Heart-shaped Ice Cream

This heart-shaped Ice Cream will please your significant other without having to spend the whole day cooking. Ice cream in the shape of a heart served with a cloud of whipping cream dusted with grated chocolate. This icy dessert will melt hearts!

Heart-shaped Ice Cream

Natalija
Choose your favorite sorbet or ice cream flavor (or your significant other’s) and serve this dessert with whipping cream, chocolate and fruit.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 2 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 200 g chocolate ice cream (or another your favorite ice cream/sorbet )
  • 50 ml heavy whipping cream ( 35%) very cold
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • Grated chocolate
  • Few red berries (blueberry, raspberry…)

Instructions
 

  • Take the ice cream out of the freezer and leave it out for 5 minutes to make it softer. Put the ice cream in a heart shaped mold. Cover with plastic wrap and put it back in the freezer for around 45 minutes.
  • Submerge the mold under hot water for a couple seconds (wipe the water off of the mold with a towel so that the serving plate does not get wet).
  • Remove the ice cream from the mold onto a plate. Put the plate into the freezer.
  • Whip the heavy cream with the sugar until fluffy. Don’t over beat.
  • When serving, put the whipping cream on the heart. Decorate with nuts, grated chocolate, and red berries. Serve right away.
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Peach Melba

This is my version of a classical dessert “Peach Melba”. You just need roasted peaches, a red berry sauce and an exquisite whipped cream.

Peach Melba

Natalija
If you’re in a hurry or you don’t have fresh peaches, just use canned peaches.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings 6 people

Ingredients
  

  • 3 peaches
  • 1 Tbsp brown sugar (or sugar)
  • 250 g berries (raspberries, strawberries, blackberries)…)
  • 200 ml heavy whipping cream ( 35%) very cold
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • 1/2 l vanilla ice cream
  • Some dark chocolate
  • Some sliced almonds

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 390 degrees F. Line one baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Cut the peaches in half, and remove the stones. Place the peach halves on the baking sheet. Sprinkle with brown sugar.
  • Bake in the oven about 35 minutes until the peaches are tender. Remove from the oven, let them cool down completely, then carefully peel the skin.
  • Rinse and drain fresh berries and puree them until smooth. Pass the puree through a fine sieve to remove all tiny seeds.
  • Whip the heavy cream with the sugar until fluffy. Don’t over beat.
  • In each glass, put one half of peach and one ball of vanilla ice cream.
  • Pour 2 tablespoons of berries puree.
  • Add the whipped cream and finish with chocolate crumbs and sliced almonds. Serve right away.
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Vanilla Creme Brulee

Absolutely amazing what a little cream, a little sugar and couple of eggs can turn into….  Perfect restaurant quality dessert. A rich custard topped with a hard layer of caramel.  This Vanilla creme brulee is very easy to make if you follow all the steps correctly.

It will perfectly complete your  cafe gourmand if the crème brûlée is served in small ramekins.

Look at this short video ! 🙂

Vanilla Crème brûlée

Natalija
Use vanilla extract instead of vanilla bean, if you don’t have vanilla bean. You could add 2 Tbsp. of rum into the cream if desired. If you don’t own a blow torch, you can always use your broiler as well. You will need to move the top rack in your oven up as high as it will go.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
Total Time 6 hours 11 minutes
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 8 egg yolks
  • 120 g granulated sugar
  • 1/2 vanilla bean
  • 640 ml whipping cream
  • 6 tsp granulated sugar

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Split the vanilla bean in half and scrape the seeds into the cream. In a medium bowl, combine together sugar, eggs yolks, vanilla and whisk.
  • Add the cream a little at a time and stir. Remove the scum with a tea spoon.
  • Strain the mixture through a fine sieve and pour it into the ramekins. Divide cream mixture among ramekins (about 6 ramekins).
  • Arrange the ramekins in a baking pan with deep sides. And carefully pour water around ramekins so that the water level must reach about 2/3 of the ramekins.
  • Bake for 1 hour and 30 minutes. You will know its ready when the custard is wobbly and jiggle from side to side when nudged (it looks like jello).
  • Remove the custard from the water bath and let cool completely, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 6 hours (overnight).
  • Before serving, cover each cold creme brulee evenly with sugar (1 tsp). Caramelize using a propane torch. If you don’t have one propane torch, use the broiler: put the oven rack about 6 inches away from the broiler. Place the custards on the baking sheet and broil for about 3-5 minutes, or until sugar bubbles and turns golden brown. (Keep a close eye on them, they can burn quickly)

Notes

With remaining eggs white, you could make some Coconut cookies.

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Ice Cream Cake Iceberg

I don’t mean to brag, but as far as homemade ice cream cake recipes go, this one is the winner. The red berry coulis topping is the perfect balance between sweet and sour. This No-Bake Ice Cream Cake Iceberg is the ideal dessert to serve at your next party on a hot summer day.

Ice Cream Cake Iceberg

Natalija
My suggestion is to pick red sour berries for rich color and a sour taste. Drain the sour cream to avoid liquid.
Prep Time 30 minutes
6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 30 minutes
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 4 eggs
  • 100 g granulated sugar (50 + 50)
  • 1-2 Tbsp vanilla extract
  • 300 ml sour cream
  • 100 ml heavy whipping cream ( 35%)
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 300 g red berries (blueberry, huckleberry, boysenberry, raspberry…) fresh or frozen
  • Some Fresh berries for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Separate egg yolks from egg whites. Whisk egg yolks with sugar (50 g).
  • When the sugar is dissolved add vanilla extract and mix well.
  • In a mixer bowl, whisk together very cold sour cream and heavy cream together until fluffy. Add sugar and continue whisking until firm (don’t over whip).
  • Using a spatula, combine egg yolks with whipped cream together.
  • In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until stiff.
  • With a spatula, carefully combine egg whites with whipped cream.
  • You should get a nice fluffy cream.
  • Spread the cream evenly into a silicone pan or salad bowl.
  • Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 6 hours or overnight.
  • Rinse and drain fresh berries and puree until smooth. If you are using a frozen berries, place them in a leak-proof container and set the container in cold water for 10-15 minutes, then puree them.
  • Pass the puree through a fine sieve to remove all tiny seeds. Coulis is ready.
  • Remove it from the silicone pan and return it back to freezer until serving. (If you used a salad bowl, place it into hot water for a couple seconds). Prepare fresh berries for garnish.
  • Right before serving, pour the coulis over the ice cream cake and garnish with fresh berries.
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Mini Pavlova

Pavlova is a dessert, named after the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, who toured Australia and New Zealand in 1926. It is a meringue dessert with crisp crust and soft light inside, topped with cream and fresh berries.

You can make meringue shells ahead of time and freeze them. I usually make the cream the same day I want to serve my Mini Pavlova. And as always this dessert is a perfect mini dessert for my  Cafe Gourmand.

Mini Pavlova dessert

Natalija
I rarely use food coloring when baking. I like my desserts to have their original color. But if you are cooking for Valentine's Day or for a Princess party, you may add some food coloring to your dessert. This time, I used one tiny drop of red coloring to make the cream pink.
Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
Total Time 36 minutes
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

Meringue

  • 4 egg whites (room temperature)
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 220 g confectioner’s sugar

Cream

  • 200 ml heavy whipping cream ( 35%) very cold
  • 100 g mascarpone cheese
  • 1,5 Tbsp sugar
  • 1 drop red food coloring (optional)
  • Fresh berries raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries…

Instructions
 

Meringue

  • Using mixer, begin beating your egg whites and salt on a low speed, steadily increasing up to medium high.
  • While beating on a medium speed, slowly add the confectioner’s sugar, about 1-2 Tbsp at a time. Once all the sugar is added, keep beating until the egg whites hold stiff peaks.
  • Preheat oven to 230 degrees F. Draw circles of approximately 4-8 cm diameter (you can use a pint glass as a guide) on each of the parchment lined sheets.
  • Spoon meringue into piping bag, fitted with 3/4 inch tip. Pipe meringue to cover circles on prepared baking sheet. Pipe two more rings of meringues on top of outer edge to form walls of Pavlovas.
  • Bake in center of oven until dry and crisp, about 1 1/2 hours.
  • Turn off the oven and let the meringues completely cool in the oven. Once cooled, you can top them with whipped cream and berries.

Filling

  • With mixer, beat together very cold heavy cream and mascarpone cheese, until whipped gradually adding sugar. Add food coloring. Don’t overbeat the cream, or you will end up with butter.
  • Spoon cream into piping bag.
  • Right before serving, pipe frosting on the pavlovas and top with fresh berries.
  • If you have some leftovers cream, you can pipe it into a small glass and garnish with some fresh berries.

Notes

Pease don’t waste your egg yolks, you can always make Creme brûlée.
 
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Three Layer Chocolate Mousse

Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate… Each layer has different taste and texture. You can use any size glasses you desire. And of course, as always, I choose mini portions. Ideal for a Cafe Gourmand.

Three layer chocolate mousse

Natalija
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 6 hours 35 minutes
Servings 6 serving

Ingredients
  

Dark chocolate ganache

  • 120 ml heavy whipping cream
  • 100 g dark chocolate

Milk chocolate mousse

  • 100 g milk chocolate
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 pinch salt

White chocolate mousse

  • 150 ml heavy whipping cream
  • 100 g white chocolate

For garnishing

  • 6-8 fresh raspberries

Instructions
 

Dark chocolate ganache

  • In a small pan, boil the heavy whipping cream. Pour the boiling cream over the dark chocolate. Wait for one minute and mix it until the mixture is smooth.
  • Divide dark chocolate ganache among six glasses. Refrigerate for one hour.

Milk chocolate mousse

  • Separate egg yolks from the egg whites.
  • Melt milk chocolate in microwave until the chocolate is completely melted. Add egg yolks in melted chocolate and mix well.
  • Whisk egg whites with salt until stiff.
  • Carefully fold in the egg whites into chocolate.
  • Remove glasses from the fridge, spoon the mousse over the chocolate gonache and chill for another hour.

White chocolate mousse

  • Bring the heavy whipping cream to a boil. Pour the hot cream over the white chocolate. Wait 1-2 minutes until white chocolate melts.
  • Whisk until smooth. Place white chocolate in the fridge for about 45 minutes. Chocolate should chill completely but at the same time still liquid.
  • Beat the chilled chocolate until soft foam.
  • Using piping bag or small spoon, spread the mousse into the glasses.
  • Refrigerate your dessert for 4-6 hours.
  • Before serving, garnish each glass with fresh berries. If the portion is mini, you can cut raspberries into 2 pieces.
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Chocolate Yule Log (Bûche de Noël)

Chocolate Yule Log (Bûche de Noël) is the French roll cake very popular during the Holiday season. This is a delicious version of Yule Log you can make at home using very simple ingredients you can find in every store.

Bûche à la crème chantilly et ganache au chocolat

Chocolate Yule Log (Bûche de Noël)

Natalija
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 6 hours 55 minutes
Servings 10 servings

Ingredients
  

Sugar syrup

  • 150 g sugar
  • 300 ml water

Chocolate ganache

  • 200 ml heavy whipping cream ( 35%)
  • 200 g dark chocolate (60-70% cacao)
  • 15 g unsalted butter

Biscuit

  • 4 eggs (at room temperature)
  • 120 g sugar
  • 120 g all purpose flour
  • 1 Tbsp cocoa powder

Chantilly cream

  • 250 ml heavy whipping cream ( 35%) very cold
  • 45 g mascarpone cheese
  • 1.25 Tbsp sugar

Decoration

  • Few meringues, pieces of chocolat

Instructions
 

Sugar syrup

  • In a small pot, bring cold water and sugar to the boil. Keep boiling for a few minutes, stir constantly until the sugar dissolves completely. Remove the pan from the heat and let cool down. When the syrup is cold, you may add vanilla or the Triple Sec liqueur (optional).

Biscuit

  • Preheat oven to 380 degrees F (180°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Using an electric mixer, beat eggs and sugar until the mixture becomes thick, fluffy, and triples in volume.
  • Using a spatula, gently fold in flour and cocoa powder.
  • Spread the batter evenly in thin layer into the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 7 to 8 minutes in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in center of biscuit comes out clean.
  • Turn upside down onto clean kitchen towel and carefully remove parchment paper. Let cool down.

Chocolate ganache

  • Boil the heavy whipping cream. Pour the boiling cream over the dark chocolate. Wait for one minute.
  • Then mix it until the mixture is smooth.
  • Add butter and mix until this is fully dissolved.
  • Let cool the ganache for about 30 minutes in the fridge. Mix and check frequently: the ganache is ready when it’s not anymore liquid and has a spreadable texture.

Chantilly cream

  • Beat together very cold heavy cream and cold mascarpone cheese until this is whipped. Keep gradually adding sugar.

Assemblage

  • Paint the biscuit with sugar syrup.
  • Spread the chantilly cream evenly over the biscuit.
  • Roll up firmly.
  • Tightly cover with plastic wrap, and keep in the fridge until chocolate ganache is ready.
  • Remove the plastic wrap. Spread the ganache over the cake. Using a fork make lines to look like a log. Transfer the cake to a serving platter and let stand in the fridge for a night or at least 3 hours.
  • Before serving, dust with cacao cocoa powder and decorate with meringues or pieces of chocolate.
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Creamy Vanilla And Chocolate Jelly

Creamy Vanilla And Chocolate Jelly is a very light and airy dessert, with a touch of sweetness. Who wouldn’t love chocolate and vanilla goodness in a cup? I always try to limit myself. This dessert is so simple to make and a great way to end a special dinner. It can be done the day before.

Птичье молоко в стаканчиках

Creamy Vanilla And Chocolate Jelly

Irina
You can also make it in one big baking pan and cut it into small squares.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
5 hours
Total Time 5 hours 20 minutes
Servings 12 servings

Ingredients
  

Vanilla layer

  • 1/2 cup water cold
  • 3 packs Knox original gelatin unflavored
  • 500 ml heavy whipping cream
  • 500 ml whole milk
  • 8 Tbsp sugar
  • 1 Tbsp vanilla extract

Chocolate layer

  • 60 ml whole milk
  • 3 Tbsp water cold
  • 1/2 pack Knox original gelatin unflavored
  • 1 Tbsp sugar
  • 1 Tbsp cacao powder

Instructions
 

Vanilla layer

  • In a small bowl, sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup of cold water. Let stand for 5 minutes.
  • In a large saucepan, bring milk, heavy whipping cream, vanilla extract and sugar to a simmer, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved.
  • Add gelatin mixture and stir until dissolved. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Let it cool for 5 minutes, strain through a fine sieve.
  • Divide the mixture between 12 small glasses and place them in the fridge until firm (2-3 hours).

Chocolate layer

  • In a small saucepan, add milk and water. Sprinkle gelatin on top and set aside for 3 minutes. Add cacao powder and sugar, mix well.
  • Place over medium heat and heat until barely boiling, stirring constantly.
  • Remove from the heat and strain through a fine sieve. Let the mix cool down.
  • Remove the glasses from the refrigerator and pour the chocolate mixture on top of the vanilla jelly.
  • Refrigerate for 2 more hours.
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Berry Charlotte Cake

This is a famous French dessert made of ladyfinger biscuits, light mousse and topped with fresh fruits. My Berry Charlotte Cake is very easy to make, although it seems like not. The only downside to a charlotte is that it is not always easy to assemble the ladyfinger in the spring form.

Berry Charlotte Cake

Natalija
Even though the berry season is only a few months out of the year, frozen berries allow us enjoying the sweet taste of summer year round. If it is winter time or you happen to not finding any good berries at the store, use frozen ones, for the mousse and fresh ones for the decor.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 3 minutes
Total Time 6 hours 33 minutes
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 500 g berries raspberries, strawberries or blackberries…
  • 50-70 g sugar
  • 500 ml heavy whipping cream ( 35%) very cold
  • 8 g gelatin
  • 24 Ladyfingers

For decoration

  • 1 Tbsp cocoa powder
  • Fresh berries
  • Fresh mint optional
  • whipped cream optional

Instructions
 

  • Rinse and drain berries, add sugar and puree until smooth.
  • Pass the puree through a fine sieve, to remove all tiny seeds.
  • You will need about 1/2 cup of puree for dipping the ladyfingers. The rest pour into the saucepan.
  • Add 4-5 Tbsp of cold water to gelatin, and set it aside.
  • Place the saucepan with berry mixture over medium heat on the stove (don’t boil), remove from the stove and add gelatin. Whisk well until the gelatin is dissolved. Let it cool to room temperature. …
  • Pour the very cold heavy whipping cream into a large bowl and whisk, until the cream reaches the soft peaks stage. Do not over beat!
  • Once the berry puree is completely at room temperature, gently fold it into the whipped cream and set it aside.
  • Line the inside and walls of a springform pan with parchment paper or plastic wrap. …
  • Measure the length you need.
  • You can trim off one end of each ladyfinger.
  • Dip one side of the ladyfinger in the puree mixture. Let the excess syrup drip off, then line the ladyfingers (dipped side needs to be inside) in a tight ring, cut side down, around the spring form pan.
  • If you having trouble fitting the last ladyfinger in, you can cut it in half.
  • Pour the berry mousse into the springform. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 6 hours.
  • Carefully remove springform walls and plastic wrap. Transfer cake to the plate.
  • Dust with cocoa powder.
  • Garnish with some fresh berries, fresh mint, whipped cream and shredded chocolate.
  • You can decorate with ribbon, but don’t forget to remove the ribbon before cutting the cake. 🙂
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Fresh whipped cream with blackberries

Treat yourself with this mini dessert that is perfect for any occasion. It takes minimum time to make and looks fabulous. Fruits can be fresh or frozen, don’t worry : it will taste the same. This fresh whipped cream with blackberries will be perfect with a cafe gourmand!

Fresh whipped cream with blackberries

Natalija
The proportion for this recipe is for the mini glasses. If you are using regular wine glasses you’ll get 2-3 servings.
Prep Time 7 minutes
Total Time 7 minutes
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup blackberries
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream very cold
  • 2 tsp granulated sugar
  • 1/4 tsp cocoa powder

Instructions
 

  • Whip heavy cream fluffy, until soft peaks form, but not too firm.
  • Equally divide washed fruits into prepared glasses. Using the piping bag or small spoon, equally spread the cream into the glasses. Refrigerate if not serving it immediately.
  • Before serving, dust it with cacao powder.
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