Chocolate marquise
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Chocolate marquise

For the decadent dinner party - this rich chocolate dessert is for serious chocoholics only

Difficulty and servings

Moderately easy

Serves 9 - 10

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 30 - 40 mins

Cook time

Cook 5 mins

Plus overnight chilling
Vegetarian Freezable

Vegetarian

For up to a month

Method

  1. Break the chocolate into pieces and place in a heatproof bowl. Then assemble a bain-marie - do this by pouring a little water into a saucepan and placing the bowl over the water (making sure the water does not touch the bottom of the bowl). Set the pan over a gentle heat and warm the water until the chocolate has melted. Take off the heat and leave to cool a little.
  2. Meanwhile, place the butter and half the sugar into another large bowl. Using a tabletop mixer or electric hand whisk, beat until the mixture is really light and creamy, then beat in the cocoa powder.
  3. Separate the eggs (the whites can be frozen for another time) and put the yolks in a third bowl. Tip in the remaining sugar, then beat together until pale and creamy. To check if it's ready, make a figure-of-eight shape in the mixture with the beater - it should hold its shape for a moment. In a fourth bowl, whip the cream until thickened with soft peaks.
  4. Pour the melted chocolate into the butter mixture, and carefully stir through until it is well combined. Gently fold in the egg mixture. When this is amalgamated, stir in the whipped cream. Now line a 6.5 x 22cm tin with 3 layers of cling film, leaving a 10cm overhang.
  5. Spoon the mixture into a large piping bag with a large nozzle attached (see Gordon's steps, far right). Pipe a layer over the bottom of the tin, then cover this with a layer of After Eights (cut some in half to ensure they fit). Pipe over another layer of chocolate cream, followed by a layer of After Eights. Continue until you have 4 layers of chocolate mints and the tin is full, finishing with a chocolate cream layer. Fold over the cling film, then chill overnight or up to 2 days.
  6. Just before serving, place the marquise in the freezer for 10 mins to make it easier to slice. Place the tin, bottomside up, on a serving plate, slide off the tin, then peel away the cling film. If you have a blowtorch, quickly run the flame over the surface of the marquise to give it a glossy sheen. Alternatively, dip a palette knife in boiling water and smooth the surface that way. Use a serrated knife dipped in boiling water to cut the marquise into slices.
Try

No piping bag?

If you don't have a piping bag, snip off a small corner of a plastic food bag. Spoon the filling into this and use it to pipe, instead. Or, you can spoon the chocolate mixture over the After Eights, making sure to smooth over any air pockets.

Buy the tin

You can buy 6.5 x 22cm tins from specialist baking shops, or online at divertimenti.co.uk. You could also use a regular loaf tin - but as this is a bit wider, only make three layers of After Eights.

Freeze for a month

The marquise will keep in the freezer for up to one month - just defrost in the fridge for an hour before serving. Try freezing slices individually - this will make plating up much quicker.

Per serving

743 kcalories, protein 8g, carbohydrate 60g, fat 54 g, saturated fat 30g, fibre 1g, sugar 57g, salt 0.25 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, November 2007.

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Latest comments and suggestions

Results 1-20

  • 16 November 2007

    Elaine rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Bit fiddly but certainly well worth th effort. Tastes amazing and looks really impressive

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  • 21 November 2007

    veelily commented on this recipe

    Amazing, this is a big hit with the family, my husband wants one every month now.

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  • 25 November 2007

    lesley rated this recipe

    4 stars

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  • 11 December 2007

    george rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Incredibly rich but very delicious. You only need a small portion so it lasts a long time. I froze half of mine ready for a special treat another day.

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  • 28 December 2007

    Louise rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    I made this for a christmas day treat! It is really rich so you only need a small slice, but it went down a storm!

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  • 02 January 2008

    penny commented on this recipe

    We had this last night.....yum..yum..yum!

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  • 03 January 2008

    JoFo rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Made it for Christmas as well - it was fantastic. It goes really well with a fruit salad or summer pudding - the dark chocolate, mint and fruit set each other off brilliantly. I used Sainsbury's After Dinner mints instead of After Eights - a thicker chocolate means that you can squeeze more into the tin :-)

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  • 11 January 2008

    Lynette commented on this recipe

    I also made this for Christmas and it was very good, the only problem I had was it was difficult to slice, but I will make it again.

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  • 19 January 2008

    Joanne rated and commented on this recipe

    3 stars

    I made this for a dinner party. A bit fiddly to make and I also found it very difficult to slice. Having said that my friend who is a chocoholic was suitable impressed. You only need a small slice as very rich - have frozen the rest for another time.

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  • 22 February 2008

    Rugby Mum commented on this recipe

    Fabulous! Made it for an extended family dinner and it went down a storm. Took the rest to a coffee afternoon with my girlfriends and it went down even better - they're all going to make it now!

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  • 22 February 2008

    Rugby Mum rated this recipe

    5 stars

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  • 08 March 2008

    sherilyn rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Made this for Christmas Eve and it was brilliant. It took quite a bit of effort (not to mention every bowl in the house!) but was worth it. I used a mix of good qulaity milk chocolate along with the dark chocolate and it tasted great. Will make it again when I have enough time on my hands!

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  • 15 March 2008

    Katherine rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Delicious and no need to worry about the calorie content as its so rich you can't manage a full serving.

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  • 18 March 2008

    Nikki L commented on this recipe

    I love this recipe and have made it on several occasions. Every time my guests have absolutely loved it. However I find that every time I make the pudding it comes out differently - I obviously need a one to one with Gordon!! (In my dreams)

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  • 27 March 2008

    cookie rated and commented on this recipe

    3 stars

    I found the mint a bit overpowering, but if you like your chocolate minty, this is the pudding for you.

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  • 20 May 2008

    DebbieA21 rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Very rich, very delicious and freezes OK as well. My husband loves this recipe!

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  • 27 May 2008

    Joanne rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Fab! Made this for a recent dinner party and it is the perfect way to end a meal - like a dessert and mints all in one! Hard to cut though, so might look a bit messy on the plate if you aren't careful!

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  • Binder photo Leo

    04 June 2008

    Leo rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    A fantastic dinner party stunner. Needs a little single cream to cut through the richness and open a book on who will manage a second slice!!!

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  • 12 June 2008

    magicmanuk rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    WOW! This was easy to make & boy did it go down a treat - very rich. Freezer bag as piping bag was a great idea too. With regards to difficulty slicing - I put mine in the freezer for a little longer & used a very sharp carving knife.

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  • 23 June 2008

    Kimbo commented on this recipe

    Rich & delicious. Created a lot of washing up & crumbled when slicing but tastes delicious - a definite one to recommend.

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Difficulty and servings

Moderately easy

Serves 9 - 10

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 30 - 40 mins

Cook time

Cook 5 mins

Plus overnight chilling
Vegetarian Freezable

Vegetarian

For up to a month

Indulgent make-ahead dessert

Ingredients

  • 300g dark chocolate , iuse 70%, good quality, such as Valrhona or Green & Black's
  • 150g unsalted butter , softened
  • 150g caster sugar
  • 6 tbsp cocoa powder
  • 6 eggs
  • 450ml double cream
  • 300g box After Eights
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Per serving

743 kcalories, protein 8g, carbohydrate 60g, fat 54 g, saturated fat 30g, fibre 1g, sugar 57g, salt 0.25 g

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