle, then in half.

Folding one third into the middle form either side

Folding in half

Rolling out the dough after folding

Roll out to about 20 x 30 cm then fold and roll out again.

Folding one third into the middle

Folding the one third from the other side into the middle

Folding in half

Do this folding and rolling at least one more time.
Then roll out to 30 x 40 cm rectangle and cut into triangles.
Roll up dough like swiss rolls and place on a baking tray lined with baking paper
Rest for 30-40 minutes

Chocolates wassants ready to go in the oven

Brush rolls with egg wash and bake at 180 degrees celcius for 20 minutes or until brown.

Chocolate Wassants

Enjoy!

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Chocolate Paste Recipe

Inspired by My Little Space I decided to try making home made chocolate paste. This version is based on the recipe found here just with a couple of little changes and added details. Easy to make, just gotta have a little patience! Is perfect for making Chocolate Wassants.

Chocolate Paste - Ready to be bagged and refrigerated

INGREDIENTS:
2 egg whites
100g  sugar
50g  flour
10g  corn flour
2 tbsp  milk
150g  chocolate, chopped.

METHOD:
Combine egg whites, sugar, flour, cornflour and milk in a saucepan. Mix well
Add chocolate and heat mixture on a very low heat until chocolate has melted.
Heat mixture on a low-medium heat until thickened, stir continuously.
When mixture is a paste like consistency, remove from heat and leave to cool.
Transfer to a plastic bag and refrigerate for at least an hour until set.

Chocolate Paste: Ready for use in Chocolate Wassants after an hour in the fridge

TIPS:

• Make sure you melt the chocolate into the mixture on a very low heat; alternatively you could melt the chocolate in the microwave first then add to the rest of the mixture.
• Be patient when waiting for the mixture to thicken; too much heat and you're running the risk of burning or splitting the mixture

Enjoy!

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Chocolate and Pistachio Bavarois (GF) Recipe

Full of chocolate, rich and delicate with a soft, smooth texture and intriguing crunchy bits; this is definitely one of those desserts that will delight most tastebuds. Orange Marsala Sauce and a few orange segments on the side are a must to cut through the richness of the bavarois.

This dessert is so good, my partner keeps helping himself despite his lactose intolerance and it even converted a 'mousse-like' desserts hater. I have yet to find someone who dislikes this one!

Warning: I have been told that some brands of chocolate use gluten flours as a thickener so you may like to check the ingredients of the chocolate you intend to use if you are specifically making it gluten free.

Chocolate and Pistachio Nut Bavarois with Orange Marsala Sauce and Orange Segments

INGREDIENTS:
255g dark chocolate
140g margarine
4 eggs
55g caster sugar
100g Pistachio nuts
A pinch of salt

METHOD:
Brush ramekins with sunflower oil and line with a circle of baking paper.
Melt chocolate with margarine in the microwave unitil just soft. Stir the mixture until smooth
Separate eggs and put egg whites into a large bowl. Place egg yolks into a food processor or blender with the sugar and beat until thick and creamy. Stir this into the chocolate mixture, followed by the nuts.
Beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Fold them into the chocolate mixture using a metal spoon.
Divide mixture into prepared ramekins.
Cover with clingfilm and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or until firmly set.

Just prior to serving, remove cling film and dip the ramekins briefly in hot water to loosen the bavarois, then turn them out onto the centre of a plate. Serve with Orange Marsala Sauce and orange segments on the side.

Enjoy!

Chocolate and Raspberry Tart Recipe

This Chocolate and Raspberry tart is a rich and decadant dessert. I suggest serving this with fresh fruit on the side to help 'cut through' the richness. The biggest challenge is definitely making and rolling the pasrty out but I've blogged previously on the recipe I use and how to make the process of making Pate Sablee more bearble. (see Pate Sablee Post Here) Enjoy!

Chocolate and Raspberry Tart - Presented with all its glory

I used 70% cocoa solids chocolate but anything from 45% to 74% can be used. Depends on what you like I guess. If using frozen raspberries, make sure they are well defrosted to prevent the pastry getting all soggy.

INGREDIENTS
280g Pate Sablee (see Pate Sablee Post Here)
200g fresh raspberries (or frozen ones, defrosted and well-drained)
250mL whipping cream
200g dark chocolate, in small pieces
25g liquid glucose
50g butter, in small pieces

METHOD:
Roll out pastry to ~3mm thick and use it to line a 22cm tart tin. Put onto a baking tray and place in fridge for 20 minutes.
Preheat oven to 190 degrees celcius, prick pastry base and bake blind for 20 minutes. Remove baking blind material, lower oven to 180 degrees celcius and bake for another 5 minutes.
Transfer to a wire rack and leave until cool enough to handle then lift off tart ring.
When cold, arrange raspberries in the pasrty case.
Bring cream slowly to the boil on a medium heat. Remove from the heat and add chocolate. Use a whisk to mix it in.
Add the glucose, and when smooth, add the butter a little at a time.
Pour mixture over raspberries to fill pastry case. Leave to cool then chill in fridge for at least 2 hours, before serving.
Use a very sharp knife dipped in hot water to cut the tart, wiping between each slice.
This tart is best cut straight out of the fridge but best served once it has rested for 5-10 minutes at room temperature.

Serve with a dollap of cream and fresh fruit on the side.

Enjoy!

A tart in the making

One finished tart

The first piece