Sip hot chocolate through layers of hot espresso and thick, cold cream in this deconstructed mocha.It's based on the classic bicerin (beech-e-reen), from Caffè al Bicerin in Turin, Italy, and it fits right into our coffee-loving culture here in the western United States. Prep and Cook Time: about 30 minutes. Notes: Serve in heatproof glasses to see the layers. Stir in more sugar to taste.
Delicious, this works for gathering around the fireplace or as an after dinner drink instead of desert!
Ingredients
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup chopped semisweet chocolate
2 1/2 tablespoons sugar, divided, plus more to taste
1 cup hot brewed espresso
1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder (optional)
Preparation
1. Place cream in a bowl and chill until very cold, about 15 minutes. Fill 4 heatproof glasses (6 to 8 oz. each) with boiling water.
2. In a small saucepan over high heat, bring 3/4 cup water to a boil. Reduce heat to low and whisk in chopped chocolate until smoothly blended. Add 1 tbsp. sugar. Stir over medium-low heat until mixture thickens slightly and coats spoon in a thin layer, 3 to 5 minutes. Cover and keep hot.
3. Whip cream with 1 tbsp. sugar until thick, but before peaks form (cream should still be pourable). Mix remaining 1/2 tbsp. sugar with hot espresso.
4. Drain water from glasses. Pour one-quarter of hot chocolate into a glass. Hold a spoon, concave side down, at about a 45° angle so tip of spoon touches inside of glass, slightly above chocolate. Very slowly, pour one-quarter of espresso over back of spoon. Repeat for each glass. Spoon thick cream onto espresso, dividing evenly between glasses. Sift a bit of cocoa over cream if you like. Serve immediately.
