Buche de Marrons au Chocolat

Buche de Marrons au Chocolat

16 Preparation Time :

Categories : Desserts

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method -- -- --

4 pounds Chestnuts OR 3 tablespoons Calvados OR 2 pounds Chestnuts, canned, whole

3 tablespoons Applejack OR -- - unsweetened, drain

4 cups Chestnuts, pureed, canned

1/2 teaspoon Vanilla -- - unsweetened

1/4 cup Sugar -- superfine

melted, cooled

1/2 cup Butter, unsalted -- melted

(preferably Maillard)

--GARNISHES--

1 cup Cream -- whipping

1 ounce Chocolate, semi-sweet

1 teaspoon Sugar

melted -- cooled

1/2 teaspoon Vanilla

1 tablespoon Cocoa -- unsweetened

Candied violets

If you are using fresh chestnuts, cut an X on the flat side of each chestnut. Place the chestnuts in a saucepan, cover with cold water and bring to boil.

Cover and boil gently until tender, about 15 minutes.

Remove the pan from the heat and let it stand for 15 minutes.

Shell the chestnuts, removing both the hard outer shell and the inner brown

skin.

If you're using canned chestnuts, simply drain.

Reserve 3 whole chestnuts for garnish.

Puree chestnuts in a processor until very smooth.

3/4 cup of very finely powdered sugar, butter, Calvados and teaspoon vanilla. Puree again until very smooth and fluffy.

Add 8 ounces of melted chocolate and puree until very smooth.

Line a 4 cup round log-shaped mold or loaf pan with plastic wrap, pressing

it down until smooth.

Pour in the chestnut-chocolate mixture and tamp the mold to eliminate any

air bubbles. Smooth over the surface, and cover with plastic wrap.

Refrigerate overnight.

To Garnish:

Unmold log on serving plate, and carefully remove the plastic wrap.

1 teaspoon of sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla until

stiff.

Spread the cream evenly over all sides of the log, forming a barklike ridge

here and there with a spatula or decorating comb.

Drizzle thin lines of chocolate down the length of the log, using a paper

pastry cone or fork.

Roll the 3 reserved chestnuts in cocoa and arrange on the log lengthwise.

Garnish with candied violets and refrigerate until serving.

This log may be refrigerated for up to one week.

Source: New York's Master Chefs, Bon Appetit Magazine : Written by

Richard Sax, Photographs by Nancy McFarland : The Knapp Press, Los Angeles,

1985 Chef: Andree Abramoff, Andree's Mediterranean Restaurant, New York - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -