Mocha Pudding Cakes with Espresso Macaron Shells

I’m the first one up most mornings.  It’s still dark as I make my way downstairs (with a sleepy canine in tow) and begin my ritual: turn on computers, let Biscuit outside, make coffee, let Biscuit inside, clock in, begin typing.  I love my morning coffee.  It gets my fingers moving and helps my brain decode the usually illegible penmanship that all M.D.s seem to be born with. What would I do without it?

I really love coffee as an ingredient in desserts.  I woke up two days ago craving coffee macarons, yet I had never tasted one.  That evening my house was smelling like a café as I pulled two pans of espresso macarons out of the oven.  I have to say, they are my absolute favorite so far!

The cakes came about as I was thinking of fillings for the macarons.  A good filling is so important!  I decided the filling would be mocha pudding cake.  I know, cake sandwiched between two cookies sounds like crazy talk. Crazy good!  I think the cake’s consistency is perfect for this.

These will puff up (much like souffles) while baking, but they will deflate quite a bit after you take them out of the oven.  The recipe calls for a 2 quart baking dish, but I used oven-proof ceramic cappuccino cups.  You could also use ramekins. 

I mixed a little espresso powder and vanilla extract together in a tiny cup to create coffee “paint”.  I painted coffee beans on some of the macaron tops.  If you do this, allow the macaron tops to dry for about 10 minutes before storing.

Last night we had an impromptu family dinner, and I was so excited to share these . The pudding cakes were long gone, but the macaron shells were delicious filled with a little melted dark chocolate. Everyone loved them! 

Mocha Pudding Cake   [click for printable version]

Serves 6.

Butter, room temperature, for baking dish

1/2 cup granulated sugar, plus more for baking dish

6 large eggs, room temperature, separated

6 ounces semisweet chocolate

1 tsp. espresso powder or instant coffee granules

1/2 teaspoon salt

Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting (opt.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and set a kettle of water to boil.

Butter a shallow 2-quart baking dish; coat with granulated sugar, tapping out excess.

In a large bowl, whisk egg yolks with granulated sugar until lightened in color. Melt chocolate and sprinkle over espresso powder or instant coffee.  Stir until combined. Whisk in melted chocolate to lightened egg mixture (will be stiff); set aside.

In a large, clean bowl, using an electric mixer on high, beat egg whites with salt until soft peaks form. Whisk 1/3 of whites into chocolate mixture. Add remaining whites, and gently fold with a rubber spatula just until combined (do not over mix).

Transfer batter to prepared baking dish. Set dish in a roasting pan, and pour enough boiling water into pan to come about 1 inch up side of dish. Bake until puffed and just set (center of cake should barely move when jiggled), 25 to 35 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes; dust with confectioners’ sugar just before serving.

*** If using tall ceramic cups as I did, extra baking time is needed.

Espresso Macarons   

[click for printable version]

 Yield: 30 shells

1 tsp. espresso powder

1 cup confectioners’ sugar

3/4 cup almond flour

2 large egg whites, room temperature

Pinch of cream of tartar

1/4 cup superfine sugar

Pulse confectioners’ sugar and almond flour in a food processor until combined. Sift mixture 2 times.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Whisk whites with a mixer on medium speed until foamy. Add cream of tartar, and whisk until soft peaks form. Reduce speed to low, then add superfine sugar. Increase speed to high, and whisk until stiff peaks form, about 8 minutes. Sift flour mixture over whites. Fold until just combined.  Sprinkle espresso powder over and fold until mixture is smooth and shiny.

Transfer batter to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch plain round tip, and pipe 3/4-inch rounds 1 inch apart on parchment-lined baking sheets, dragging pastry tip to the side of rounds rather than forming peaks. Tap bottom of each sheet on work surface to release trapped air. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. Bake 1 sheet at a time, rotating halfway through, until macaroons are crisp and firm, about 10 minutes. After each batch, increase oven temperature to 375 degrees, heat for 5 minutes, then reduce to 325 degrees.

Let macarons cool on sheets for 2 to 3 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Fill as desired.

Check out a few of my tips for macaron making here.

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Lisa Stone
Lisa Stone
13 years ago

Just have to say…your are brilliantly talented! I love your style of writing and your photos are mesmerizing. Then there is your baking…Thanks!

oneordinaryday
oneordinaryday
13 years ago

this is completely gorgeous.

tspegar
tspegar
13 years ago

You are amazing. Do you get tired of hearing me gush? Seriously… this is genius. You are inspirational!

dognbird
dognbird
13 years ago

Inspired! So happy every single time I read your blog!

Poires au Chocolat
Poires au Chocolat
13 years ago

Gosh, that looks incredible! Great photos too.

Casco Bay Soap Co.
Casco Bay Soap Co.
13 years ago

OMG! love them! and the painted on coffee beans look like little lips, kissing the cookies! nice job, I can't wait to make these and share.
thanks!
enjoy your weekend,
Shannon
http://www.cascobaysoap.blogspot.com

Memória
Memória
13 years ago

Oooo, the pudding cake looks amazing. YUM!

the southern hostess
the southern hostess
13 years ago

Absolutely perfect! Love the presentation.

Eva
Eva
13 years ago

Delicious! Great photos!

Jessica @ How Sweet
Jessica @ How Sweet
13 years ago

That just might be the MOST impressive thing I have ever seen. Stunning.

Patty
Patty
13 years ago

How incredibly lovely and delicious! Thank you for sharing your sweet creativity. 🙂

anna
anna
13 years ago

Cuuuuuuute! I really love the skewered shells, very precious. And I WANT those ceramic cups!

Kathleen
Kathleen
13 years ago

I love how you styled this!

Heather
Heather
13 years ago

You've won an award! Come check it out.

Cookin' Canuck
Cookin' Canuck
13 years ago

Your photos are absolutely gorgeous and this is such an original and enticing dessert!

Sue
Sue
13 years ago

You just ooze with creativity! This looks delicious and beautiful! To top it off with "painting" coffee beans beats all! 🙂

Unknown
Unknown
13 years ago

Funny how doctors always have terrible handwriting. My grandma (artist), dad (doctor), and me have handwriting that is nearly exactly the same in both cursive and print- and is of course totally illegible to most people.

tasteofbeirut
tasteofbeirut
13 years ago

All I can do is ditto all the previous comments! Wonderful baker and photographer!

Mara Campbell
Mara Campbell
13 years ago

beautiful recipe!! I love how you baked them in little cappuccino cups, how fun!!

Lot-O-Choc
Lot-O-Choc
13 years ago

Omg wow this looks delicious!! Droool!

Recetas al instante
Recetas al instante
13 years ago

wow a yummy dessert.

olga.

Unknown
Unknown
13 years ago

This looks AMAZING! And I LOVE the mugs!

I had to go looking for the cups, so for anyone else wanting similar ceramic cups, I found these:
http://www.joannehudson.com/drinkware/asa-hot-fresh.html

Again, delicious treats and wonderful photography! keep 'em coming!

Julie
Julie
13 years ago

These look scrumptious! I'm not a coffee lover, but I think this is one form I'd definitely be okay with.

Kavey
Kavey
13 years ago

Just came across your blog today, via a twitter link (and have passed it on to spread the love).

Absolutely love your creativity, your food styling and your photography, and of course the food itself looks great.

Very inspirational!

The Urban Baker
The Urban Baker
13 years ago

I'm trying to figure out whom I can invite over for dinner this weekend so I can make these!

Unknown
Unknown
13 years ago

Oh my word. AMAZING pictures!!!!! I am craving the these now, yet I have never had one, it's totally possible.

samantharose
samantharose
11 years ago

I've never made macarons before, and have been toying with the idea for a while… I think I just found the recipe I'll take the plunge with! Thank you!

samantharose
samantharose
11 years ago

Edit: I made these macaron shells and used your coffee mascarpone truffle recipe as a filling and brought them in to my test guinea pigs (co-workers) and they were a HUGE hit! Thank you so much, you're such an inspiration!