Aaaah, welcome February the month of amour. A time to show love to your family, friends, and of course your Sweetheart. One great way to say I love you is with rich, creamy, decadent, chocolate. My favorite Valentines Day desert has always been Julia Child’s Chocolate mousse. This recipe takes a little time but is well worth the effort. Bon appetit.
Ingredients
- 1 cup semisweet baking chocolate
- 4 tablespoons strong coffee
- 6 ounces soft unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks)
- 4 egg yolks 1/4 cup strong coffee
- 4 egg whites
- 3/4 cup instant superfine sugar
- 2 tablespoons instant superfine sugar
- whipped cream (optional)
Directions
- Place the chocolate and 4 Tbsp strong coffee in a small sauce pan and place in a pan of hot water. Stir for a minute or so until melting begins.
- Place egg yolks in a bowl and beat, adding the sugar in a thin stream. Continue beating until the mixture is thick, pale and forms a ribbon. Beat in the coffee. Set over a pan of almost simmering water and beat for an additional 5 minutes. Test with your finger to make sure the mixture is warmed through.
- Allow to cool. It should again form a ribbon and have the consistency of thick creamy mayonnaise. Stir the chocolate until smooth and gradually add the softened butter. When totally in corporate stir the mixture into the yolks and sugar.
- In a clean dry bowl beat the room temperature egg whites. Begin slowly and increase the speed until soft peaks are formed. Sprinkle with 2 TBSP of sugar and a pinch of salt. Continue beating until stiff peaks are formed.
- Fold 1/4 of the stiff egg whites into the chocolate mixture to lighten it. Scoop the remaining egg whites on top and delicately fold them inches.
- Place into a mold or serving dishes and chill for several hours or overnight.
- Serve with whipped cream if desired.