Sparkling Parfaits Recipes

Steps:

• Sparkling Raspberries
• Combine the raspberries, sparkling wine and granulated sugar in a medium bowl. Cover this and set it aside to macerate for 30 min.
• Cheesecake Filling
• Beat together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, heavy cream and vanilla until smooth. Transfer to a pastry bag with the tip cut off.
• Whipped Cream
• Whip heavy cream, powdered sugar and vanilla together in a clean bowl of mixer with clean beaters on high speed until stiff peaks form. Transfer whipped cream to a pastry bag fitted with a star tip.
• Assembly
• In either 4 tall (for couples) or 8 regular (for individuals) parfait glasses, layer half each of the pound cake cubes and Sparkling Raspberries; top with Cheesecake Filling. Repeat layers with remaining cake cubes and Sparkling Raspberries; top with Whipped Cream.

Steps:

• In a bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. , Spoon 3 tablespoons each into four parfait glasses. Layer each with 1/4 cup cracker crumbs, 3 tablespoons pudding, 1/4 cup marshmallows and 1 tablespoon chocolate chips. Top with the remaining pudding and crumbs. Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.

Steps:

• To make the tiramisu filling: In the bowl of a tabletop mixer, with whip attachment, beat cream and sugar until fluffy and soft peaks form. Reserve 1 cup and refrigerate to use later as garnish. Add cheese to remaining cream on low speed, gradually increasing to high speed for 30 seconds or until thoroughly incorporated. Whisk yolk in bowl over pot of simmering water until warm and pale yellow in color. Add the Marsala and vanilla. Cover and refrigerate until ready to assemble.
• To make the coffee syrup: In a medium sauce pot combine all ingredients except Marsala and vanilla. Reduce syrup to 1 cup. Let cool. Add Marsala and vanilla, to taste.
• To assemble: Break the ladyfingers in half and dip into coffee syrup. Count 5 seconds and remove from liquid to drain on baking tray. Repeat until all cookies have been dipped. Place 2 pieces of soaked ladyfingers into sides of 2-ounce Sherry glasses. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of syrup over ladyfingers and let absorb. Spoon tiramisu cream filling into each glass. Sprinkle tops with cocoa powder. Garnish with dollops of whipped cream and chocolate shavings. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine the strawberries, lemon juice and sugar. Cook over medium heat until the strawberries begin to soften, about 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat. Place the strawberry mixture in a food processor and process until smooth. Remove the mixture from the food processor and strain through a fine mesh strainer. Mix in the sliced strawberries and place in the refrigerator. Refrigerate until very cold. With an electric mixer, whip the cream. In parfait glasses, layer the strawberries and whipped cream, starting and ending with the whipped cream. Place in the refrigerate and chill for 4 hours.
• Remove the zest of the lemons using a vegetable peeler. Be careful not to get any of the white pith. Julienne the zest. Blanch the julienned zest in boiling water for 5 minutes to remove any bitterness. In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup of sugar and the water. Bring to a boil. Add the blanched zest to the sugar syrup. Remove the sugar syrup from the heat and let the zest steep for 10 minutes. Remove the zest from the syrup and lay out on a rack. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup sugar.
• Top the parfaits with some of the candied lemon zest.

Steps:

• Place 1 tablespoon Champagne in small bowl. Sprinkle gelatin over; let stand until soft, about 10 minutes. Combine remaining Champagne and 1 cup sugar in heavy medium saucepan; stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and bring to boil. Add pears; reduce heat and simmer just until pears are tender, turning pears often, about 6 minutes. Using slotted spoon, place pears on plate and cool. Boil poaching liquid until reduced to 1 1/3 cups, about 15 minutes.
• Whisk egg yolks in medium bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in hot poaching liquid; return mixture to same saucepan. Stir over medium-low heat until candy thermometer registers 175°F., about 4 minutes. Remove from heat; add gelatin mixture and whisk until dissolved. Chill custard until thickened but not set, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour.
• Set aside 4 raspberries for garnish. Combine remaining raspberries and 1 tablespoon sugar in medium bowl. Let stand 10 minutes. Coarsely chop pears. Beat cream until stiff peaks form. Fold cream into custard. Place 1/4 cup raspberries in each of four 12- to 16-ounce goblets or balloon-shaped wineglasses. Spoon half of pears over raspberries, dividing equally. Spoon 1/2 cup custard over each. Repeat layering with remaining raspberries, pears and custard. Cover loosely with foil; chill until custard is set, at least 6 hours or overnight.
• Garnish parfaits with reserved raspberries, mint and rose petals, if desired.