Skip to main content

Chocolate, Orange, and Chestnut Pavé

3.3

(5)

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Serves 8

Ingredients

For chocolate orange filling:

8 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 1/2 pounds fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened)
2 teaspoons freshly grated orange zest (from about 1 1/2 navel oranges)
1 3/4 cups well-chilled heavy cream

For the chestnut rum filling:

6 ounces fine-quality white chocolate
1 1/4 cup chopped vacuum-packed chestnuts (about 1 ounce)
3 teaspoons dark rum
1/4 cup well-chilled heavy cream
Garnish: chestnuts in dark and light syrup*, sliced, "paté" pears*, and candied orange halves*, sliced
Accompaniment: ginger crème anglaise
*available at specialty food shops

Preparation

  1. Make chocolate orange filling:

    Step 1

    In a large metal bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water melt butter and chocolate, stirring occasionally, until smooth and remove bowl from heat. Stir in zest and cool completely. In a bowl with an electric mixer beat cream until it just holds stiff peaks. Whisk about one fourth of cream into chocolate mixture to, lighten and fold in remaining cream gently but thoroughly.

  2. Step 2

    Line an oiled terrine or loaf pan, 10 by 4 1/2 by 3 inches (7-cup capacity), with plastic wrap. Pour in half of chocolate orange filling, smoothing top, and freeze 5 minutes.

  3. Make chestnut rum filling:

    Step 3

    In a small metal bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water melt white chocolate, stirring occasionally, until smooth and remove bowl from heat. Stir in chestnuts and rum gently and cool completely. In a bowl with an electric mixer beat cream until.it just holds stiff peaks. Fold cream into white chocolate mixture.

    Step 4

    Pour chestnut rum filling over chocolate orange layer, smoothing top, and freeze 5 minutes. Pour in remaining chocolate orange filling, smoothing top, and chill, covered with plastic wrap, overnight. Pavé may be made 2 days ahead and chilled, covered.

    Step 5

    Discard plastic wrap from top and invert pavé onto a plate. Discard remaining plastic wrap. Garnish pavé with chestnut slices, "paté" pears, and candied orange.

    Step 6

    Pour some ginger crème anglaise onto 8 dessert plates and top with a 1/2-inch-thick slice of pavé.

Read More
Khao niaow ma muang, or steamed coconut sticky rice with ripe mango, is a classic in Thai cuisine—and you can make it at home.
With just a handful of ingredients, this old-fashioned egg custard is the little black dress of dinner party desserts—simple and effortlessly chic.
With rich chocolate flavor and easy customization, this hot cocoa recipe is just the one you want to get you through winter.
This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.
Crunchy and crowd-pleasing, this salad can be prepared in advance and customized to your heart’s content.
Baking meatballs and green beans on two sides of the same sheet pan streamlines the cooking process for this saucy, savory dinner.
Make this versatile caramel at home with our slow-simmered method using milk and sugar—or take one of two sweetened condensed milk shortcuts.
A garlicky pistachio topping takes this sunny summer pasta from good to great.