Thursday, January 27, 2011

Jan Daring Bakers' 2011 Challenge Entremet

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This month's challenge was superb it was to make a decorative pattern in a sponge layer called a joconde imprime and using that to make an entremet (a fancy small cake filled with any combination of mousse, cheese cake filling,...).
WOW this challenge was about technique – the making of the patterned sponge outside later of the entremet, this is a method I will be using again and again. Some of the other Daring Bakers' entremets were so exquisite this is a dessert that would make a spectacular addition to any party.

Click here to get a printable pdf of this month's recipe.

Recipe Source: I received this recipe from Chef John O. while attending The International Culinary School in Atlanta, Georgia USA.

Blog-checking lines: The January 2011 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Astheroshe of the blog accro. She chose to challenge everyone to make a Biscuit Joconde Imprime to wrap around an Entremets dessert.

Nutella, marshmallow and hazelnut entremet
I have never heard of entremet and the technique of patterning the paste was totally new to me so I was extra excited about this challenge since it could open up a whole new way of decorating cakes etc for parties.

I had promised the neighbour's kids that I would make a treat for them so I decided to a do a nutella, marshmallow and hazelnut entremet for them. I wanted a simple filling and topping for my first experimental entrement I was more concerned with perfecting the decorative layer on this occasion.

My mum had given me for Christmas some ti-flavoured marshmallows that were chocolate, strawberry and vanilla so I used them.

I had a plastic scraper with a big jagged sawtooth pattern I used that it produced a very fine pinstripe pattern in the decorative layer unfortunately my camera wasn't good enough to pick up the pattern very well in the photographs. But it was so pretty and elegant in real-life next time I will use a more bold pattern.

For the sponge I used hazelnut meal with a tablespoon of almond meal.

The final decorative layer was superb it was light flexible and tender a delicious sponge.

Notes
1. When you add the egg whites to the patterned Joconde-Décor paste it will start to cuddle don't worry it comes together just add them slowly and the batter will be fine.
2. I froze the patterned paste for 30 minutes.
3. The baking of the patterned paste and sponge is a scary process the temperature is so high 475°F/250°C you really have to keep a very careful eye on it mine only took 8 minutes to bake (about ½ the stated time), the outside edges got burnt but the rest of the layer was excellent I used scissors to cut the baked layer.
4. I found the sponge batter a little loose so I added an extra tablespoon of almond meal to it, it still spread out a little while baking and over the edges of the upturned baking tray.

The paste with pattern notice the plastic tool I used to obtain the pinstripes
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Paste covered with the sponge batter
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Baked decorative layer (notice how burnt the edges are!)
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Cut decorative layer
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Notice the thinness of the decorative layer
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The subtle pinstripes
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The completed entremet
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The gooey inside of the entremet
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OMG was this a super treat for the kids they loved it the hazelnut sponge was the perfect choice with the nutella topping and the soft marshmallow centre was an extra special surprise for the children Even I liked it!

41 comments:

anchan said...

Oooh, I totally want to dip my finger in that rich, chocolate topping! Yum yum yum! xxx

Ruth H. said...

You had me at Nutella topping...! This is a great dessert for those young and young at heart! Thank you for your guidance and your support throughout our challenge!

Renata said...

Audax, I am truly grateful for all your support during the challenge. You made a wonderful job, a lot of research and it didn't even look like this was your first time ever doing Joconde Imprime. All the tips and tricks you shared were helpful to all DBs, I'm sure! I'm impressed at how talented you are! The kids near you must be the happiest kids on earth! LOL!

marcellina said...

I can't believe you had never heard of these terms because you helped me so much to understand what exactly everything was! Thanks so much! Again another brilliant challenge!

Swathi said...

Like Renata said, you are amazing help for daring baker's. you give valuable tips. your entremet looks delicious

Kat said...

So delicious looking!
You're simply amazing, Audax :~)

Pavithra Elangovan said...

Awesome Audax.. I second Renata Comment. Your awesome the Entremet and the topping is fabulous...

Finla said...

As always you are the first one i look for in the forum to see what your suggestions are. Nutella my favourite. Yummy yumm it looks.

ckact said...

Same as others have said AA, I could not have done it without all the kind tips you provided to us all and the really supportive comments you gave us all. Thank you.

Monica said...

Not sure if it gets much better than Nutella and marshmallows :)
Thanks so much for your notes for this challenge too.

Mary said...

I think you have made a kid's dream cake: chocolate, marshmallows and cool pink stripes. Nicely done, as always!

Deeba PAB said...

Love your choice of flavours Audax, and love how actively you support and encourage the DB gang! Nutella has me ready to dive in.... WOW!!

Suz said...

That has to be one of the most tempting entremets I've seen. It looks so gooey and chocolatey. Wow! That wouldn't last long if it was put in front of me! Thanks for your tips on the forum as well. Very helpful. :)

sweetakery said...

You're simply amazing, Audax =)
WOW! lovee your choice of flavours!! Nutella and marshmallows :) yumm!!
This was my first time ever doing joconde and it all became easy after all your suggestions and tips, are the most helpful, your the fist one i look for...your simply amazing!
Thank you for the sweet comments. =)

Ago said...

Audax I can't tell you always the same things, but I think that You are incredible, truly incredible!!! :-D
I think that Nutella and Marshmallows are tremendously gorgeous together (I don't know if it's a good english but that's what I think! :-P)
kisses
Ago

Laura said...

Nutella and marshmallow . . . yum! Great job, as always. Thanks again for being at the forefront of Daring Bakers and giving such great tips and advice.

Unknown said...

You did so great, lovely job and I agree a showstopper for a party.

alice said...

That looks divine. Really googey and unctuous. I also really wanted to thank you for all the pointers you gave for this challenge, they helped me a lot.

Evelyne CulturEatz said...

A total success. Your joconde is beautiful and that entremet sounds amazing. This was indeed a challenge and an educational experience.

I wish I was one of those lucky kids!

Evelyne CulturEatz said...

A total success. Your joconde is beautiful and that entremet sounds amazing. This was indeed a challenge and an educational experience.

I wish I was one of those lucky kids!

gourmandrea said...

Wow I can imagine the kids going crazy for this cake! Great job :) Thanks for all your great tips each month they are so helpful

chef_d said...

Yum, I want those tri-colored marshmallows. And the chocolate on top looks delicious!

Eileen said...

Looks great! Quite a challenge this month - good job!!!

Cakelaw said...

Your cake looks fabulous - I especially love the chocolate flames on top. Great work.

Julie said...

Your flavors always sound so delicious, and everything looks lovely as always, Audax! Now I'm craving Nutella . . . may have to scrape at the last smidgens around the jar in the cupboard!

Baker at Law said...

As always, Audax, you inspire me with your creativity and finishing the challenges so early. I love that you turned a dessert I thought would be too sophisticated for children, into a child loved dessert. Well done! Also, thanks for the tips. I will try a higher temp on my oven next time and turn the sponge out immediately.

Oggi said...

Love the hazelnuts joconde and Nutella filling combo. Yummy!

Valérie said...

It looks beautiful, Audax! Your joconde is perfect and smooth, and I love the chocolatey spikes!

Alpineberry Mary said...

This really was a great challenge this month. Thanks again for the support you give to everyone in the forums. :)

The Betz Family said...

Way to blaze the trail, Audax, and give a practice run for all the rest of us daring bakers. :) For some reason every time I see the first photo (with the chocolate piped on top) it makes me think of a kid with really spikey hair! Not sure why, but it does. Nice job on the challenge!

Sheena said...

The flavours sound amazing, I love hazelnut in almost anything, and the chocolate topping looks so gooey and decadent. Thanks for your tips throughout the challenge Audax!

Robyn Clarke said...

Sounds delicious.

Fantastic job as always.

Thanks for all the great tips.

stacy :) said...

That looks so delicious, as always, Audax, and like everyone else already said, thank you for all your advice and your encouraging words!! :)

Aparna Balasubramanian said...

Just love the thought of hazelnut nd nutella in the entremet. I'm going to try that one of these days.
Its good to see you come up with all these interesting combinations, Audax (btw, is that your real name? I think not :)).

The word verification tells me to type "wildsid". Is that a sign? LOL

Priya Srinivasan - I Camp in My Kitchen said...

Jus love that Gooey Filling!!!!! Awesome!!!!

INMA said...

Audax

You did such a WONDERFUL job, your entremet looks so delicious, your job was so inspiring and your words and explanations were so so helpful.Thank you very much for your tips, teaching, for everything

It a pleasure to be in DB with people like you.

Inma from México

Lisa said...

Aud, I hit a point where I never thought I'd get my entry up. Things just kept happening to prevent me from doing so.

That being said, love your pink, marshmallow entremets and the joconde look perfect. These are such kid-friendly entremets, but that wouldn't prevent me from spooning off the nutella topping before they could get their little hands on 'em lol

Beautiful job as always!

Eat the Love said...

OMG. The neighbor kids must have been BOUNCING up and down just looking at that! Marshmallow and nutella! How great is that! I love it! Those kids are very lucky. I love the pinstripes as well. It looks wonderful!

EMS said...

Ohh that looks delicious. I love the flavor combination.

Anonymous said...

Your tutorial was great as usual. I loved this challenge. It's amazing how creative and talented all of the DB's are- especially you
Best-Sandie

Kiwi the Fruit said...

Wow nutella topping! I want to try that! just thinking of it makes my mouth watering already!

Thanks a lot on your notes that makes this challenge easier! I've read through your notes many times before starting mine, thank you again for the tips!