Best Chocolate Sea Shells Recipes

CHOCOLATE SEA SALT RUGELACH

Steps:

• Combine the flour, granulated sugar and salt in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the cubed butter, distributing it all over the top of the dry ingredients, then dollop in the cream cheese (1-inch dollops should do it, but it doesn't need to be perfect). Turn the mixer on low speed and mix until the mixture is mostly mealy and there are still some larger clumps of butter and cream cheese intact. With the mixer still running, add the egg yolks, vanilla and almond extract, if using, then continue mixing until the dough comes together. Divide the dough in half and shape into 2 discs. Wrap each tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 2 days.
• Melt the chocolate in a double boiler, stirring constantly, or in a microwaveable bowl in 30-second increments, stirring after each. Set aside to cool briefly while you roll out the dough.
• Beat the remaining whole egg with a splash of water for an egg wash. Roll out a dough disc on a lightly floured surface, dusting with flour as needed to prevent it from sticking, until it is a wide rectangle, 18-by-9-inches. Use an offset spatula to spread half of the chocolate over the dough in a thin even layer, leaving a 1-inch border along the long edge that's farthest from you. (Try to work kind of quickly so the chocolate doesn't harden.) Brush the border with a thin layer of egg wash. Starting on the long end closest to you, roll the dough into a long, tight log, then place it seam-side down on a cutting board or baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough and chocolate. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to 2 days (depending on fridge space, you might want to cut the log in half so you're dealing with four shorter logs instead of two really long ones; wrap in plastic if refrigerating for longer than 1 hour).
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Brush the logs with a thin layer of egg wash, then sprinkle with a few pinches of flaky salt and a ton of sprinkles or sanding sugar. Cut into 1 1/2-inch slices and transfer to the baking sheets, spacing them 1 inch apart. Bake until golden brown on top, about 24 minutes. (You might notice that the cookies seem to sweat and leak out some fat while in the oven; this is completely normal.) Let cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, or enjoy them warm! Fully cooled cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for several days.

CHOCOLATE SEASHELLS WITH WHITE COFFEE ICE CREAM PEARLS

Steps:

• At least 1 day before serving, start the ice cream: Heat the coffee beans, half-and-half, heavy cream, and vanilla bean in a saucepan over medium heat just to a boil, stirring occasionally to make sure the mixture doesn't burn or stick to the bottom of the pan. Turn off the heat and let cool. Cover and refrigerate overnight to infuse the coffee flavor.
• The next day, whisk the egg yolks and sugar together in a bowl. Strain the vanilla and coffee beans out of the cream mixture and re-warm it in a heavy saucepan. When the cream mixture reaches a fast simmer (do not let it boil), turn off the heat. In a thin stream, whisk half of the cream mixture into the egg yolk mixture, then pour in the remaining half and whisk well.
• Pour the mixture back into the saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. At 160 degrees F, the mixture will give off a puff of steam. When the mixture reaches 180 degrees it will be thickened and creamy, like eggnog. Test it by dipping a wooden spoon into the mixture. Run your finger down the back of the spoon. If the stripe remains clear, the mixture is ready; if the edges blur, the mixture is not quite thick enough yet. When it is ready, quickly remove it from the heat.
• Pour the cream mixture through a fine sieve into a bowl. Rest the bottom of the bowl in the ice bath. Let the mixture cool for 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Then freeze according to the directions of your ice cream machine.
• Chocolate Shells: Cut pieces of aluminum foil large enough to more than cover the back side of each clam shell. Cover the back (outside) of each shell with foil, folding it over the rim to hook it tightly to the shell. Press the foil against the surface, rubbing to smooth it so that it acts as a skin for the shell. Arrange the wrapped shells on a pan, with the wrapped sides facing up. Melt the chocolate. Spoon 1 to 2 tablespoons of chocolate onto the wrapped side of one shell, spreading it with the back of the spoon to cover the shell all the way to the edge. As needed, add more chocolate until the entire back of the shell is well coated with chocolate. Repeat with the remaining shells and chocolate. Refrigerate until set, about 20 to 30 minutes.
• Once the chocolate is set, carefully unhook the foil from all around the rim of the shell. Lift the real shell out of the foil, leaving you with the chocolate-covered foil cups. Place the shells back in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to re-harden. Taking the shells out of the refrigerator one at a time, carefully peel the foil back to reveal the chocolate shell. Repeat with the remaining shells. Store in an airtight container until ready to serve. (The shells can be made up to 1 week in advance.) To serve, pour raw sugar on a platter to look like sand. Place a scoop of ice cream in each clam shell and rest it on the sand. Serve immediately.

BASIC CHOCOLATE SHELL TOPPING

Steps:

• Fill a saucepan with a few inches of water and bring to a bare simmer. Combine the chocolate, coconut oil and sea salt in a medium heatproof bowl and set over the pan (do not let the bowl touch the water). Cook, stirring occasionally, until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is well combined, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Remove the bowl from the pan and let the mixture cool at least 15 minutes before pouring on top of ice cream (or you can dip your ice cream in the mixture instead). Transfer any remaining sauce to an airtight microwave-safe container and refrigerate up to 3 months. To remelt, uncover and microwave in 10-second intervals, stirring, until pourable.