Almond Cookie Cups With Chocolate Mousse

This is not only a delicious dessert but very impressive. Velvet Chocolate Mousse served in a almond cookie cup. You get to eat the whole thing. Mmmm so good! The compliments are worth the time and effort to put this special dessert together. I make it at Christmas.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• ALMOND COOKIES

• 1⁄3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1⁄3 cup sugar
• 1⁄8 teaspoon salt
• 2  tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, cooled
• 2  tablespoons  vegetable oil
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  almond extract
• 2  egg whites
• 3  tablespoons  sliced almonds

• CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

• 6  ounces  semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 1 1⁄2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 2  tablespoons light corn syrup
• 3  egg yolks

• GARNISH

• 1⁄4 cup  sliced almonds, toasted

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350ºF. Spray 2 baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray.
2. In medium bowl, stir together flour, sugar and salt. In another medium bowl, whisk together all remaining cookie ingredients except 3 tablespoons almonds. Add to flour mixture, whisking until smooth.
3. For each cookie, spoon 1 1/2 tablespoons batter onto baking sheet; spread evenly to 6-inch round, eliminating any holes. Make only 2 cookies per baking sheet, placing at least 1 inch apart. Sprinkle each cookie with 1/8 of the sliced almonds.
4. Bake one sheet at a time 6 to 8 minutes or just until tops are dry and light brown, with golden-brown edges. Immediately place cookies in 6-oz. custard cups. Place second custard cup over cookies to form cup shape.
5. OR, you can cover the back of muffin tins with the warm cookie to get the same effect. Remove from molds; set on cooling rack. Cool completely. Repeat using remaining batter.
6. To make chocolate mousse, place chocolate in heatproof medium bowl. Bring 1 inch water to a boil in medium saucepan. Remove from heat. Place bowl of chocolate over saucepan (bowl should not touch water). Let stand until melted. Stir. Remove from heat; set aside to cool.
7. In small heavy saucepan over medium-low heat, whisk together 1/2 cup of the cream, corn syrup and egg yolks. Cook, whisking constantly, 5 to 6 minutes or until mixture is thick, covers back of spoon and reaches 160ºF. on instant-read thermometer. (Be careful not to overcook.).
8. Strain yolk mixture into chocolate. Immediately whisk briskly, making chocolate shiny and satin-smooth. Cool to 80ºF. to 85ºF. (Mixture should feel comfortable to the touch.).
9. In large bowl, beat remaining 1 cup cream at medium-high speed until soft peaks form. Fold cooled chocolate mixture into whipped cream. Cover; refrigerate up to 8 hours. Bring to room temperature before serving.
10. o serve, place tulip cups on individual dessert plates. Fill each with chocolate mousse; sprinkle with toasted almonds.
11. TIP *To toast almonds, place on baking sheet; bake at 375ºF. for 6 minutes or until deep golden brown.