Cassis Bonbon Sandwich Recipes

Steps:

• In a large pot set over medium heat, add the cream, sugar, sorbitol, inverted sugar, dextrose, peppermint and vanilla seeds, and cook until a candy thermometer inserted in the pot reads 113 degrees F. Cool the mixture to 95 degrees F.
• In a separate pot, heat the butter, dark chocolate and milk chocolate to melt, then cool the chocolate to 86 degrees F. Using an electric hand mixer, blend the chocolate with a little of the cream mixture. Slowly mix in the remaining cream mixture. Cool to 82 degrees F, then pipe into the bonbon molds and refrigerate until set, about 1 hour 30 minutes.

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, bring the cream, glucose, and cayenne to a boil. Pour over the dark chocolate. Stir until emulsified. Add the butter. Allow to cool to 80 degrees F. Place in a pastry bag.
• Pipe a small amount of the cold Lemon Jelly into a chocolate shell. Pipe the ganache over the jelly. Allow to set overnight in a cool place.
• Seal the ganache with melted dark chocolate. Refrigerate for 10 minutes, then turn out of the mold.
• Mix the pectin with the sugar. In a medium saucepan, bring the lemon juice to a boil. Add the sugar and pectin mixture. Add the glucose. Boil to 225 degrees F. Remove from the heat and add the citric acid. Allow to cool, and then refrigerate.

Steps:

• Make the bonbons: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a Silpat baking mat or parchment paper, and set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar on medium speed. Add 1/4 teaspoon lemon extract, lemon zest, and salt. Mix to combine.
• Add milk, and reduce mixer speed to low. Slowly add cake flour, and mix until well blended and the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
• Transfer the dough to a clean work surface, and divide in half. Roll each half into a 14-inch-long log. Cut each log into fourteen 1-inch pieces. Roll each piece into a dome. Place domes on prepared baking sheet, spaced 1 1/2 inches apart. If dough becomes too soft to handle, chill for a few minutes.
• Bake bonbons until firm but not golden, 25 to 27 minutes. Transfer bonbons to a wire rack set over a piece of waxed paper to cool.
• Make the glaze: In a small bowl, stir together remaining 3 cups confectioners' sugar, 1/4 cup hot water, corn syrup, oil, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract until smooth. Add cassis, and stir until smooth.
• Pour half of the warm glaze over the tops of the bonbons. Let bonbons set, about 15 minutes.
• Repeat Step 7. Wait until glaze is dry, then decorate bonbons with royal icing: Place royal icing in a pastry bag fitted wtih the tip of your choice; pipe icing onto bonbons. Place decorated bonbons on a wire rack to set.

Steps:

• Fill 3 glasses with ice cubes. Place 1 to 2 tablespoons crème de cassis in each glass and add water.

Steps:

• Combine the water and sugar in a nonreactive medium-size saucepan and place over high heat. Bring to a boil and add the cassis. Stir gently to combine and remove from the heat. Pour the mixture into a 5 x 9-inch loaf pan or a rectangular shallow dish about the same size; it should make a layer about V2 inch thick. Place in the freezer until solid, about 2 hours. (At this stage, the mixture can be stored in the freezer, well wrapped in plastic wrap, for up to three weeks.)
• To unmold, dip the pan in hot water for about 5 seconds. Run a sharp paring knife around the edges to loosen the sides of the frozen mixture from the pan. Center a small cutting board over the pan and flip over the board and pan at the same time so the pan is on top. Lift the pan. If the pan does not come off, you will need to dip it in water again. Use a serrated knife to cut the frozen mixture into l/2-inch-wide strips about 3 inches long (or to fit in the glass you are using). Place one cassis stick in each glass and add Champagne. As the cassis sticks melt, they add a delightful fruity flavor to the Champagne.