Cocoa, Strawberry and Champagne Gateaux
Part 1: Strawberry and Champagne Insert
Ingredients
Method- 300ml Champagne
- 35g Caster Sugar
- 1 Lemon (Juice Only)
- 100g Fresh Strawberries (Finely Diced)
- Ultratex (To Thicken, By Eye)
- Combine and heat the champagne, caster sugar & lemon juice until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly.
- Use the ultratex by adding gradually, processing with a hand blender to incorporate, until the desired ‘gel’ consistency has been achieved.
- Fold through the diced strawberries and when happy with the consistency of the mixture, fill the desired moulds and freeze until ready to use.
Part 2: Rose Blush sponge sheet
Ingredients
Method- 210g Caster sugar
- 190g Unsalted butter, softened
- 4 Whole Eggs
- 35g Rose Blush cocoa powder
- 180g Plain Flour
- Pinch of Baking Powder
- Cream together the caster sugar and butter until light in texture.
- Add in the eggs gradually, beating until all are combined. Sieve the cocoa powder, plain flour & baking powder before carefully folding through the eggs and sugar mix.
- Once your cake batter has formed, spread evenly onto a lined baking tray, before cooking in a preheated oven at 170 degrees Celsius for 20 - 22 minutes until firm to the touch. Allow to cool fully before portioning to size.
Part 3: Rich Terracotta Bavarois
Ingredients
Method- 4 Gelatine Sheets, Softened
- 325ml Double Cream
- 45g Rich Terracotta cocoa powder
- 125g Egg Yolk
- 30g Caster Sugar
- 325ml Double Cream, Lightly Whipped
- Strain the water from the gelatine sheets & leave to one side. Combine the cream, cocoa powder, sugar & egg yolk and heat, whisking throughout, to create an anglaise.
- Once achieved, stir in the gelatine, remove from the heat and process with a hand blender until smooth.
- Once the mixture has cooled to 40 degrees Celsius, fold in the whipped cream gradually, until fully incorporated, being careful to ensure the bavarois stays aerated.
- Transfer into a piping bag ready for building this gateau when all components are ready.
Part 4: Assembly
Method- Begin by selecting your chosen mould and piping a layer, almost half full, of the cocoa bavarois.
- Insert a frozen strawberry & champagne sphere from earlier central into each cavity before piping further mousse into each until almost full.
- Finish each cavity with a single piece of the portioned sponge, before smoothing over with a palette knife and allowing to freeze fully before attempting to demould.
- Before glazing the frozen gateaux, I chose to protect each by dipping them in a 75/25% ratio chocolate/cocoa butter mixture. This creates a ‘shell’ that will ensure the structural integrity of the creations upon defrost. This recipe and technique has been prominent in my other recipes & books throughout the years.
- I then chose to immediately glaze them in a baby pink coloured mirror glaze using my basic mirror glaze recipe before subtly displaying and finishing with a single candied rose petal and some small detailing with edible gold leaf. Allow to defrost for approximately 3 hours before serving or simply refrigerate and enjoy within 3 days.
