Mont Blanc Dessert (Chestnut Cream Cake)
The Mont Blanc dessert also known as Mont Blanc cake, or pastry is a distinguished French dessert characterized by its unique use of chestnuts and combination of flavors and textures. It is also sometimes referred to to chestnut cream cake.
About Mont Blanc Dessert Cake
Originating from France, this dessert is named after Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps. The dessert has also become popular in Japan, especially when served a small individual cakes. Learn more about the dessert here.
The Chestnut Puree
The core component of a Mont Blanc cake is a chestnut puree that is mixed with sugar and thickened. The puree is formed into a ring or cone and the topped with whipped cream.
For the puree, Chestnuts are cooked, pureed, and sweetened to form a smooth, creamy mixture. This puree is often enhanced with vanilla, cognac, or rum for added depth of flavor. In some variations, whipped cream is also incorporated into the chestnut mixture to create a lighter, more delicate texture. Moe often, though the whipped cream is used as a topping to resemble the snow on the peak of Mont Blanc.
That use of the whipped cream is a distinctive characteristic of the dessert and can best be done by piping the whipped cream in vermicelli-like strands.
Variations
Some recipes will also use a layer of meringue, for a crisp and airy foundation. There recipe here does not do so, but you can add that if desired by whisking egg whites and sugar until they form stiff peaks, then baking at a low temperature to achieve a dry, crunchy texture. Then use the meringue as a base for the other layers of the dessert.
In some variations, the Mont Blanc pastry includes additional elements like a layer of sponge cake or almond biscuit at the base, providing a soft, moist contrast to the crunchy meringue. Chocolate or fruit coulis may also be incorporated, adding complexity and balancing the sweetness of the chestnut and meringue.
Yet other variations with mix chestnut flavoring with the whipped cream. I list that as an option in this recipe.
Serving Mont Blanc Cake
Mont Blanc is a versatile dessert that goes well with many dishes. Becasue of it’s popularity in Japan, it would serve well after sushi or any Japanese rice dish.
The dessert also pairs particularly well with any European or French dish, such as Tournedos Rossini or Turbot Steaks.
Becasue of the chestnuts, it also is a great holiday or Christmas dinner dessert.
Below is a recipe.
Mont Blanc Dessert (Chestnut Cream Cake)
Mont Blanc dessert pastry (chestnut cream cake) is a French and Japanese dessert made with chestnut puree and whipped cream piped like vermicelli. It also can be made with meringue, cake of choice, biscuits, or cookies as a base. It is versatile and elegant dessert that is also and gluten-free. Mont-Blanc is considered a elegant dessert and has a nice aesthetic to pair with fancy dishes. But it actually is great with any dish, and also makes a great holiday or Christmas dessert.
Ingredients
- 7 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped
- 2 jars (14.8 oz) jars roasted chestnuts
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 ½ tsp fennel seeds, ground
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 tbsp Cognac
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp powdered sugar
- optional: 4 Tablespoons sweet chestnut paste
Instructions
- Empty the jars of roasted chestnuts into a medium saucepan and sprinkle a pinch of salt, ground fennel seeds as well as sugar into it.
- Pour in milk, stir to mix well and heat the mixture over moderate flame until it starts simmering.
- Lower the heat slightly and continue to cook for another 10 minutes, stirring regularly and breaking it down with the spatula, until the milk is completely absorbed.
- Place the chocolate chunks into the upper bowl of a double boiler and heat until it melts completely into a thick, glossy mixture; set aside.
- Pass the cooked chestnuts through a potato ricer, fitted with a medium disc and place it into a large bowl.
- Pour in the melted chocolate and add a splash of Cognac into it.
- Stir them all together until they blend together into a uniform mixture, resembling the consistency of a cookie dough and spoon it into a medium bowl.
- Wrap the surface with cling film and leave in the fridge overnight or at least for an hour.
- To serve, pour the cream in a bowl and add a splash of vanilla extract as well as powdered sugar into it.
- optional, add chestnut paste to the cream
- Whisk the cream mix thoroughly using an electric mixer until they form soft, moist peaks.
- Pass the chestnut dough through the rice once again and pile it up onto the center of a large serving platter.
- Add a large dollop of half of the whipped cream onto the piled chestnut mixture and serve alongside a bowl of remaining whipped cream.
Notes
While this can be made with only 1 hour of time to set in the refrigerator, allowing it to sit overnight is best.
This recipe can also be made adding a base of cake of choice, cookies, biscuits, or meringue.
If you wish to add chestnut paste tot he whipped cream, you can often find it at gourmet food stores or on Amazon.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 409Total Fat: 31gSaturated Fat: 19gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 73mgSodium: 46mgCarbohydrates: 31gFiber: 2gSugar: 28gProtein: 5g
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons
Last Updated on November 29, 2023 by Carleen
