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Pineapple mousse and mocha torte (gluten-free)


I don't think we had enough Thanksgiving desserts, what say you? Not funny. After all the marathon baking last week, I decided to whip up a quick no-bake and gluten-free dessert.  The pineapple mousse is also very easy to make and quite versatile.  I may try to layer it next time to make parfaits for Christmas... we'll see.  The mocha buttercream with no added sugar is also a keeper, so delicious, we were licking it off the spatula. But I digress, here's the recipe.

Praline layer
150 g praline chocolate (or half semi-sweet half white chocolate)
2 teaspoons of milk or whipping cream
10 gavottes (5 packets of 2), (or 1/2 cup of gluten-free cornflakes)
2 teaspoons praline (caramelized nuts)

Line a loaf pan with parchment paper. Melt the 2 chocolates with milk.  Once completely melted and creamy, fold in crushed gavottes or cornflakes. Add praline.  Add this first layer by crying

Pineapple mousse: 
3 sheets gelatin, softened in cold water
5-6 rings of pineapple, pureed in a mixer
15 cl whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla 

Soften the gelatin in 1/4 cup of cold water (if you use powdered gelatin, or agar agar, skip skip the water).  Mix the pineapple in a blender or mixer until you have tiny diced bits.  Heat over the stove in low to medium and melt the gelatin into diced pineapple.  In a bowl, whip up cream.  Once the pineapple mixture has cooled, fold in the whipped cream and vanilla.  Layer the mousse over the praline layer.  

Sponge layer:
16-18 ladyfingers (gluten-free if you prefer)
1/4 cup apricot preserves
1 tablespoon whiskey
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Dip the ladyfingers in apricot liquid (see 3 ingredient recipe above) and layer on top of mousse. Layer with 1/2 of the mocha cream and add another layer of ladyfingers, brushing the top with apricot liquid. Allow to set in the refrigerator for a minimum of 2 hours. Once set, decorate top with remaining mocha buttercream.

Mocha buttercream
150 g white chocolate
15 cl whipping cream
2 teaspoons instant coffee
2 teaspoons cocoa
1 teaspoon whiskey (or other liqueur or alcohol)



Enjoy, everyone !






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