Earl Grey Chocolate Mousse

🧂 Ingredients

• 1 cup whole milk
• 2 tbsp whole leaf Earl Grey tea
• 1 zest from a small orange
• 6 oz best quality dark chocolate

  66% or 70% cocoa solids, finely chopped
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter

  cut into 4 pieces
• 3 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 tsp smoked sea salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup heavy cream

  very cold
• 1/2 cup marscapone cheese
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 tsp dried lavender buds
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• smoked sea salt

  for garnish
• dark chocolate

  for garnish
• dried lavender buds

  for garnish

Instructions

• 1 In a 2-quart saucepan, warm the milk over medium heat until small bubbles form
  around the edges. Remove from heat and add the tea and orange zest. Cover and
  steep for 10 minutes.
• 2 While the milk steeps, add the chocolate, butter, sugar, smoked salt, and
  vanilla extract to a blender. After five minutes, strain the warm milk into a
  measuring cup and press down on the solids with the back of a spatula to extract
  all the flavor. Measure the milk again to ensure you have 1 cup (8 oz) and add
  additional milk if necessary. Pour the warm milk into the blender and wait 15-30
  seconds to melt the chocolate and then blend on high speed for 30 seconds. Add
  the eggs and blend on high for 60 seconds. Add the heavy cream and blend for 30
  seconds more. The mousse should be smooth and glossy.
• 3 Pour the mousse into a prepared 9-inch tart or pie shell or divide between small
  jars. Loosely cover and refrigerate until set, about 2 hours.
• 4 Just before serving, make the lavender-mascarpone whipped cream. In a small
  bowl, add the sugar and dried lavender buds. Gently rub together with your
  fingers until the sugar is fragrant. Sift the sugar to remove the lavender buds.
• 5 In a cold metal bowl, stir together the mascarpone cheese, heavy cream, lavender
  sugar, and vanilla. Whip until soft peaks form.
• 6 Top the chilled mousse with the lavender-mascarpone whipped cream and sprinkle
  with more smoked sea salt and chopped dark chocolate.

Nutrition Info