Shaped Chocolate Dessert Cups Recipes

Steps:

• Cut out four 6-in. circles from waxed paper; place on a baking sheet. In a microwave, melt chocolate and shortening; stir until smooth. Pour 2 tablespoons melted chocolate into the center of each circle; spread chocolate to within 1 in. of edge. Refrigerate for 3-4 minutes or until chocolate does not spread when handled., Drape circles, waxed paper side down, over inverted 6-oz. custard cups or small bowls. Shape edges if desired. Chill for 10 minutes. Carefully peel waxed paper from chocolate cups.

Steps:

• In a microwave or saucepan, melt the chocolate chips and shortening. brush evenly on the inside of eight paper or foil muffin cup liners. Chill until hardened, about 25 minutes. Remove liners. Fill chocolate cups with ice cream. Garnish with candy canes.

Steps:

• Pour heavy cream into a microwave-safe measuring cup. Heat in the microwave in 10-second intervals until warm to the touch, but not hot enough to scald you.
• Place chocolate chips in a medium mixing bowl. Pour warm cream over the chocolate. Do not stir. Cover and let stand until chocolate chips are completely melted, about 30 minutes.
• Remove the lid and whisk ganache until smooth. If some of the chocolate chips haven't melted all the way, reheat in the microwave at 5-second intervals. Let ganache cool while you make the cookie cups.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a mini muffin tin thoroughly with baking spray, getting every nook and cranny.
• Place one chilled cookie dough piece in the center of each muffin cup.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the edges are golden brown, 16 to 18 minutes. Carefully turn the cookie cups out onto a cooling rack. Let cool for 1 minute.
• Gently flip the cookie cups so they are right side up. The cookie cups will be delicate and easily broken, so be gentle on this step. If the center of the cookies didn't sink during baking, press hot cookies very gently with a mini cookie scoop, melon baller, or your thumb to form indentations. Allow to cool completely.
• Using an icing spreader, scoop out a small amount of the ganache and spread it gently into the center of the cookie cups. Top with chocolate-hazelnut spread. Press a few mini marshmallows into the chocolate; scatter sprinkles over the top.
• Break off the pretzels so that the curved part resembles a 'handle'. Dip each end into ganache and press against the side of the cookie cups. Let stand until ganache firms up and keeps the handles in place.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350ºF.
• Combine graham crumbs, sugar, nuts and butter; spread onto bottom of 8-inch square pan. Bake 10 min.
• Meanwhile, melt 2 oz. semi-sweet chocolate as directed on package; set aside. Microwave caramels and water in small microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min. or until caramels begin to melt; stir until completely melted.
• Beat pudding mix and milk with whisk 2 min. Stir in melted chocolate.
• Spoon 1 Tbsp. crumb mixture into each of 8 dessert cups; top with 2 Tbsp. pudding mixture and 1 Tbsp. caramel sauce. Cover with remaining pudding mixture; sprinkle with coconut.
• Refrigerate 1 hour. Melt remaining chocolate; drizzle over desserts just before serving.

Steps:

• In a microwave safe bowl, melt chocolate chips and shortening for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring until smooth.
• With the brush, spread the chocolate mixture on the inside (bottom and sides) of the foil or paper cups. Place on a baking sheet. Refrigerate until firm; about 45 minutes.
• Just before assembling, remove the foil or paper cup.
• Fill with desired filling.

Steps:

• Prepare the pastry cream: Cut vanilla bean in half crosswise, then cut a slit lengthwise down each half. Use the edge of the knife to scrape out all the seeds. Discard the pods or reserve for another use.
• Combine sugar, cornstarch, salt, egg, egg yolks, milk, and vanilla seeds in a saucepan; whisk until well combined.
• Place over medium heat and cook, stirring constantly and scraping the bottom surface of the pan, until thick, about 10 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and whisk to release some steam. Add butter and keep stirring until melted. Pass through a fine sieve to remove any fibrous bits from the vanilla pod. Place plastic wrap directly on the surface of the pastry cream to cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 2 to 3 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with a silicone liner (such as Silpat®).
• Combine butter, water, and salt for the pate choux in a saucepan over medium-high heat; bring to a simmer. Add flour and stir with a wooden spoon until a buttery dough forms. Continue to cook and stir until a starchy film forms on the bottom of the pan. Turn off the heat and continue stirring for 1 more minute.
• Transfer to a bowl. Add one egg and mix it in with a little dough. Once that's incorporated, mix it in with the remaining dough. Repeat with the second egg. Continue stirring until you have a very sticky dough. Use a spatula to clean off the whisk if necessary.
• Transfer the dough into a pastry bag and snip off the tip making a ½-inch opening. Pipe two 6-inch heart shapes on the prepared baking sheet. Start by making thin shapes and then pipe extra dough to make them thicker. To fine-tune the hearts, dip your fingers in water and fix any imperfections if desired.
• Bake in the center of the preheated oven until beautifully browned, about 30 minutes. Turn off the heat, leave the pastries in the oven, and prop the oven door open with a wooden spoon. Let sit until crispy and dried out, about 1 hour.
• Use a serrated knife to slice the hearts in half horizontally.
• Remove pastry cream from the refrigerator and transfer to a pastry bag. Generously pipe cream into the bottom half of each heart, then place the top halves on the cream.
• Heat cream in a saucepan until simmering.
• Place chocolate chips in a small bowl and pour hot cream over top. Let sit for 2 to 3 minutes, then whisk until chocolate has melted and ganache is thick and shiny. Let cool for about 5 minutes.
• Spoon ganache on top of each heart. Reserve any remaining ganache for another use. Refrigerate éclairs until the ganache is firm, about 15 minutes.
• Place éclairs on serving plates. Fill the center of each heart with raspberries and sift cocoa powder over top. Sift powdered sugar over just the raspberries and serve. (Each éclair is enough for two people.)

Steps:

• Mix the almonds and flour in a bowl until well-combined.
• Combine corn syrup, sugar, butter and chocolate in a small, heavy saucepan.
• Over low heat, stir mixture constantly, until it just comes to a boil.
• Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
• Add flour mixture and stir until fully blended.
• Drop the dough by tablespoonfuls onto the buttered baking sheet, leaving at least 3 inches on all sides to allow room for spreading (no more than 4 shells on the sheet).
• Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F until they spread out and are lacy, 8-10 minutes.
• Remove from oven and let cool for 1-2 minutes.
• Using a thin metal spatula, lift the still-soft rounds from the baking sheet and drape each over an inverted coffee cup.
• Let them cool completely, then carefully lift off the shells and set aside.
• Repeat process with the next half of the dough.
• Serving: Place the shells on small dessert plates, then fill with ice cream/sorbet of your choice and garnish with chocolate glaze, citrus zest, chopped toasted nuts etc.
• Serve immediately (The shells can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days).