CHOCOLATE PETITE FOURS RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and spray a 9''x9'' cake pan with non-stick cooking spray.
• In a large bowl, combine the whites only of 4 eggs (reserve 2 of the yolks for later). Try to avoid any 'goldfish' (little bits of yolk in the egg whites). If you do get goldfish, it's okay for this recipe, just realize that you won't get peaks when you beat it.
• Add the 1/4 t cream of tartar and 1/4 t salt to the egg whites. Beat until foamy.
• Add the 1/3 c Splenda/sugar to the egg white mixture and beat until stiff peaks form (or until foamy and well-mixed if you had goldfish).
• Beat in egg yolks and vanilla.
• In a small bowl, mix together the 1/4 c flour and 1/4 c cocoa.
• Lightly fold the flour mixture into the egg mixture.
• Pour batter into prepared cake pan and bake for 25 minutes, or until cake springs back lightly to touch.
• Once the cake is finished baking, turn out onto parchment lined baking rack to cool.
• When the cake is cool, slice into two layers using a long, sharp knife with a serrated blade.
• To make the simple syrup: combine the 1/2 c water and 1/2 c Splenda/sugar in a small saucepan and heat until sugar is dissolved.
• Using a pastry brush, coat both sides of the two cake layers with the simple syrup mixture.
• To make the frosting: cream the 3 T unsalted butter with 1/4 t vanilla. Add the 1 1/2 c powdered sugar and 1/4 c cocoa and blend gently to avoid the powders flying everywhere. CAREFULLY add just enough water to get a thick frosting (caution on this because if you add way too much you'll need to start over with the frosting, it only takes just a little water).
• Spread the frosting over one layer of the cake. Top this layer with the other layer and then frost the top of your layered cake.
• Using your sharp serrated knife again, cut the cake into 36 pieces (5 equal cuts in both directions). To make the pieces perfectly the same size you can measure and insert toothpicks as markers before you cut.
• To make the glaze: In a double boiler, melt the 16 oz bittersweet chocolate, the 1 c unsalted butter, and the 2 T light corn syrup. Stir often until well-blended.
• Set a baking rack over a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper. Set the layered cake pieces on the backing rack with spaces between each piece to let the chocolate flow over their sides.
• Pour the glaze over the cake pieces, taking care to cover the sides. The excess glaze will pool on the cookie sheet and may be reheated and reused. **For less waste, you can half the amount of glaze and coat in two phases, or have another recipe ready to use the excess glaze in.**.
• Allow the glaze to cool. I relocate the baking rack to the freezer to speed up the process once the pieces are slightly cooled.
• For the white hearts decoration: melt the white chocolate chips in a clean double boiler. Once the petit fours are well-hardened, use a clean paintbrush to paint the white chocolate hearts (or whatever decoration you'd like) on the tops. You may need to go over them more than once to get a nice white color without mixing with the dark brown glaze.

Steps:

• MAKE RASPBERRY PUREE:.
• Thaw 1.5 packages frozen raspberries. Press berries berries through a fine-mesh strainer, using a rubber spatula. (Yield approximately 1-1/2 cups puree).
• MAKE THE RASPBERRY SPONGE CAKE:.
• Preheat oven to 350ºF. Butter 15"x10" jelly roll pan. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper and butter the paper.
• Sift flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
• Mix 2/3 cup Raspberry Puree and butter in a small saucepan. Heat to a boil over medium heat. Stir in the Chambord and remove from heat.
• Place eggs, sugar, and vanilla extract in large mixing bowl.
• Beat with electric mixer at high speed about 5 minutes or until thick and lemon-colored. Lower to medium speed and very carefully pour the hot Raspberry Puree into egg mixture, beating well.
• Add the flour mixture, beating on low speed until incorporated. Spread batter in prepared pan.
• Bake for 12-15 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touch. Cool the cake in the pan for 5-10 minutes.
• Invert onto a wire rack and peel off the parchment papaer. Cool completely.
• MAKE THE RASPBERRY GANACHE:.
• Heat the cream and 2/3 cup Raspberry Puree in a medium saucepan over medium heat to a boil, stirring occasionall. Remove from heat.
• Add chopped chocolate and stir until melted and smooth. Stir in the Chambord. Pour into jelly roll or baking pan.
• Cover with plastic wrap and let it stand at room temperature until cooled and thickened, about 1 to 2 hours. (The Raspberry Ganache can be made ahead and refrigerated until needed. Bring ganache to room temperature or gently reheat until spreadable.).
• ASSEMBLE THE PETITS FOURS:.
• Cut cake in half crosswise, making two 10"x7.5" rectangles.
• Spread 2/3 cup Raspberry Ganache over one layer. Top with second layer.
• Wrap cake in plastic wrap and freeze until firm, about 1 hour.
• Cut cake into 1" squares. Place half the cake squares on a wire rack set over baking sheet.
• Freeze remaining cake squares.
• Place the Raspberry Ganache in a 4 cup microwave-safe measuring cup with a pouring spot. Microwave on medium(50%) for minute. Stir until smooth. (Ganache should be thin enough to pour.).
• Slowly drizzle the ganache over each petit four, coating all sides evenly. Return any ganache on baking sheet to measuring cup.
• Repeat melting and pouring the ganache over cakes until each petit four is coated. Repeat with remaining cake squares.
• Chill petit fours in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
• DECORATING THE PETITS FOURS:.
• Place Solid Ivory into small microwave-safe cup. Microwave on medium (50%)for 1 minute. Stir until smooth.
• Tint pink with red food coloring. Spoon into parchment cone, pastry bag, or teaspoon and drizle petits fours with melted pink icing.
• Refrigerate at least 1 hour to set decoration. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.