Chocolate Mint Napoleons

From Shane Gorringe, The Grill Room.

• Ready In: 1 hr 15 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• Mint Sauce

• 6  tablespoons green creme de menthe
• 2  tablespoons sugar
• 1⁄2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise

• Mousse

• 2  large  egg yolks
• 1⁄4 cup sugar
• 3⁄4 cup  chilled  whipping cream
• 6  ounces  best-quality bittersweet chocolate or 6  ounces  semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 1⁄4 cup  clear Creme de Cacao
• 1⁄4 cup butter, room temperature

• Chocolate Bark

• 2  ounces  clear hard  peppermint candies
• 12  ounces  best-quality bittersweet chocolate or 12  ounces  semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

Directions

1. For sauce: Combine crème de menthe and sugar in small saucepan; scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean; stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves; remove from heat; cool; strain into bowl.
2. For mousse: Whisk yolks and ¼ cup sugar in small bowl to blend; bring ¼ cup cream to simmer in small saucepan; gradually whisk hot cream into egg mixture; return mixture to same saucepan; stir constantly over medium-low heat until custard thickens, about 1 minute (do not boil); reduce heat to low; add chocolate, crème de cacao and butter and stir until smooth; pour into large bowl; chill until cool, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes; beat ½ cup cream in small bowl to stiff peaks; fold cream into chocolate mixture; cover and chill.
3. For Chocolate Bark: Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment; finely grind mints in processor; place half of chocolate in top of double boiler set over simmering water; stir until candy thermometer registers 115F; pour onto 1 prepared sheet; using spatula, spread chocolate to 1/16-inch thickness over parchment; sprinkle half of ground candies over half of chocolate; fold parchment in half to seal candies in chocolate; repeat with remaining chocolate and candies; cover and chill 1 to 24 hours; peel parchment off chocolate bark; break or cut each sheet of bark into 6 large irregular pieces, reserving any small pieces for garnish; place 1 bark piece on plate; spread scant 1/3 cup mousse over bark; place another bark piece on top of mousse; spread scant 1/3 cup mousse over; top with another bark piece; place dollop of mousse on top of chocolate and top with any smaller bark pieces, standing pieces upright; repeat with remaining bark and mousse; (Can be made 6 hours ahead; cover; chill).
4. Serve napoleons with sauce.