Milk chocolate hazelnut shortcakes with whipped ganache on a plate

Milk chocolate hazelnut shortcakes with whipped ganache

Published on

Level :

Intermediate

Prep Time :

1h15min

Cook Time :

30 min

Servings :

6

Milk chocolate and hazelnut coated shortcakes recipe

An original recipe by L’Ecole Valrhona Gourmet 

Utensils:

  • Hand blender

  • Piping bag

  • Tray with stainless steel frame

  • Cutter

  • Parchment paper

Made with the products below :

1. Milk chocolate Azelia 35% whipped ganache

Ingredients:

  • 110g Whipping cream 35% 
  • 10g Glucose syrup 
  • 10g Invert sugar or honey 
  • 165g Azélia 35% Chocolate  
  • 295g Whipping cream 35% 

Prep time: 20 min

Rest time: 2h minimum

Steps:

  • Slowly pour the mix (cream, invert sugar and glucose) onto the melted Azélia 35% milk chocolate

  • Mix in the center to form a shiny, elastic texture – this is a sign that you are starting to make an emulsion. 

  • Maintain this texture throughout the mixing process. 

  • Continue, adding the liquid little by little. 

  • Start mixing by hand, then using a hand blender. Set aside. 

  • Mix the ganache with the cold whipping cream. 

  • Leave to set in the refrigerator for at least 2 or 3 hours before whisking. 

  • The texture must be firm enough for the mousse to be used in a piping bag 

2. Soft hazelnut sponge cake

Ingredients:

  • 160g Egg yolks 
  • 110g Sugar 
  • 105g Plain flour 
  • 125g Finely ground hazelnuts 
  • 70g Unsalted butter 
  • 190g Egg whites 
  • 70g Sugar   

Prep time: 30 min

Cook time: 25 min

Rest time: until use

Steps:

  • Whisk the egg yolks. Add the sugar. Whisk by hand or in a food processor until the mix whitens and doubles in volume, creating a thick and smooth cream which flows in ribbons and falls back to the mixture leaving folds when you raise the whisk. 

  • In the meantime, melt the butter and set aside. 

  • Sift together the flour and finely ground hazelnuts. 

  • Beat the egg whites until they form soft peaks, while slowly adding the sugar. 

  • Mix part of the beaten egg white with the yolks and sugar. 

  • Add the sifted flour and powdered hazelnut to the mix, then the remaining egg whites. 

  • Finally, add the melted butter. 

  • Bake at 356°F (180°C) on a tray with a stainless steel frame for 25 minutes. 

  • Cool, then use a plain round 6cm cutter to cut the sponge into discs. Store in the refrigerator.

3. Crunchy milk chocolate and hazelnut coating

Ingredients:

Prep time: 10 min

Rest time: until the coating hardens

Steps:

  • Melt the Azélia 35% milk chocolate and add the other ingredients to it. 

  • Soak the soft hazelnut sponge discs (made in the previous step) in this mix. 

  • Leave to set on a rack and store in the refrigerator.  

4. Cocoa nibs and nougatine decoration

Ingredients:

  • 75g Sugar 
  • 1.5g Pectin NH 
  • 65g Unsalted butter 
  • 25g Glucose syrup 
  • 5g Water 
  • 85g Cocoa nibs 

Prep time: 15 min

Cook time: until nougatine changes color

Rest time: until the nougatine cools

Steps:

  • Thoroughly mix the pectin NH and sugar. 

  • Heat the water, glucose and butter together. 

  • When the mixture reaches 113°F (45°C), add the pectin and sugar mix. 

  • Bring to the boil then add the cocoa nibs. 

  • Spread thinly and evenly between 2 sheets of parchment paper. 

  • Set the oven to 356°F (180°C) to bake until the nougatine turns a amber caramel color

  • Take out of the oven, cut into 4cm diameter discs

  • Leave to cool on a rack.  

5. Shortcakes assembly

Steps:

  • On each hazelnut coated sponge disc, pipe the Azélia 35% whipped ganache using a fluted nozzle

  • Place a cocoa nibs nougatine decoration on each dessert, along with hazelnut slivers. 

  • Place a shortcake dessert on each plate.
Milk chocolate hazelnut shortcakes with whipped ganache ready to be served