Рецепт Cookie Butter Pretzel Mousse...
In the middle of a very busy day filled with bad news, I needed something fun...so I dropped everything and made Cookie Butter Pretzel Mousse. It was either that or take drugs or drink or buy a one-way ticket...none of those ideas really seemed like good options but mousse is always a good choice. I made mousse. Not only did I make mousse, but I made and served it to my friends, without tasting the final product...oh, I tasted the mousse, amazing. I tasted the whipped cream, divine. But I didn't taste the pretzel topping because I know what pretzels taste like and I wanted to save that "bite" for when I could sit and savor it all. My friends arrived, I served them the mousse, explained how it was made with Cookie Butter/Speculoos and told them how wonderful it was and as we all grabbed a spoon, my friend Julie said, "What is that I'm tasting, garlic?" GARLIC?!?!?! What the #&#! There is NO garlic in the recipe...and then I realized what I had done...I grabbed the bag of Everything Pretzels...the ones covered with sesame seeds, onion, black pepper and GARLIC!!! Godfrey!!! It was, in a word, disgusting.
The minute my friends left I threw out the mousse, which no one ate. Then I set about making Cookie Butter Pretzel Mousse with Butter Pretzels. I tasted every step along the way...salivating at the sweet/salty combination that I so dearly love and I'm quite certain has curative properties. Because I felt cured. After I had finished making my 2nd batch, I sat down, put my feet up and slowly ate and enjoyed every bite...practically licked the glass...and then I wrapped up those babies and delivered them to my friends so they would know what Cookie Butter Pretzel Mousse was supposed to taste like!!!
Cookie Butter Pretzel Mousse is unique and rather addictive...as in, make a double batch, you'll want seconds. It's unique because it's made with Cookie Butter, also called Speculoos, which looks just like peanut butter, but instead of being made from peanuts, it's made from thin, very crunchy, caramelized Dutch/Belgian cookies. Trader Joe's carries a really great tasting one and you can find Speculoos at most upscale grocery stores, or Amazon. This dessert is quick and easy to make, takes about 30 minutes from start to finish, which, when you think about it is pretty amazing - 30 minutes to have a dessert that people will rave about...as long as you don't put garlic in it! I made my 3rd batch of this mousse for a baby shower I hosted for a friend's daughter. Smooth, sweet, crunchy, salty, buttery, creamy...seriously, it's got it all goin' on! I'll give it a solid 5 on the Ol' Dang Meter, this one is dang, dang, dang, dang, dang good! Cookie Butter Pretzel Mousse - Adapted From Kate Wood of The Wood and Spoon
For the Pretzel Crumb topping:
4 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cup pretzels (You can use regular pretzels, sticks, or twists, but I really like Snyders Butter Snap Pretzels)
For the Mousse:
8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup cookie butter/Speculoos
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cup heavy cream, whipped, divided
For the Whipped Cream:
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Prepare the Pretzel Crumb Topping: Put pretzels in a Zip-Lock style bag and roughly crush. To the bag of pretzels, add the melted butter, brown sugar and salt and mix well by manipulating bag with your hands. Set aside.
Prepare the Mousse: In the bowl of an electric mixer, with the whisk attachment, mix the cream cheese and cookie butter/Speculoos, scraping down the sides as necessary, until smooth. Add in the sugar and vanilla and beat until well combined.
Prepare the Whipped Cream: In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. (This whipped cream is for the mousse, do not add the sugar or vanilla to this - yet.) Fold 1/3 of the whipped cream into the cookie butter, making sure no streaks are visible. Once combined, fold in another 1/3 of the whipped cream, blending until no streaks are visible. To the remaining whipped cream, add 1/4 cup powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla and beat until incorporated. Set aside.
Assemble the Cookie Butter Pretzel Mousse Cups: Using a Zip-Lock style bag, fill the bag with the mousse mixture, snip off a little bit of the corner (about 1/2-inch) and pipe the mousse into your serving dishes (little glass jars or glass ramekins are great to use to you can see all the different components). Sprinkle a heaping tablespoon of the pretzel crumb topping over top of the mousse. Top with a dollop of the sweetened whipped cream and if you have any pretzel topping left, sprinkle on top and serve.
These can be stored, covered, in the fridge for up to 3 days but are best eaten right away as the pretzel crumbs will lose their crunch over time. Do not use low fat or unsalted pretzels, you want the salt! Also, avoid using large pretzel rods or nuggets, just stick with your basic salted pretzel or find Snyders Butter Snap Pretzels!
Thought I'd better show you some pics of the shower...it turned out really nice, at least, that's my humble opinion! Along with the Cookie Butter Pretzel Mousse I served Bimini Key Lime Pie Shots and Meringues with Chocolate Ganache and raspberries. We also had a cheese and crackers and fruit, for those people who have sworn off sugar...really, what is the point of living if you can't have sugar?!?! I just don't get it and I'm diabetic!!!
See my sweet little Rosie? She is such a good little helper, anything that drops on the ground she happily cleans up for me!
We didn't play any games, they are so passe', no? Instead, I made everyone decorate a onesie for the new mom-to-be. They all turned out so cute! The mister came home while the shower was going on, he looked into the dining room and saw the onesies across the window and said, "That better not be permanent." Always quick with a clever comment...whatta guy! I rather liked it!
Does this wreath look creepy to you? I was told by some neighborhood kids it was creepy...naked dolls tied to a wreath by the neck is creepy??? Oh whatever! I was very proud when a friend said to me, "It looks like you!" Yes, I suppose that sums me up nicely...naked dolls and binkies, with a bow.
It does make me smile though...
Wishing Brooke and Paul and very healthy and happy baby girl, that arrives on time!