Chocolate Genoise6 whole eggs180 grams sugar80 grams cornstarch80 grams flour20 grams cocoa powder20 grams butter, melted and cooled Kirsch Simple Syrup100 grams water100 grams sugar2 Tbs kirsch or to taste Mousse au café135 g whipping cream, whipped up2 g sheet gelatine, bloom in cold water12.5 g Cognac Crème anglaise au café60 g milk10 g instant coffee30 g egg yolks20 g caster sugar Dark Chocolate Mousse55 grams pate a bombe85 grams 70% chocolate225 ml heavy cream, whipped to soft peaks
Chocolate Genoise
In the bowl of an electric mixer, whisk together the eggs and the sugar. Place this bowl over a double boiler and continue whisking until the sugar has dissolved and the eggs feel hot to the touch. Transfer the bowl to the electric mixer and whip in high speed until the eggs triple in volume and they form a thick ribbon.
Sift the cornstarch, flour and cocoa powder together into a bowl. Add the sifted mixture to the whipped eggs in three batches folding each time slowly to avoid deflating the batter too much. Finally add the melted butter and fold so that the butter doesn’t all fall to the bottom of the bowl.
Divide this batter into two half sheetpans that have been sprayed and lined with parchment paper. Spread the batter evenly and bake in a 375F oven for about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cake cool. The cake can be wrapped in plastic and frozen.
Kirsch Simple Syrup
Bring the sugar and water to a boil. Remove from heat as soon as sugar is dissolved. Let the syrup cool and add the kirsch.
Crème anglaise au café
To make crème anglaise au café, whisk egg yolks & sugar in a saucepan, bring milk & coffee to boil in another saucepan then slowly whisk it into the yolk mixture.
Whisk the yolk mixture while heating over low heat until 82-85C.
Remove from heating & stir in the gelatine.
After cooling, mix in the Cognac.
Fold in the whipped cream.
Dark Chocolate Mousse
Add a third of the cream to the melted chocolate and whisk. Add the pate a bombe to this and fold. Add the rest of the cream and fold. If the mousse is a bit runny, place the bowl in the refrigerator so it has a chance to harden a bit so it is easier to pipe.
Assemble the Cakes
Line ring molds with acetate paper and place them on a sheetpan. Measure the circumference of the ring mold and cut a strip of cake accordingly. Place the strip of chocolate genoise around the ring mold and a disk on the bottom. Soak the cake with simple syrup. Pipe the pistachio mousse inside the ring mold almost to the top. Top with another disk of genoise. Soak the top disk of cake with some more syrup. Let the cake sit in the freezer until the pistachio mousse sets.
Place the chocolate mousse in a piping bag with a star tip. Pipe a rosette on top of the cake. Freeze the cakes overnight. For the velvet look, spray the cakes with chocolate spray when these are still frozen.