Dark chocolate mousse

Serves: 6

Preparation: 25 minutes + 3–4 hours chilling + cooling | Cooking time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 200 g (7 oz) dark chocolate (70%cocoa), broken into pieces
  • 15 g (1/2 oz) butter
  • 4 tablespoons icing sugar
  • 3 eggs, separated
  • finely grated zest and juice of 1 large orange
  • 150 ml (5 fl oz) double cream
  • 1 tablespoon brandy or orange flavoured liqueur
  • sifted cocoa powder, to decorate
  • biscuits, to serve

Method

Put the chocolate and butter in a large bowl and set over a saucepan of gently simmering water.

Leave for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate has melted.

Add 2 tablespoons of icing sugar to the chocolate then gradually beat in the egg yolks, one at a time until smooth.

Mix in half the orange zest and 3 tablespoons of the orange juice then take the bowl off the heat.

Wrap the remaining orange zest in foil for later.

Whisk the egg whites until they form moist peaks then fold a spoonful into the chocolate mixture to loosen it slightly.

Add the remaining egg whites and fold in gently until just mixed.

Spoon into six small glasses or coffee cups, leave to cool then transfer to the fridge for 3–4 hours until set.

When almost ready to serve, pour the cream into a bowl, add the remaining orange zest and icing sugar and whisk until the cream softly holds its shape.

Gradually whisk in 3 tablespoons of orange juice and then the brandy or liqueur. Whisk for a minute or two more until softly spoonable.

Spoon on to the tops of the mousses, dust lightly with cocoa powder and serve with biscuits.

For more chocolate temptations see the WI book Chocolate Success by Sara Lewis and published by Simon and Schuster in 2011.