Baileys Irish Cream tiramisu

May 3, 2015September 7, 2022 Belinda

Do you have that bottle of Baileys Irish Cream lurking at the back of the booze cupboard you occasionally stumble upon, think about, then return to the back of the cupboard?
Well get it out because here is the best use I know for it.

9 teaspoons instant espresso powder dissolved in 1½ cups water (cooled)
1 cup Baileys Irish Cream
14 oz Savoiardi cookies
2 large eggs
⅓ cup superfine sugar
1 lb mascarpone cheese
2 ½ teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder

Mix the coffee with ¾ cup of the Baileys in a shallow bowl. Dip the cookies into this liquid; let them soak on each side enough to become damp but not soggy. Line the bottom of an 8½ inch square glass dish with a layer of cookies.

Separate the eggs, but keep only one of the whites. Whisk the two yolks and the sugar together until thick and a paler yellow, then fold in the remaining ¼ cup of Baileys, and the mascarpone to make a mousse-like mixture.

Whisk the single egg white until thick and frothy; you can do this by hand with such a little amount. Fold the egg white into the “yolky” mascarpone, and then spread half of this mixture on top of the layer of cookies.

Repeat with another layer of soaked savoiardi, and then top with the remaining mascarpone mixture.

Cover the dish with clingfilm and leave in the fridge overnight. When you are ready to serve, push the unsweetened cocoa through a small tea strainer to dust the top of the tiramisu.

Asian flavors · Beverage · Breakfast · Chocolate · Fruit · Gluten Free

Spiced Mocha Lassi

January 17, 2015February 8, 2016 Belinda

This is a terrific recipe from Bobby Flay and the only thing you need to do in advance is make the spiced coffee ice cubes. They are well worth having in the freezer as the flavors are incredible when you drop a cube into this drink. A wonderful and different breakfast drink.

Serves 4

SPICED COFFEE ICE CUBES:

2 cups hot espresso
1/4 cup sugar
1 strip orange peel
8 whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
2-inch piece fresh ginger, roughly chopped

LASSI:

3/4 cup to 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (or more to thin down the drink)
1 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
1 ripe banana, peeled and chopped
2 tablespoons Dutch-processed cocoa powder

Make the spiced coffee ice cubes:
Combine the espresso, sugar, orange peel, cloves, cinnamon sticks and ginger in a medium bowl until the sugar dissolves.
Cool to room temperature, and then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours. Strain the coffee mixture through a fine-mesh sieve set over a large bowl and discard the solids. Divide the mixture among 2 ice cube trays and freeze until solid, at least 2 hours.

Make the lassi:
Add 3/4 cup orange juice, the yogurt, banana and cocoa powder to a blender and puree until smooth (if you’d like the lassi to be a bit thinner, blend in the remaining 1/4 cup orange juice).
Add a few spiced ice cubes to the blender and puree. Pour the lassi into glasses and add 2 more spiced ice cubes to each glass.
Serve immediately.

Chocolate · Dessert · Do-ahead

Mocha chocolate refrigerator cake

July 17, 2014September 8, 2022 Belinda

I just love making these sort of desserts, especially in the summer and they are so easy when you can make them several days before and have them hanging out in the refrigerator.
This one is divine and a must to make. Also a great party cake.

Serves 8
2 cups cold heavy cream
12 oz Italian Mascarpone cheese
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup Kahlua liqueur
2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder, such as Pernigotti . (make sure it’s a good brand)
1 tsp instant espresso powder
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Three 8 oz packages Tate’s Bake Shop chocolate chip cookies (Sorry non USA friends, I don’t know what thin, chocolate chip cookie of about 3″ diameter would work!)

Shaved semisweet chocolate, for garnish

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine the heavy cream, Mascarpone, sugar, Kahlua, cocoa powder, espresso powder and vanilla. Mix on low speed to combine and then slowly raise the speed until it forms firm peaks.
To assemble the cake, arrange chocolate chip cookies flat in an 8-inch springform pan,covering the bottom as much as possible. (You can break some cookies to fill in the spaces)
Spread a fifth of the mocha whipped cream evenly over the cookies. Place another layer of cookies on top, lying flat and touching, followed by another fifth of the cream.
Continue layering cookies and cream until there are five layers of each, ending with a layer of cream.
Smooth the top, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
Run a small sharp knife around the outside of the cake and remove the sides of the pan.
Sprinkle the top with the chocolate, cut in wedges and serve cold.

Chocolate · Dessert · Do-ahead · Gluten Free

Classic Chocolate Mousse

February 13, 2014September 8, 2022 Belinda

Need I say any more? All you need is a spoon!

6 servings
3/4 cup chilled heavy cream
4 large egg yolks
1/4 cup espresso or strong coffee at room temperature
3 tbsp sugar, divided
1/8 tsp kosher salt
6 oz semi sweet chocolate (60% – 72% cacao) chopped

Beat 1/2 the cream in a medium bowl until stiff peaks form; cover and chill.
Combine the egg yolks, espresso, salt and 2 tbsp sugar in a large metal bowl.
Set over a saucepan of gently simmering water (do not allow the bowl to touch the water).
Cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture is lighter in color and almost doubled in volume and an instant read thermometer inserted into the mixture registers 160 degrees, about 1 minute.
Remove the bowl from the pan. Add the chocolate; whisk until melted and smooth. Let stand, whisking occasionally, until room temperature.
Using an electric mixer, beat the egg white in another medium bowl on medium speed until foamy. With the mixer running, gradually beat in the remaining 1 tbsp sugar. Increase the speed to high and beat until firm peaks form.
Fold the egg whites into the chocolate in 2 additions; fold the whipped cream into the mixture just enough to blend.
Divide the mousse among 6 teacups or 4 oz ramekins. Chill until firm, at least 3 hours.

Do ahead- The mousse can be made 1 day ahead; cover and keep chilled. Let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving.
Before serving, whisk the remaining 1/4 cup cream in a small bowl until soft peaks form and dollop over the mousse

Baking · Do-ahead

Espresso chocolate chip cookies

February 14, 2013September 9, 2022 Belinda

Oliver made these yesterday to take to work. They really were great and the espresso just enriched the cookies without a strong coffee flavor.

Makes about 36 small cookies.

8 oz (2 sticks) good European butter, at room temperature
2/3 cup confectioners (powdered) sugar
1/2 tsp good quality Vanilla Extract
1 tbsp espresso powder plus 1 tbsp boiling water
2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup chocolate chips, again, good quality ones

Firstly, add the boiling water to the espresso powder and set aside until tepid.
In a stand mixer, beat the butter and confectioners sugar together on medium speed for about 3 minutes.
Beat in the vanilla and tepid coffee mixture, then reduce the speed to low and add the flour, mixing only until it disappears into the dough. Don’t over mix.
Fold in the chocolate chips with a large spoon or spatula.
gather the dough and place in between two sheets of parchment paper. Roll the dough into a rectangle shape that’s 1/4 inch thick.
Refrigerate the dough, flat, for at least 2 hours. You can put it onto a cookie sheet to keep it flat so it doesn’t break or bend.
After the dough is firm, preheat the oven to 325 F. Cup the dough into 1 1/2 inch squares or circles.

Bake for 18 to 20 minutes until they turn golden brown around the edges.

Dessert · Do-ahead

Amaretti Semifreddo

June 14, 2011September 9, 2022 Belinda

I have made this several times and it always goes down a treat. The Amaretti cookies with the cognac gives it that really unique flavor that has your guests exclaiming “Wow, what’s in it?”
This is the sort of food I love that really gets people’s attention.

7 oz Amaretti cookies
5 large eggs
10 fl oz or 1 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
4 tbsp sugar
4-5 tbsp of espresso (according to taste)
2 tbsp cognac
dark chocolate, for shavings for decoration

Crush the cookies in a small bowl and add the coffee and the cognac. Mix well until the cookies are pretty moist.
In a separate bowl, beat the egg yolks with the sugar and add them to the Amaretti mixture.
Separately whip the egg whites and the cream and add them in this order to the cookie mixture. Mix until the mixture is homogeneous but do not mix for too long or the egg whites and the cream will lose their volume
Pour the final mixture into a loaf mold. Put in the freezer and let rest for at least three hours if you like it somewhat soft or overnight if you like it very hard.

If you have trouble unmolding the semi freddo once well frozen just put the back of the pan under running water. Serve it with shaved dark chocolate on top and with additional Amaretti and/or whipped cream.