Easiest Chocolate Mousse
With Valentine’s day right around the corner you might be thinking about chocolate and chocolate desserts. Frankly, I think any time is the right time for chocolate. I was asked to do a demonstration of a chocolate dessert a few days ago. I wanted to make something that was really tasty, but also easy to make. This chocolate mousse certainly checks all the boxes. No real coo king required and no hard to find ingredients. So why wait? Here is the recipe. Enjoy.
Easiest Chocolate Mousse
½ c. semi sweet chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips (3 oz. total)
1 c. heavy whipping cream, divided
8 oz. cream cheese, room temp
¼ c. sugar
1 t. vanilla
½ t. salt
Optional toppings, shaved chocolate, berries or whipped cream
Place chips and ¼ cup of the whipping cream in a glass bowl and heat in the microwave for a minute. Remove and stir until chips are melted and mixture in smooth. Set aside. In a mixing bowl combine the cream cheese and sugar along with the vanilla and salt and beat with and electric mixer until smooth- 2-3 minutes. Stir in the chocolate mixture and continue beating until mixture is creamy and smooth. This takes 4-5 minutes. Scrape down sides of the bowl a couple of times. You can add the rest of the whipping cream two different ways. You can just add the rest of the whipping cream and beat it in until smooth. You can also whip the cream in a separate bowl and then fold it into the chocolate mixture. I have made it both ways and both worked. Spoon into serving cups and chill until ready to serve. Top with any toppings you like when serving or serve plain. Serves 4-6. Note: It keeps nicely for a few days, so you can make it a bit ahead of time.
Coconut Snowballs
Coconut Snowballs
We made these in a chocolate cooking class last night. With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching I thought I’d share the recipe with you. While the recipe calls for baking a cake and cutting it into squares I prefer to bake cupcakes. That way they can be called snowballs. All too appropriate this time of year. Whether you bake a cake and cut it into squares or make the cupcakes they do need to be frozen before dipping in the chocolate sauce.
Coconut Cake Squares aka Snowballs
1 white cake, prepared and frozen solid
1 c. cocoa
1 1/4 c. sugar
2 c. water
1 t. vanilla
½ c. desiccated coconut (available at cake supply stores and some health food stores)
Cut frozen cake into small squares, or cake can be baked in regular or mini cupcake tins. Keep cake frozen until ready to use. Meanwhile, combine remaining ingredients, except coconut in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil then simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat and cool completely.
Using toothpicks or fondue forks, dip cake in sauce let drain a few seconds, then roll in the coconut. Can be used right away or frozen again for later use.
