Valentine’s cherry mousse cake
200g glace cherries, quartered 750 ml whipping cream 2 tablespoons sugar ½ teaspoon almond essence 400g dark chocolate, melted 50g unsalted butter 4 tspns gelatine powder 4 tablespoons hot water To decorate you can use one or more of the following – crushed meringues, grated chocolate, maraschino cherries, store bought red roses etc. 1. Line the base and sides of any heart shaped baking tray you may have (large enough to hold approximately a litre of liquid). If you don’t have a heart shaped tray, then use a round spring form one. With baking paper, cut a heart shape large enough to fit into the base of your round pan. Once the dessert is frozen, turn out, place the heart shape of baking paper on it and carefully cut out your heart shape. However the heart shaped pan is the easier way to go! 2. Melt the chocolate in a bowl, over a saucepan of simmering water. Add the butter. Stir to combine and leave aside. 3. Melt the gelatine in 4
tablespoons of hot water. Whip the cream in a large clean bowl till it holds its shape. Strain in the gelatine and beat for 30 seconds. Transfer 2/3 of the whipped cream to another bowl. Add the melted chocolate and the chopped cherries to the 2/3 of cream and combine well. 4. To the other 1/3 of whipped cream , add the sugar and almond essence and beat for a minute. 5. Now all you need to do is assemble the dessert!. To do this, pour half the chocolate mixture into the lined pan and leave flat in the freezer for about 20 minutes or until it has set. 6. Next pour in all of the 1/3 cream (white) mixture. Place in the freezer till this layer too sets. Pour in the second half of the chocolate mixture over the set white layer and freeze again. 7. When you are ready to serve, simply turn the dessert over onto your serving platter and gently peel away the cling film. Now sprinkle either grated chocolate or crushed meringue kisses over the top. Place two store bought roses or some maraschino cherries in the middle. Guaranteed to help woo your Valentine and melt-in-the- mouth delicious too !