Chocolate Clouds Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Unfold both sheets of puff pastry and lay onto a lightly floured work surface. Cut each sheet into 3 strips along the fold marks, then cut each strip into 4 squares to make 12 pastry squares per sheet. Place squares onto a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the puff pastry is golden brown, about 15 minutes. Let squares cool completely.
• Whisk pudding mix and milk in a bowl until thick and smooth, about 1 minute; let stand about 3 minutes to finish thickening. Gently fold whipped topping into pudding. Transfer chocolate mousse mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a medium tip.
• Use a finger or a butter knife to gently open a corner of a pastry square. Make a small pocket in the pastry with the knife. Pipe about 1 tablespoon of chocolate mousse into the opening; a small amount of mousse will appear at the opening site when the pastry pocket is full. Repeat with remaining pastry squares and mousse mixture. Dust pastries lightly with confectioners' sugar.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line the bottom of the cake pan with baking parchment.
• Melt the chocolate either in a double boiler or a microwave, add the butter and let melt in the warm chocolate.
• Beat the 2 whole eggs and 4 egg yolks with 1/3 cup of the sugar, then gently add the chocolate mixture, the orange-flavored liqueur and the orange zest.
• In another bowl, whisk the 4 egg whites until foamy, then gradually add the remaining sugar and whisk until the whites hold their shape but are not too stiff. Lighten the chocolate mixture with a dollop of egg whites, and then fold in the rest of the whites. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until the cake is risen and cracked and the center is no long wobbly. Cool the cake in its pan on a wire rack; the middle will sink as it cools.
• When you are ready to eat, place the still pan-bound cake on a cake stand or plate for serving and carefully remove the sides of the pan from the cake. Don't worry about cracks or rough edges, it's the crater look we're going for here. Whip the cream until it's soft and then add the vanilla and orange-flavored liqueur and continue whisking until the cream is firm but not stiff. Fill the crater of the cake with the whipped cream, easing it out gently towards the edges of the cake, and dust the top lightly with cocoa powder pushed through a tea-strainer.

Steps:

• Melt 3 oz. chocolate as directed on package. Beat pudding mix and milk in medium bowl with whisk 2 min. Add melted chocolate; mix well. Spoon into crust.
• Whisk marshmallow creme and cream cheese in large bowl until blended. Stir in COOL WHIP. Spread over pudding mixture in crust. Grate remaining chocolate; sprinkle over pie.
• Refrigerate 3 hours or until firm.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 300º.
• Cover cookie sheet with parchment paper or foil.
• In large bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar at high speed of electric mixer until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar and vanilla, beating well after each addition until stiff peaks hold, sugar is dissolved and mixture is glossy. Sift cocoa onto egg white mixture; gently fold just until combined. Fold in chocolate chips.
• Drop by heaping tablespoons onto prepared cookie sheet.
• Bake 35 to 45 minute or just until dry. Cool slightly; peel paper from cookies. Store, covered, at room temperature.
• Makes 30 cookies.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 300 F. Cover cookie sheet with parchment paper or foil.
• Beat egg whites and cream of tartar in large bowl at high speed of mixer until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar and vanilla, beating well after each addition until stiff peaks hold, sugar is dissolved and mixture is glossy. Sift cocoa onto egg white mixture; gently fold just until combined. Fold in chocolate chips. Drop mixture by heaping tablespoons onto prepared cookie sheet.
• Bake 35 to 45 minutes or just until dry. Cool slightly; peel paper from cookies. Cool completely on wire rack. Store, covered, at room temperature. 30 cookies.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Line the bottom of an 8-inch springform pan with a round of wax paper; do not butter the pan.
• Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or in a bowl set over hot water.
• Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter until melted; set aside.
• In a bowl, whisk the two whole eggs and the 4 egg yolks with 1/2 cup of the sugar just until blended.
• Whisk in the warm chocolate mixture.
• Whisk in the optional cognac or Grand Marnier and the optional orange zest.
• In another bowl, with an electric mixer, beat the 4 egg whites until foamy.
• Gradually add the remaining 1/2 cup sugar and beat until the whites form soft mounds that hold their shape, but are not quite stiff.
• Stir about 1/4 of the beaten egg whites into the chocolate mixture to lighten it; gently fold in the remaining whites.
• Pour the batter into the pan; smooth the top.
• Bake until the top of the cake is puffed and cracked and the center is no longer wobbly, usually 35 to 40 minutes.
• Do not overbake.
• Cool the cake in the pan on a wire rack; the cake will sink as it cools, forming a crater with high sides.
• FOR THE WHIPPED CREAM TOPPING: At serving time, whip the cream with the confectioner's sugar and vanilla until not quite stiff.
• With a spatula, carefully fill the crater of the cake with the whipped cream, pushing it gently to the edges.
• Dust the top lightly with cocoa powder.
• Run the tip of a knife around the edges of the cake; carefully remove the sides of the pan and serve.