Freshjuice

Fresh Juice Fresh Juice Healthy made delicious

Profiteroles with Armagnac and Prune Ice Cream Drizzled with Chocolate Sauce

By
Andrew Chase
  • Vegetarian
Simple cooked choux pastry balls puff up in the oven to make profiteroles to stuff with delicious Armagnac and prune ice cream – think of it as the French version of rum and raisin – here easily made from store-bought vanilla ice cream. The dessert is then drizzled with a rich chocolate sauce. For best flavour and better soaking, use unsulfured prunes, which are drier and available at specialty, bulk and health food stores.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup  (125 mL)  Armagnac or other brandy
  • 1 cup  (250 mL)  prunes (7 oz/200 g), quartered
  • 2 cups  (500 mL)  vanilla ice cream
  • 1/2 cup  (125 mL)  butter, cut into pieces
  • 2 tbsp  (30 mL)  granulated sugar
  • 1/4 tsp  (1 mL)  salt
  • 1 cup  (250 mL)  all-purpose flour
  • 4 eggs
  • Chocolate Sauce::
  • 4 oz  (125 g)  bittersweet chocolate, chopped
  • 2 oz  (60 g)  milk chocolate, chopped
  • 2 tbsp  (30 mL)  butter
  • 1/2 cup  (125 mL)  milk
  • 2 tbsp  (30 mL)  granulated sugar
  • 2 tbsp  (30 mL)  whipping cream

Preparation

Pour Armagnac over prunes; cover and soak for at least 1 day or up to 1 week at room temperature. Drain, reserving liquid.

Let ice cream stand at room temperature until soft enough to fold in ingredients, about 15 minutes; fold in prunes. Cover and return to freezer. Freeze until hard, about 3 hours or for up to 1 week.

Chocolate Sauce: In saucepan over medium-low heat, melt bittersweet and milk chocolates and butter in milk, stirring; when smooth, stir in sugar and cream. Bring to boil, stirring. Remove from heat; stir in 2 tbsp (30 mL) of the reserved Armagnac mixture. (Make-ahead: Refrigerate in airtight container for up to 1 month; microwave or warm over low heat until pourable.)

In saucepan, bring 1 cup (250 mL) water, butter, sugar and salt to boil over medium heat. Remove from heat and add flour all at once; stir with wooden spoon to form ball of dough and return to heat. Cook, stirring continuously, until thickened and slightly dry, with film appearing on bottom of pan, about 3 minutes.

Transfer to bowl; let cool for 3 minutes. Using electric beater on low speed or with wooden spoon, beat in 1 egg until fully incorporated. Repeat with remaining eggs, beating until dough is smooth and shiny.

Place generous tablespoonfuls (15 mL) of dough on parchment paper–lined baking sheet 2 inches (5 cm) apart. Bake in 400F (200C) oven until puffed and golden brown, 16 to 18 minutes. (Make-ahead: Let cool; store in airtight container at room temperature for up to two days.) Makes 24 pieces.

For each serving, split open 2 profiteroles and fill with small scoop of ice cream. Replace tops and drizzle with chocolate sauce.

Makes 12 servings.

Advertisement
_

Comments