PUMPKIN MOUSSE

Pumpkin Mousse image

Provided by Ina Garten

Categories dessert

Time 2h30m

Yield 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 13

1 cup half-and-half
1 (29-ounce) can pumpkin puree
2 cups light brown sugar, lightly packed
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
6 extra-large egg yolks
2 packages (4 teaspoons) unflavored gelatin
2 ripe banana, finely mashed
1 teaspoon grated orange zest, plus more for garnish, optional
2 cups cold heavy cream
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Steps:

Heat the half-and-half, pumpkin, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a heat-proof bowl set over a pan of simmering water until hot, about 5 minutes. Whisk the egg yolks in another bowl, stir some of the hot pumpkin into the egg yolks to heat them, then pour the egg-pumpkin mixture back into the double boiler and stir well. Heat the mixture over the simmering water for another 4 to 5 minutes, until it begins to thicken, stirring constantly. You don't want the eggs to scramble. Remove from the heat.
Dissolve the gelatin in 1/2 cup cold water. Add the dissolved gelatin, banana, and orange zest to the pumpkin mixture and mix well. Set aside to cool.
For the decoration: Whip the heavy cream in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment until soft peaks form. Add the granulated sugar and vanilla and continue to whisk until you have firm peaks. Fold half the whipped cream into the cooled pumpkin mixture.
Pour the mousse into a 7 by 4-inch souffle dish. Pipe or spoon the remaining whipped cream decoratively on the mousse and sprinkle, if desired, with orange zest. Serve chilled.