bars

No-Bake Chocolate Mousse Bars

Posted on by Ruth

Last month I made an updated version of my favorite showstopper chocolate raspberry mousse cake. It was delicious and I will absolutely be making it again; but that cake is definitely a multi-day, special occasion project. I had some elements leftover from assembly and decided to try remixing them into a more casual bake. Thus, these no-bake chocolate mousse bars were born!

These bars feature a crunchy feuilletine layer, a rich but airy dark chocolate custard mousse, and a shiny berry glaze. The berry glaze was an obvious choice for me since I had some leftover from my cake; but if you’re short on time you could sub that for a thin layer of ganache (quantities/instructions included in recipe card) or even a dollop of whipped cream.

BTW, if you’re wondering what feuilletine is, head on over to my newsletter where I tell you all about this magical ingredient and how to get it or make it yourself! For these bars, I used homemade feuilletine.

These bars are assembled in a standard 8×8 pan and don’t require an oven or a stand mixer. (A hand mixer is helpful for whipping the cream, but you could do it by hand if so inclined!) They’re easily whipped up in an afternoon, but fancy enough to serve at a party.

Enjoy!

chocolate mousse bars

No-Bake Chocolate Mousse Bars

Yield: One 8x8 pan
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Additional Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 40 minutes

Crunchy chocolate feuilletine base, creamy chocolate mousse, and shiny glaze combine in this easy-fancy no-bake dessert.

Ingredients

For the feuilletine base:

  • 100g feuilletine flakes, crushed
  • 100g bittersweet chocolate, melted (I used 70%)
  • 100g pistachio or hazelnut cream (such as Pisti brand, or Nutella)

For the chocolate mousse:

  • 257g bittersweet chocolate (I used 55%), chopped
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 14g granulated sugar
  • 68g heavy cream (cream 1)
  • 68g whole milk
  • 266g heavy cream (cream 2)

For the topping:

  • 150g berry mirror glaze (see notes) OR
  • 100g milk chocolate
  • 50g heavy cream

Instructions

  1. Prep: Line an 8 x 8-inch pan with two criss-crossing pieces of parchment, leaving about 3 inches of overhang on two sides, and lightly grease.
  2. Make the feuilletine layer: Place the crushed feuilletine in a medium bowl. Whisk together the melted chocolate and hazelnut paste until smooth. Scrape the mixture over the feuilletine and mix well to coat. Spread evenly and firmly into the base of the prepared pan. Refrigerate to set while you prepare the mousse.
  3. Make the chocolate mousse: Place the chocolate in a medium heat-safe bowl. Melt in the microwave in 15-20 second intervals, stirring well between bursts. Set aside to cool slightly. (Alternatively you can do this in a double boiler/bain-marie.)
  4. In a medium saucepan, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar until well combined. Add cream 1 and the milk and whisk until well combined. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until the custard thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon and registers 175-180F.
  5. Strain the custard over the melted chocolate and stir to form a smooth ganache.
  6. In a large bowl, whip cream 2 to barely soft peaks. Use a whisk or silicone spatula to gently fold in the slightly warm ganache a third at a time. Fold just until the mixture is homogenous. Scrape the mousse over the prepared base and smooth with an offset spatula. Refrigerate uncovered for at least 2 hours before adding the glaze.
  7. Make the topping: If using berry glaze, prepare the berry glaze and cool to ~90F (it should be fairly liquid and a little warmer than room temperature).
  8. If using ganache, combine the chopped milk chocolate and heavy cream in a heat safe bowl. Melt in the microwave in 15-20 second intervals, stirring well between bursts, until smooth. For this small amount it should only take a couple bursts.
  9. Add the topping: If using the berry glaze, gently pour the glaze over the mousse, tilting the pan if needed to cover the entire surface. (Note: I like to pour the glaze through a small sieve to catch any air bubbles.)
  10. If using ganache, scrape the ganache over the mousse and use an offset spatula to smooth it across the entire surface.
  11. Whichever you choose, refrigerate uncovered for an additional 2 hours to fully set the mousse and topping before slicing and serving.
  12. To slice: Use the excess parchment to remove the mousse bars and transfer to a cutting board. For the cleanest slices, dip a sharp chef's knife in hot water and dry off the blade between slices. Serve chilled. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to a week.

Notes

For the topping I used this berry mirror glaze recipe from King Arthur Baking. I made the entire recipe and used it for several baking projects; it freezes well.

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© Ruth
Category: Bars and Brownies

Meyer Lemon Custard Bars with Poppyseed Crust

Posted on by Ruth

The idea for these meyer lemon custard bars have been bouncing around in my head for a year, or since the last time meyer lemons were in season and readily available in the supermarket. I’m game for good lemon desserts anytime; but they’re especially welcome in January as a foil for the warm spices and heavy flavors many of us enjoy in the months prior. The cheerful color helps too.

These particular bars straddle the line between classic American style lemon bars and a British style lemon tart, with the ease and portability of the former and the mellow creaminess of the latter. Tastewise, this is not a face-puckering lemon bar. If you think of the difference between sorbet and ice cream, these bars are like ice cream. Cream mutes the lemon flavor but also helps it linger on the palate. Still, I’ve tried to bump up the lemon flavor as much as possible by infusing the cream with lemon zest and adding some to the crust as well.

I used meyer lemons as they’re a January treat around here, less acidic than regular lemons with a gentle floral note. (They’re thought to be a cross between a regular lemon and a mandarin orange.) But if you can’t find meyer lemons in your area, regular lemons will work here too.

meyer lemon custard bars

Baker’s notes:

  • For a silky smooth, glassy custard, remove all the air bubbles before placing it in the oven. After straining the custard, I like to bounce a spoon across the surface. This helps any bubbles lurking within the custard rise up to the surface and eventually pop. Keep bouncing until you don’t see any bubbles coming up anymore. You can also wave kitchen torch across the top to pop any stubborn bubbles.
  • Don’t overbake the custard! Overbaking can lead to cracks and an unpleasant finished texture. Turn off the oven when there’s still a good wobble in the center and let the bars cool down slowly with the oven door cracked open. It will continue to set as it cools.
  • Taste your poppyseeds and make sure they are fresh! Nothing ruins a bake like rancid seeds and poppyseeds spoil especially quickly. I store mine in the freezer.

Related recipes:

meyer lemon custard bars

Meyer Lemon Custard Bars

Yield: 16 2-inch bars
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Additional Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes

A silky lemon custard on a poppy seed shortbread base, these simple yet elegant meyer lemon custard bars are a cross between American-style lemon bars and a British lemon tart.

Ingredients

For the infused meyer lemon cream:

  • Zest of one meyer lemon
  • 150g heavy cream (35%)

For the poppyseed crust:

  • Zest of one meyer lemon (reserve juice for custard)
  • 50g granulated sugar
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 Tbsp (10g) poppyseeds
  • 142g all-purpose flour (I used half emmer, half all-purpose)*
  • 113g unsalted butter, melted and cooled
  • 1 large egg white, lightly beaten, for egg wash (reserve yolk for filling)

For the meyer lemon custard filling:

  • Zest of 1 meyer lemon
  • 175g granulated sugar
  • 1/4 tsp kosher salt
  • 5 large eggs plus 1 large egg yolk
  • 150g meyer lemon juice, freshly squeezed (from about 3 medium meyer lemons -- zest them before juicing!)
  • All of the infused cream

Instructions

  1. Prep the oven and pan: Preheat the oven to 350F with a rack in the middle. Line an 8x8 square baking pan with two criss-crossed pieces of parchment, leaving 2-3 inches of overhang on at least two of the sides for easy removal.
  2. Infuse the cream: Place the zest of one meyer lemon in a small saucepan and add the heavy cream. Stir to combine. Warm the cream over medium-low heat until steaming, then remove from the heat and cover the pot. Allow the cream to infuse while you prepare the crust.
  3. Make the poppyseed crust: In a medium bowl, combine the sugar and the zest of one meyer lemon. Rub the zest into the sugar until fragrant and damp to release the essential oils from the rind, which will intensify the lemon flavor. Whisk in the salt, poppyseeds, and flour until well combined.
  4. Pour in the melted butter and stir with a fork until no spots of dry flour remain. Scatter dough across the base of the prepared pan and use your fingers or a flat bottomed cup to press into an even layer.
  5. Bake the crust: Bake the crust until dry and golden, 20-25 minutes. Brush a layer of egg white over the crust to help water-proof it, then cool on a wire rack while you prepare the filling. Reduce the oven temperature to 300F.
  6. Make the custard: Set a fine-mesh strainer over a medium bowl or large measuring jug with a spout (such as a 4-cup Pyrex).
  7. In a medium saucepan, combine the zest of one meyer lemon and granulated sugar. As you did with the crust, rub the zest into the sugar until fragrant and damp to release the essential oils from the rind. Whisk in the salt, followed by the eggs and egg yolk. Whisk in the lemon juice and the infused cream (no need to strain out the zest right now).
  8. Cook the custard mixture over medium-low heat, stirring and scraping the pan frequently with a heat-resistent spatula, until it registers 160F on a digital thermometer. Strain the custard into the prepared measuring jug. Discard the zest.
  9. Bounce the back of a spoon across the top of the custard to pop any air bubbles. Pour the custard into the pan. If any bubbles remain on the surface of the custard, skim them off with a spoon.
  10. Bake the bars: Bake until the edges of the custard are set but the center still wobbles, about 20-30 minutes. Turn off the oven and prop the oven door with a wooden spoon. Let the bars cool for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and cool completely to room temperature. Chill the bars in the refrigerator for another 1-2 hours for easiest slicing.
  11. Slice and serve: Use a sharp knife to slice bars into desired size (I usually do a 4x4 grid for a total of 16 bars), wiping the blade clean between cuts. Serve chilled or at room temperature. Bars are best enjoyed the day they're baked, but can be stored refrigerated up to 3 days. The crust will soften over time.

Notes

*I used half emmer flour, half all purpose for a little extra flavor and nutrition. This crust is very forgiving; you can try substituting another whole grain flour such as spelt or whole wheat, or just use all-purpose.

© Ruth
Category: Bars and Brownies

Berry buckwheat crumb bars

Posted on by Ruth
berry crumb bars

Crumb bars, crumble bars, streusel bars — whatever you call them, I’m a fan. Mostly because they belong to my favorite food category, rustic fruit bressert (that’s breakfast and/or dessert).

COVID lockdown has made it extra challenging this year to keep track of the date, but thankfully the seasons still change. We are in the middle of berry season here in Ontario. And while I wasn’t sure if our annual traditions of strawberry and cherry picking would be possible this year, happily we managed to do both.

My family loves fresh fruit like candy, so I wasn’t sure I’d be able to actually make anything with the berries. But I squirreled away just enough to make these delightful berry crumb bars. I had some for breakfast and some for dessert and can confirm they go down equally well for either.

A few notes:
  • As with most fruit desserts, I love adding some wholegrain flour for extra flavor. If you don’t have buckwheat on hand, try rye, einkorn, or spelt! Or just substitute with more all-purpose if you don’t have any whole grains stocked.
  • For the filling, I used a mix of (very ripe) strawberries, cherries, and some miscellaneous frozen berries that I had lurking in the freezer. I fully defrosted the frozen berries and drained off the extra liquid to avoid a soggy crust.
  • Because my fruit was mostly quite ripe and juicy, I didn’t need to add much sweetener. If your fruit isn’t so ripe, adjust the sugar to taste or try mixing with a little jam.
berry crumb bars stacked

Berry buckwheat crumb bars

Makes one 8×8 pan

Ingredients:

For the crumb mixture:
  • 190g (1 1/2 c) all purpose flour
  • 60g (1/2 c) buckwheat flour
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 50g (1/4 c) granulated sugar
  • 50g (1/4 c) light brown sugar
  • 200g (14 T) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
  • 30g (1/3 c) rolled oats
  • 30g (1/4 c) sliced almonds (or other chopped nuts)
  • 30g (2 Tbsp) turbinado sugar
For the fruit filling:
  • 400g (~2 1/2 c) mixed berries, finely diced (if frozen, thaw and drain before using — see notes above)
  • 13g (1 Tbsp) sugar (or to taste)
  • 12g (1 1/2 Tbsp) cornstarch
  • Pinch of salt
  • Squeeze of lemon juice

Method:

  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F with a rack in the middle. Line an 8 x 8-inch pan with two long criss-crossed pieces of parchment, leaving a couple of inches of overhang on all sides. (This will make it easy to remove the bars later.) Lightly grease the parchment.
  2. In the bowl of a food processor, combine the flours, salt, and sugars. Pulse to combine. Scatter the cold, cubed butter over the top. Pulse until the mixture forms clumps but is not completely smooth (this took me about 20-25 short pulses).
  3. Transfer about a third (~180g) of the mixture to a separate bowl. Add the oats, almonds, and turbinado sugar and use your fingertips to quickly pinch in, forming a clumpy streusel. Refrigerate until needed.
  4. Transfer the remaining two-thirds (~360g) of the mixture to the prepared pan. Use your fingers or the bottom of a small glass or measuring cup to press the crumbs evenly into the bottom of the pan. Prick all over with a fork. Bake for about 10-15 minutes, or until just set. Transfer to a wire rack while you prepare the fruit filling (no need to let it cool completely).
  5. To make the filling, stir together the fruit, sugar, cornstarch, salt, and lemon juice. Spoon the fruit mixture evenly over the par-baked crust, then sprinkle evenly with the reserved streusel mixture.
  6. Bake until the crumb topping is golden and the fruit juices are bubbling in the center, about 45-50 minutes. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack before slicing (for cleanest results, chill for an hour in the refrigerator). Refrigerate leftover bars in an airtight container for up to 5 days; serve cold or at room temperature.