An ultimate chocolate marquise–it doesn’t get much chocolatey than this chilled dessert. Bittersweet chocolate, eggs, butter, and Cognac are beaten, then given a mousse-like texture with whipped egg whites. Sounds divine, right? You bet it is.
This ultimate chocolate mousse cake may be my favorite dessert. It keeps so well you can freeze it for up to a month, then when someone drops by, you can instantly pull it out of the freezer and offer a slice. Also, it’s so easy to make but looks difficult and “restauranty.” It’s wonderful with softly whipped cream, but you can doll it up with a drizzle of chocolate syrup or a spoonful of cherry, blackberry, strawberry, or raspberry sauce. It can be refrigerated rather than frozen, but it’s more difficult to slice and doesn’t last as long.–Lori Longbotham
WHAT IS A CHOCOLATE MARQUISE?
What, you may ask, is a chocolate marquise? It’s a dessert worthy of royalty, one that defies precise description yet holds a distinct air of aristocracy. It combines the richness of ganache with the velvety smoothness of mousse and, as if that wasn’t enough decadence, it adds the melty coldness of ice cream. After all those sensuous adjectives, it may be worth noting that the oldest written mention of biting into a chocolate bar was found in a letter written by the Marquis de Sade. Yes, that Marquis de Sade. Coincidence? Hmm…probably.
Raw Egg Caution
As with any recipe that uses raw eggs, it should be avoided by the very young, pregnant women, the elderly, the ill, and those with immune-system disorders. Here’s more useful egg information.
Ultimate Chocolate Marquise
This ultimate chocolate marquise may be my favorite dessert. It keeps so well you can freeze it for up to a month, then when someone drops by, you can instantly pull it out of the freezer and offer a slice. Also, it’s so easy to make but looks difficult and “restauranty.”
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Butter an 8-by-4-inch loaf pan and line it with 2 sheets plastic wrap, one going the long way and one going the short way, leaving an overhang of several inches on all sides.
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Melt the chocolate and butter in a large heatproof bowl set over a saucepan containing about 1 1/2 inches nearly simmering water, whisking until smooth. Whisk in the sugar and Cognac, if using, until well blended.
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Remove the bowl from the heat and, using an electric mixer on low speed, add the egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition and occasionally scraping down the sides of the bowl.
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Beat the egg whites and salt with clean beaters on medium-high speed in a large deep bowl just until the whites form stiff peaks when the beaters are lifted. With a whisk or a rubber spatula, fold 1/3 of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture. Gently fold in the remaining egg whites in 2 batches, mixing just until well blended.
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Pour the mixture into the prepared pan, using a rubber spatula to smoosh it into the corners and smooth the top. Cover with the overhanging plastic wrap and then wrap the entire pan tightly with aluminum foil. Freeze for at least 6 hours.
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To serve, unwrap the pan, fold back the plastic wrap, and run a table knife around the edges of the pan to loosen the chocolate mousse cake. Place a serving platter over the pan, invert the pan onto it, and tug on the edges of the plastic wrap to release the cake from the pan.
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Remove the plastic wrap and smooth the edges of the chocolate mousse cake with a small, warm metal spatula if necessary. Cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices with a sharp knife dipped in very warm water and wiped dry between each slice, and place on chilled dessert plates. (You can tightly rewrap and freeze any leftover cake.)
Originally published April 15, 2004
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