Mousse-Filled Chocolate Hearts
- 10 ounces good-quality white chocolate (such as Lindt or Baker's), chopped
- 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
- 7 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
- 1 ounce unsweetened chocolate, chopped
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
- 2 large egg whites
- 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1/2 cup chilled whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Turn two 15x10-inch baking sheets bottom side up.
- Dab butter on corners.
- Cover each pan bottom with parchment paper; press paper into butter to anchor.
- Stir white chocolate in top of double boiler over barely simmering water until melted.
- Spread white chocolate over 1 sheet of parchment.
- Stir semisweet chocolate in clean top of double boiler over simmering water until melted.
- Spread semisweet chocolate over second sheet of parchment.
- Chill both sheets until chocolates are dry but still slightly flexible when edge of parchment is lifted, about 3 minutes for dark chocolate and 5 minutes for white chocolate (do not let chocolate harden completely).
- Press heart-shaped cookie cutter about 3 inches long by 3 inches wide into chocolate, forming 12 hearts on each sheet (do not move or lifts hearts).
- Chill until firm, about 30 minutes.
- Combine both chocolates and butter in small saucepan.
- Stir over low heat until smooth.
- Cool slightly.
- Combine sugar, 2 tablespoons water and corn syrup in heavy small saucepan.
- Stir over low heat until sugar dissolves.
- Increase heat; boil until candy thermometer registers 238F, tilting pan if necessary to submerge bulb of thermometer and brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush, about 4 minutes.
- Meanwhile, using electric mixer, beat egg whites and cream of tartar in large bowl until soft peaks form.
- Gradually add boiling syrup to whites, beating until firm peaks form and meringue is completely cool, about 5 minutes.
- Gradually fold lukewarm chocolate mixture into cooled meringue.
- Beat cream and vanilla in small bowl until firm peaks form.
- Fold into chocolate mixture.
- Chill until cold, about 1 hour.
- (Hearts and mousse can be made 1 day ahead.
- Cover separately; keep chilled.)
- Turn 1 sheet of hearts out onto work surface.
- Peel off parchment.
- Cut around hearts, if necessary, to free from sheet of chocolate.
- Place on baking sheet and chill; transfer trimmings to small saucepan and reserve.
- Repeat cutting out hearts from second sheet, reserving trimmings in another small saucepan.
- Arrange 12 hearts on baking sheet.
- Spread 1/4 cup of mousse over each, leaving 1/2-inch border.
- Top each with another chocolate heart.
- Refrigerate.
- Using fork, stir dark chocolate trimmings over very low heat just until melted.
- Using another fork, stir white chocolate trimmings over very low heat just until melted.
- Using another fork, stir white chocolate trimmings over very low heat just until melted.
- Dip tines of fork into dark chocolate; wave fork over hearts to form pattern.
- Repeat with white chocolate.
- Chill 1 hour to 8 hours.
- Serve cold.
white chocolate, chocolate, chocolate, chocolate, unsalted butter, sugar, water, light corn syrup, egg whites, cream of tartar, chilled whipping cream, vanilla
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/mousse-filled-chocolate-hearts-1169 (may not work)