GODIVA CHOCOLATE COFFEE ALMOND MOUSSE TRIFLE

Steps:

• SPONGE LAYER:.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Lightly butter the bottom and sides of 9" round cake pan.
• Line with parchment paper or waxed paper.
• Sift together flour, 1 tablespoons sugar and salt.
• Whip eggs and remaining sugar in a large bowl, usuing an electric mixer at medium speed, for 4-5 minutes.
• The batter should be airy, pale and tripled in volume.
• Add vanilla during the last minute of whipping.
• Gently fold the flour mixture into the batter, one-third at a time, using a large rubber spatula.
• Then fold in oil.
• Spread batter into prepared pan.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes or until center springs back when gently pressed.
• Cool in pan on rack for 10 minutes.
• Remove cake from pan and cool completely on wire rack, top side up.
• MAKE THE ALMOND SYRUP:.
• Mix almond flavored liqueur, coffee and vanilla in small cup until the coffee is dissolved.
• Combine water and sugar in a small saucepan.
• Cook over medium heat until sugar dissolves.
• Continue cooking until syrup comes to a boil.
• Remove from heat.
• Stir in coffee mixture.
• MAKE THE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE:.
• Mix water and vanilla.
• Sprinkle in gelatin and let stand until gelatin softens.
• Whisk the egg yolks in a medium bowl until blended.
• Combine 3/4 cup of the cream, milk, sugar and salt in a heavy, medium saucepan.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until small bubbles form around the sides of the pan.
• Remove pan from heat.
• Gradually whisk about 3/4 cup of the hot cream mixture into the yolks until well blended.
• Then pour egg mixture back into the saucepan.
• Continue cooking over medium-low heat, heat stirring constantly with wooden spoon, for 2 to 4 minutes or until the custard has thickened slightly.
• It is done when you can run your finger down the back of a coated spoon and path remains in the custard for several seconds.
• DO NOT LET CUSTARD COME TO A BOIL!
• Remove pan from heat and immedaitley strain the custard into a metal bowl.
• Add softened gelatin mixture and stir until completely dissolved.
• Add the chocolate & stir until melted and smooth.
• Set the bowl over a large bowl containing ice water.
• Let stand 5-10 minutes, stirring once or twice, until cool.
• Remove bowl from ice water.
• Whip the remaining cream until peaks form, using a hand-held electric mixer.
• Fold one-third of the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture, using a rubber spatula.
• Fold in the remaining whipped cream.
• Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 20-30 minutes or until mixture starts to thicken.
• DO NOT LET MOUSSE SET.
• MAKE THE COFFEE ALMOND WHIPPED CREAM:.
• Mix almond flavored liqueur, coffee and vanilla in small cup.
• Stir until coffee dissolves.
• Whip the cream with the coffee mixture and sugar in chilled large bowl, using a hand-held electric mixer at high speed, until soft peaks.
• ASSEMBLE THE TRIFLE:.
• Split the cake into two equal parts, using a long serrated knife.
• Brush one sponge layer with about one-fourth of the coffee syrup, using a pastry brush.
• Place the cake layer, syrup "soaked" side down, into a 3-quart glass straight-sided bowl.(My friend used a beautiful trifle bowl made of cut crystal).
• Trim cake to fit, if necessary.
• Generously brush the top of the cake layer with syrup.
• Top with crumbled amaretti cookies.
• Spread with half of the chocolate mousse.
• Reserve 1 cup of the coffee whipped cream for piping on the top of the trifle.
• Spread the remaining whipped cream over mousse.
• Repeat the same with the remaining cake, syrup, & mousse.
• Fill a pastry bag with a large star tip with reserved coffee whipped cream.
• Pipe a decoration on top of trifle.
• Garnish with chocolate-covered espresso beans and slivered almonds.
• Refrigerate the trifle for at least 4 hours before serving.
• *The cake & mousse were made the day before.