Tag Archive for: chocolate

Serves 8

  • 5 oz. fine quality baking chocolate, semi-sweet
  • 2/3 c. butter
  • 2/3 c. sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 2/ 3 c. ground almonds
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 drop almond extract
  • 1/3 c. flour

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8″ round cake pan, and line bottom with a piece of parchment, trimmed to fit atop the buttered surface. Melt the chocolate in a water bath. Add butter and sugar; whisk smooth. Remove from heat, cool slightly, and whisk in the eggs, ground almonds, and flavorings. Fold in the flour. Pour into prepared pan. Bake in a water bath for about 30 minutes. Remove from oven and cool. To serve, turn out onto a doily and sprinkle liberally with powdered sugar. Lovely accompanied with raspberries and whipped cream, or even Creme Anglaise!

Accompany with Cooper-Garrod Test Pilot, F-86 Sabre Jet

  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup milk chocolate chips
  • 1/3 cup unsalted pistachio meats, chopped
  • 1/3 cup pomegranate-infused Craisins®, chopped

Use the best quality chocolate chips available and combine in a 4-cup glass bowl. Microwave on half power one minute; stir. Microwave another minute on half power; stir to smooth. (May need another half minute.) Line a sheet-cake pan with parchment and spread melted chocolate mixture evenly. Sprinkle with prepared nuts and fruit. Cover with wax paper and press toppings lightly into chocolate; discard wax paper. Chill about 20 minutes, or until firm enough to break into bark pieces.

Accompany with Cooper-Garrod Cabernet Sauvignon

  • 2 Toblerone dark chocolate bars (3.52 oz. each)
  • 1/3 c. heavy cream
  • 2 large egg whites
  • 1⁄4 c. sugar

In a metal bowl over a pan of simmering water, melt chocolate with the cream, stirring. Remove bowl to cool while making meringue. In another metal bowl over the hot water, combine egg whites and sugar, stirring until sugar dissolves. With a hand-held mixer, beat meringue for 5 minutes until it holds glossy, stiff peaks and is warm to the touch. Remove bowl and continue beating until meringue is cool. Gently fold into the chocolate mixture until fully combined. Spoon into 4 ramekins and cover until serving. (May be refrigerated; allow to come to room temp before serving for softer consistency.)

Accompany with Cooper-Garrod Cabernet Sauvignon

  • 1 c. unsalted butter, softened
  • 1⁄2 c. powdered sugar
  • 2 Tbsp. sugar
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 1⁄2 c. flour
  • 1⁄2 c. cocoa
  • 1⁄4 tsp. salt
  • 1⁄4 tsp. cayenne pepper
  • Kosher salt for topping

Sift flour, cocoa, salt, and cayenne into a prep bowl. Cream butter and sugars; add egg yolk and beat until smooth. Add sifted dry ingredients and beat until thoroughly combined. Divide dough in half. Using wax paper, roll each half into a log, about 1 1⁄2 “ diameter. Freeze until very firm, at least an hour. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line 2 large cookie sheets with parchment paper. Slice hardened logs into 1⁄4” pieces, spacing them about 1” apart on the parchment. Sprinkle as desired with Kosher salt. Bake 15 minutes until just firm. Let cool 3 minutes on the parchment before removing to a wire rack. Makes about 5 dozen. (Dough may be frozen up to 2 weeks. Baked canapés may be stored air-tight at room temp up to 2 days.)

Accompany with Cooper-Garrod Test Pilot P-47 Thunderbolt

Serves 4

  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • 6 Tbsp. sugar
  • 4 oz. semisweet chocolate, melted
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 Tbsp. crème de cassis
  • ¾ c. bing cherries (from a can), drained and quartered

In a food processor, beat butter and sugar until well mixed.  Add chocolate several spoonfuls at a time, mixing well after each addition.  Add eggs one by one, mixing at high speed until well incorporated.  Mix in cassis.  Without the blade, stir in the quartered cherries.  Spoon into 4 ramekins or dessert dishes; cover and chill at least 4 hours.

Accompany with Test Pilot F-86 Sabre Jet