Chocolate & Peanut Butter Mousse Cups

So I get to gloat for at least one more day.  Gooooo  Duke!!

Before I head over to Buffalo Wild Wings this evening to watch the final game, I have about a bajillion (give or take a million) things to do.  BWW is where our local alumni club has decided to hold all of its game-viewing-get-togethers for the NCAA Tournament.  The sheer fact that I am even stepping into a Buffalo Wild Wings for a second time is a true testament to my team loyalty, seeing as there is absolutely nothing on their menu that appeals to me (I'll bring a granola bar), and when I asked the waitress what kind of wine they had this past Saturday, she looked at me with an expression that said: "Girlfriend, this is a sports bar.  Only weirdos order wine in a sports bar.  Suck it up and order a beer."

It's amazing that one look can say so much, but Tiffany managed to accomplish this feat with flying colors.

We didn't have a very large showing of support on Saturday night, but West Virginians are apparently moving to Las Vegas by the truckload.  That, or it could be that 99.9% of the country would prefer that any team other than Duke wins the tournament, even if it's Northwest Central Tech Las Vegas Valley Community College.  It appears as though they grow them mighty big in West Virginia, judging from the table of linebackers next to me, all of whom were decked out in Mountaineer garb and who were scarfing down enough wings and pitchers of Bud to ensure that BWW stays in business for years to come.  Not wanting to anger my fellow sports fans, I kept my cheering to an under-the-table-golf-clap minimum.....at least until they realized that defeat was inevitable.  Good game, fellas.  Better luck next year.

Despite my fierce Blue Devil loyalty, I will say that it was heartbreaking to watch the events surrounding Mountaineer De'Sean Butler's injury.  You never want to see something like that happen to any player, especially a senior with huge prospects for a future professional career.  I thought that WVA's Coach Huggins handled everything so well, and you could really see the mutual respect between these two men.  Here's wishing De'Sean a full and speedy recovery 🙂

While I'll be toughing it out in the culinary nightmare that is BWW, there's no reason why you home-viewers can't prepare these deliciously decadent treats with a hoops-themed title.  As I previously mentioned, I've had peanut butter on the brain lately.  What goes better with peanut butter than chocolate?  O.K., jelly, but other than jelly, what goes better with peanut butter than chocolate?  (Pssst.....the correct answer is "Nothing.")  Both of the mousses in this recipes are extremely easy to prepare, and the entire treat can be made in advance and chilled.  Individually-sized desserts are tres chic right now, so these would also make a perfect addition to a dessert table at a wedding, cocktail party, shower, etc.

Just one little disclaimer:  Yes, I do realize that there is a massive amount of cream contained in this recipe.  Keep in mind that the recipe prepares enough for about 40 people, and that each decadent serving is more than enough to satisfy even the sweetest sweet tooth.  It ends up being about 2 tablespoons of cream per serving......so skip the half & half in your coffee in lieu of skim milk, and you're good to go!  Here are my extra tips for making these sweetly sinful shooters:

• Plastic shot glasses should be available at your local party supply store (I found mine at Party City), in the same aisles as both the plastic champagne glasses and the bachelor/bachelorette party supplies.
• If you can't find the plastic shot glasses, you can always use mini souffle cups, small champagne flutes, etc. You could also layer the two unchilled mousses over a crust in a springform pan to make a Chocolate & Peanut Butter Mousse Pie!
• Both of the mousse flavors can be prepared and chilled up to one day in advance; however, it is easier to layer in the glasses before it is chilled, as the thicker mousse makes it more difficult to form smooth layers.  If you have chilled the mousse, stir it a bit prior to adding it to the piping bag.  This will help to loosed it up.
• The espresso powder in the chocolate mousse is an optional ingredient.  Its purpose is to provide the chocolate mousse with a deeper chocolate flavor.  I purchase mine from the King Arthur Catalogue, but most specialty foods stores will carry it.  The cinnamon in the peanut butter mousse is also optional, but I just love a little cinnamon in my peanut butter 🙂

Chocolate & Peanut Butter Mousse Shots

Makes 35-40 Shots (depending on the size of the glass)

Ingredients:

For the Chocolate Mousse

3 cups heavy cream, divided

½ teaspoon espresso powder, divided

12 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 tablespoons Kahlua or Bailey's Irish Cream

¼ teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons sugar

For the Peanut Butter Mousse

1 ½ cups peanut butter chips

2 ½ cups heavy cream, divided

3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 tablespoons sugar

Peanut Butter and regular Whopper candies for topping

Prepare the chocolate mousse: Bring one cup of the cream and the espresso powder to a simmer in a medium saucepan, stirring to dissolve the powder.  Turn off the heat and immediately add the chocolate, vanilla, liqueur, and salt.  Stir until the chocolate is melted and smooth.  Transfer the mixture to a small bowl and cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally.

Beat the remaining 2 cups cream with the sugar in a large bowl until stiff peaks form. Carefully fold the chocolate mixture into the whipped cream in three additions.  Cover and chill until ready to use.

Prepare the peanut butter mousse:  Microwave the peanut butter chips and 1 cup of the cream in a large microwave-safe bowl at medium heat in 30 second intervals, stirring each time until the chips are melted and the mixture is smooth.  Whisk in the peanut butter, cinnamon, and the vanilla.  Allow the mixture to cool until it is lukewarm.

In a medium bowl, beat the remaining 1 ½ cups cream with the 2 tablespoons sugar until stiff peaks form.  Carefully fold the cream into the cooled peanut butter mixture in three additions.  Cover and chill until ready to use.

Spoon the two mousses into two large piping bags fitted with plain medium tips.  Pipe the mousses in alternating layers into plastic shot glasses.  Smooth the top layer with a knife or an offset spatula and top with a Whopper (regular or peanut butter flavor.)  Chill for at least 2 hours.