Port Coffee and Chocolate Mousse Sandwiches

Port Coffee and Chocolate Mousse Sandwiches recipe

I love how coffee intensifies the richness of the flavour of chocolate. In a similar manner, I recently discovered port can also have a similar effect. So I figured it would be interesting to see what would happen if I used both of these flavours via liquors with the chocolate. Though my expected result didn’t occur the outcome was a success in an alternative way. The chocolate flavour was not enhanced, however the mix of the 3 flavours produced a very tasty and decedent twist to the standard chocolate mousse. The dark chocolate is still the dominant flavour, but is closely complimented with the liquors profiles. This recipe is not too crazy out-there, but an interesting twist that has a straightforward and uncomplicated method with no oven required!

Ingredients:

Mousse:

155g dark chocolate (75% cocoa)
2 eggs
70ml thickened cream
20ml Kahlua
10ml Port

Biscuits:

1 + 1/2 tbsn Port
2 + 1/2 tbsn Kahlua
12 chocolate coated digestive biscuits

Frosting:

1 egg white
Pitch of cream of tartar
15ml water
50g sugar

Method:

Place the chocolate into a saucepan and heat on the stove on low until the chocolate has just melted, take off the heat and leave to cool to room temperature.
Meanwhile, place the 2 egg yolks and cream into a bowl and using electric beaters whisk until soft peaks form.
Add the cooled chocolate, 20ml Kahlua and 10ml Port to the cream mix and beat until just combine.
In a separate bowl beat the 2 egg whites until stiff peaks form.
Fold the egg whites into the chocolate mix until just combine, place in the fridge for later use.
For the biscuits pour the 1+1/2 tbsn Port and 2+1/2 tbsn Kahlua into a shallow bowl and stir with a spoon to combine.
Dip 6 of the biscuits into the liquor mix to absorb some of the liquid, chocolate side up. Place soaked biscuits onto a plate, chocolate side down.
Cut 6 x 3cm strips of acetate paper, place a biscuit on the bench and wrap a strip around each biscuit. Hold the acetate in place with some sticky tape.
Repeat the wrapping process for all 6 soaked biscuits, place the biscuits with rings onto a large plate.
Remove the mousse for the fridge. Spoon the mousse on top of the biscuits until it reaches the top of the ring, then push down the mix softly with the back of a spoon to eliminate any gaps.
Dip the remaining 6 biscuits into the liquor mix, chocolate side up until all the liquor is absorbed.
Top the mousse with the 6 biscuits, chocolate side up.
Use your fingers gently, to push the top biscuit down slightly to sandwich the mousse.
Place the plate in the fridge overnight to set (or 4+ hours).
To make the frosting whisk the egg white and cream of tartar in a bowl with electric beaters until soft peaks form.
Place the water and sugar into a saucepan on a high heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved.
Place a candy thermometer into the mix until it reached 120c degrees.
Start the beaters again for the egg whites and while beating pour the sugar syrup into the eggs whites slowly.
Continue beating the egg mix for 10 minutes.
Remove the acetate from the mousse sandwiches.
Place the icing into a piping bag with a star nozzle and pipe the sandwich tops with the frosting.
Slightly torch the tops of the frosting (ONLY the frosting do not melt the chocolate on the biscuit) until golden with a blow torch, place in the freezer for 10 mins.
Remove from the freezer and dust with a little cocoa powder and enjoy.