Raspberry Chocolate Boxes

Photo: Emily Jelassi

Ingredients

MOCHA MOUSSE

7 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, broken into pieces

1 1/2 teaspoons cold, strong black coffee

1 large egg yolk

1 1/2 teaspoons Kahlua or other coffee-flavored liqueur

2 large egg whites

3/4 cup fresh raspberries, to decorate

SPONGE CAKE

2 teaspoons unsalted butter, for greasing

1 large egg, plus 1 large egg white

1/4 cup superfine sugar

1/2 cup scant all-purpose flour

Preparation

MOUSSE

To make the mocha mousse, melt 2 ounces of the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of gently simmering water. Add the coffee and stir over low heat until smooth and then remove from the heat and cool slightly. Stir in the egg yolk and the Kahlua. Whisk the egg whites in a separate bowl until stiff peaks form. Fold into the chocolate mixture and cover with plastic wrap and chill for 2 hours, until set.

SPONGE CAKE

For the sponge cake, lightly grease an 8-inch square cake pan and line with parchment paper. Put the egg and extra egg white with the sugar in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of gently simmering water. Whisk over low heat for 5-10 minutes, until pale and thick. Remove from heat and continue whisking for 10 minutes until cooled and a trail is left when the whisk is dragged across the surface.

Preheat the oven to 350F. Sift the flour over the egg mixture and gently fold it in. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, until firm to the touch and slightly shrunk from the sides of the pan. Turn out onto a wire rack to cool, then invert the cake, keeping the parchment paper in place.

ASSEMBLY

To make the chocolate boxes, grease a 12x9-inch jelly roll pan and line with wax paper. Place the remaining chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of gently simmering water. Stir over low heat until melted, but not too runny. Pour it into the jelly roll pan and spread evenly with a spatula. Set aside in a cool place for about 30 minutes, until set.

Turn out the set chocolate onto parchment paper on a counter. Cut it into 36 rectangles, measuring 3x1 inches. Cut 12 of these rectangles in half to make 24 rectangles measuring 1 1/2x1 inches.

Trim the crusty edges off the sponge cake and then cut it into 12 slices, measuring 3x1 1/4 inches. Spread a little of the mocha mousse along the sides of each sponge rectangle and press 2 long and 2 short chocolate rectangles in place on each side to make boxes. Divide the remaining mousse among the boxes and top with raspberries. Chill until ready to serve.