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Chocolate Mousse

This light, rich mousse literally melts in your mouth. It is a component of the Chocolate-Pear Cake (page 98), but you can serve it on its own.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 6 to 8

Ingredients

2

teaspoons dark rum

1

/2 teaspoon powdered gelatin (or 2.25g sheet gelatin; see page 276)

3

large egg yolks

Generous 1 tablespoon (14g) sugar

7

.8 ounces (225g) bittersweet chocolate (preferably Valrhona Manjari 64% cacao), chopped

2

cups (480g) heavy cream

Need to make a substitution?

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Measure the rum into a small glass bowl and sprinkle the gelatin on top.

    Step 2

    Put the egg yolks and sugar in the bowl of a standing mixer and set over a saucepan of simmering water; the bottom of the bowl should not touch the water. Whisk until the sugar has dissolved and the yolks have tripled in volume. Move the bowl to the standing mixer.

    Step 3

    Microwave the rum and gelatin for 30 seconds or heat gently in a saucepan until melted. Scrape into the egg yolks and beat with the whisk attachment until the mixture is slightly warmer than room temperature.

    Step 4

    Put the chocolate in a large heatproof bowl and melt in the microwave in 30-second bursts or over the pan of simmering water. Let the chocolate cool to 115°F.

    Step 5

    In a separate bowl, beat the cream to medium peaks.

    Step 6

    Fold half the cream into the chocolate. It will start to seize. Microwave for 10 seconds or so or put over the pan of simmering water to restore the temperature. Fold in the egg mixture, then fold in the rest of the cream.

    Step 7

    If you are making the chocolate-pear cake, use the mousse while it is at room temperature. Spoon leftovers into small bowls or ramekins, cover with plastic wrap, and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

    Step 8

    If you are serving the mousse on its own, spoon it into 6 to 8 small bowls or ramekins, cover with plastic, and chill for at least 2 hours before serving.

Reprinted with permission from Dessert Fourplay: Sweet Quartets from a Four-Star Pastry Chef by Johnny Iuzzini and Roy Finamore. Copyright © 2008 by Johnny Iuzzini and Roy Finamore. Published by Crown Publishing. All Rights Reserved. Johnny Iuzzini,, executive pastry chef of the world-renowned Jean Georges restaurant in New York City, won the award for Outstanding Pastry Chef from the James Beard Foundation in 2006. This is his first book. Roy Finamore, a publishing veteran of more than thirty years, has worked with many bestselling cookbook authors. He is the author of three books: One Potato, Two Potato; Tasty, which won a James Beard Foundation award; and Fish Without a Doubt.__