Marquis au Chocolat

The origins of this chocolate mousse are still unknown, but it seems there is a link with Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, Marquise de Sévigné, for whom chocolate was an obsession. In a letter of 1671, she wrote to her pregnant daughter that "a marquise ate so much chocolate during her pregnancy that she gave birth to a newborn born as black as the devil and died shortly afterwards". Least said, soonest mended...

Prep Time 50 mins

Cook Time 40 mins

Rest Time 1440 mins

Total Time 25 hrs 30 mins

Cooking Method: Baking

Cuisine: Europe, French

Courses: Desserts & Sweets

Difficulty: Advanced

Servings: 12

Dietary: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Cake Base

melted butter for greasing
1 tbsp ground almonds, plus extra for dusting tin
300 g dark chocolate, minimum 60%
275 g caster sugar
165 g unsalted butter
sea salt
5 large eggs

Mousse

250 g dark chocolate, minimum 60%
100 g icing sugar
175 g unsalted butter
5 large eggs, separated
150 ml whipping cream
cocoa powder for dusting

Instructions

1
Preheat the oven to 180°C, brush the tin with the melted butter and dust with the ground almonds, shaking off any excess.
2
For the cake: Melt the chocolate, caster sugar, butter and salt in a bain- marie, a large, heatproof bowl suspended over a saucepan of barely simmering water.
Keep the bowl above rather than touching the simmering water, and avoid allowing steam or water into the chocolate mixture.
3
Whisk the eggs along with the ground almonds and gently fold into the chocolate mixture whilst off the heat. Continue to fold until the mixture thickens. Pour into the cake tin and bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Leave to cool in the tin for about 2 hours on a wire rack before starting the mousse.
Let the base cool completely before adding the mousse; residual warmth can melt the mousse and prevent a clean set.
4
For the mousse: Melt the chocolate in a large in the fashion above. Remove from the heat and add half the icing sugar, stir, then whisk in the butter. Whisk in the egg yolks, one at a time and set the mixture aside.
The mousse contains uncooked or only minimally heated egg. Use British Lion eggs or another egg produced under an equivalent salmonella-control scheme, particularly if serving anyone more vulnerable to foodborne illness.
5
Whisk the egg whites until stiff peaks start to form. Add the remaining icing sugar and continue to whisk until a glossy sheen appears. Whip the cream until stiff peaks form.
6
Add one third of the egg whites to the chocolate mixture and carefully fold or mix to blend. Gently fold in the remaining whites, alternating with the whipped cream. Be careful not to overmix, but ensure that the mixture is well blended. Pour the mousse over the cooled cake base in the cake tin and place in the fridge overnight.
Fold only until evenly combined so the mousse retains its aeration, then refrigerate promptly and keep chilled until serving.
7
Remove the tin from the fridge about 15 minutes before serving. Dip a palette knife into boiling water, dry it and slide it round the sides of the cake to loosen it from the tin, and remove the ring Reheat the palette knife in the boiling water, dry it and gently smooth the sides of the mousse.
8
Place the cake, still on the tin base, on to a large round serving plate. Dust generously with cocoa powder just before serving. Serve with crème fraîche or a fresh custard.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 12

Amount Per Serving
Calories 679.22kcal

% Daily Value *
Total Fat 46.12g71%
Saturated Fat 26.98g135%
Cholesterol 215.92mg72%
Sodium 77.04mg4%
Potassium 334.72mg10%
Total Carbohydrate 59.97g20%
Dietary Fiber 3.28g14%
Sugars 45.21g
Protein 8.19g17%

Calcium 65.88 mg
Iron 4.45 mg
Vitamin D 0.83 IU

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Note

Use a 9" springform tin with high sides and a removable base.