Recipe: Death by Chocolate - Marcel Desaulniers

DEATH BY CHOCOLATE
Adapted from source: Death by Chocolate by Marcel Desaulniers

FOR THE COCOA MERINGUE:
4 egg whites
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
1 tablespoon cornstarch
FOR THE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE:
6 ounces semisweet chocolate, broke into 1/2 ounce pieces
1 1/2 cups heavy (whipping) cream
3 egg whites
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
For the Chocolate Brownie Layer:
1 teaspoon unsalted butter
1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
Simply The Best Chocolate Brownie, uncooked (recipe to follows)
FOR THE CHOCOLATE GANACHE:
1 1/2 caps heavy (whipping) cream
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
22 ounces semisweet chocolate, broken into 1/2 ounce pieces
FOR THE MOCHA MOUSSE:
14 ounces semisweet chocolate, broken into 1/2 ounce pieces
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, broken into 1/2 ounce pieces
1/2 cup water
4 tablespoons instant coffee
2 tablespoons cocoa, sifted
3 egg whites (pasteurized)
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 cup heavy (whipping) cream

Mocha Rum Sauce (recipe follows)

EQUIPMENT: measuring cup, measuring spoons, sifter, 9-inch cardboard cake circle, parchment paper, 2 baking sheets, electric mixer with balloon whip, rubber spatula, pastry bag, double boiler, film wrap, 4 stainless steel bowls (1 large), 2 whisks, 9 by 1 1/2 inch cake pan, 12 inch serrated slicer, 2 1/2 quart saucepan, 9 by 1 inch springform pan, ladle, serrated knife, large metal spoon, cake spatula, large star tip.

Preheat the oven to 225 degrees F.

Using a 9-inch cake circle as a guide, trace a circle with a pencil on a sheet of parchment paper cut to fit a baking sheet. Turn the paper over and, with trace mark down, place on a baking sheet.

TO PREPARE THE COCOA MERINGUE:
Place 4 egg whites, the cream of tartar, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a balloon whip. Whisk on high until soft peaks form, about 45 to 50 seconds. Gradually add 1 cup sugar while continuing to whisk on high. Whisk until stiff, about 1 1/2 minutes. Remove the bowl from the mixer and use a rubber spatula to fold in and thoroughly combine the remaining 1/4 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, and the cornstarch. Fill a pastry bag (with no tip) with the cocoa meringue. Fill the traced parchment circle with meringue: start in the center and pipe a 3/4 inch wide spiral towards the outside of the circle.

Place the meringue in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes. Lower the oven temperature to 200 degrees F and bake for 2 hours and 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 45 minutes before handling. Raise the oven temperature to 325 degrees F.

While the meringue is baking, prepare the chocolate mousse:
Heat 1 inch of water in the bottom half of a double boiler over medium heat. Place 6 ounces semisweet chocolate in the top half of the double boiler. Tightly cover the top with film wrap. Allow the chocolate to melt slowly, about 9 to 10 minutes. [microwave works fine] Remove from the heat and stir until smooth. Keep at room temperature until needed.

Place 1 1/2 cups heavy cream in the well-chilled bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a well-chilled balloon whip. Whisk on high until peaks form, about 1 minute. Set aside.

Whisk 3 egg whites in a large stainless steel bowl, until soft peaks form, about 3 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons sugar and continue to whisk until stiff peaks form, about 2 to 2 1/2 minutes. Add a quarter of the whipped cream to the chocolate and whisk quickly, vigorously, and thoroughly, then add to the egg whites. Now add the remaining whipped cream. Fold all together gently but thoroughly. Refrigerate the chocolate mousse until needed.

TO PREPARE THE CHOCOLATE BROWNIE LAYER:
Coat a 9 by 1 1/2 inch cake pan with 1 teaspoon of butter. Flour the pan with 1 teaspoon of flour, shaking out the excess. Pour the Simply The Best Brownie batter into the prepared cake pan, spreading evenly. Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake the brownie until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes.

Remove the brownie from the oven and allow to cool in the pan at room temperature for 5 minutes. Turn out onto a cake circle and refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the brownie from the refrigerator and cut in half horizontally. Keep the brownie at room temperature until needed.

TO PREPARE THE GANACHE:
Heat 1 1/2 cups heavy cream and 3 tablespoons butter in a 2 1/2 quart saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil. Place 22 ounces of semisweet chocolate in a stainless steel bowl. Pour the boiling cream over the chocolate and allow to stand for 5 minutes. Stir until smooth. Keep at room temperature until needed.

TO PREPARE THE MOCHA MOUSSE:
Heat 1 inch of water in the bottom half of the double boiler over medium-high heat. Place 14 ounces semisweet chocolate, 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, the water, instant coffee, and 2 tablespoons cocoa in the top half of the double boiler. Tightly cover the top with film wrap. Heat for 6 to 7 minutes, remove the film wrap, and stir the mixture until smooth. Keep at room temperature until needed.

Place 5 egg whites in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a balloon whip. Whisk on high until soft peaks form, about 1 minute. Continue to whisk while gradually adding 2 tablespoons sugar. Whisk until stiff, about 30 seconds.

Whip 3/4 cup heavy cream in a well-chilled stainless steel bowl until stiff. Fold 1/4 of the egg whites into the melted chocolate mixture, then fold in the whipped cream. Now fold in the remaining egg whites. Keep the mocha mousse at room temperature.

TO ASSEMBLE DEATH BY CHOCOLATE:
Place a closed 9 by 3 inch springform pan on a baking sheet. Set the top half of the chocolate brownie inside the pan, top side up. Ladle 1 1/2 cups of ganache into the pan over the chocolate brownie. Trim the cocoa meringue with a serrated knife so that it will fit tightly into the pan. Place the trimmed cocoa meringue, top side up, inside the pan on top of the ganache, pressing down gently on the cocoa meringue to eliminate air pockets.

Spoon the mocha mousse on top of the cocoa meringue, spreading evenly. Place the remaining chocolate brownie half, bottom side up, on top of the mocha mousse. Chill the cake in the freezer for 30 minutes or refrigerate for 1 hour.

Remove the cake from the freezer and cut around the edges to release from the springform pan. Pour the remaining ganache over the cake and use a cake spatula to spread the ganache evenly over the top and sides of the cake. Refrigerate the cake for 10 to 15 minutes to set the ganache.

Fill a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip with the chocolate mousse. Pipe a circle of stars (each touching the other) along the outside edge of the top of the cake. Continue to pipe out circles of stars until the top of the cake is covered. Refrigerate the Death By Chocolate for at least 4 hours, and preferably 12 hours, before cutting and serving.

Prepare the Mocha Rum Sauce (The sauce can be prepared just prior to service or 2 hours ahead and refrigerated. Bring to room temperature before using.)

Fill a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip with the chocolate mousse. Pipe a circle of stars (each touching the other) along the outside edge of the top of the cake. Continue to pipe out circles of stars until the top of the cake is covered. Refrigerate the Death By Chocolate for at least 4 hours, and preferably 12 hours, before cutting and serving. hours in advance).

TO SERVE:
Cut the Death By Chocolate into the desired number of servings. Heat the blade of a serrated slicer under hot running water before slicing into the cake. Repeat this procedure after cutting each slice. Before placing the cake slice on the 10-inch diameter plates, flood the base of each plate with 3 or 4 tablespoons Mocha Rum Sauce, then place a piece of Death By Chocolate in the center of each plate. Serve immediately.

MOCHA RUM SAUCE

6 ounces unsalted butter
1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
1 1/3 cups heavy (whipping) cream
8 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
3 tablespoons Myer's Dark Rum
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoons instant coffee
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Equipment: measuring cup, sifter, measuring spoons, 2 1/2 quart saucepan, whisk

Heat the butter in a 2 1/2 quart saucepan over medium heat. When melted, add the sugar, heavy cream, sifted cocoa, 2 tablespoons rum, and salt. Stir with a whisk to combine. Bring to a boil, then adjust the heat and allow to simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Add the instant coffee, vanilla extract, and the remaining tablespoon of rum, and stir until smooth. Allow to cool to room temperature before serving.

SIMPLY THE BEST CHOCOLATE BROWNIE

4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, broken into 1/2 ounce pieces
2 ounces semisweet chocolate, broken into 1/2 ounce pieces
3 eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup sour cream

Sift together flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt onto waxed paper. Set aside.

Heat 1 inch of water in the bottom half of a double boiler over medium-high heat. Place the 3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, 4 tablespoons butter, and 2 ounces semisweet chocolate in the top half of the double boiler. Tightly cover the top with film wrap. Heat for 4 1/2 to 5 minutes, remove from the heat, and stir until smooth.

Place the eggs, sugar, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a balloon whip. Mix on high until slightly thickened, about 1 1/2 minutes. Add the melted chocolate mixture to the egg mixture and mix on medium for 30 seconds. Add the sifted ingredients, mix on low for 10 seconds, then on medium for 10 seconds. Add the sour cream and mix on medium for 5 seconds.

Remove the bowl from the mixer and use a rubber spatula to combine thoroughly. Use batter in the recipe above.