Panettone with Chocolate Mascarpone Mousse

Panettone is a sweet Italian bread served throughout the year, especially at Christmas. It is similar to French Brioche, but with dried fruit and raisins. It is readily available during the Christmas season, and can be found throughout the year at specialty shops. Even though it is too late to make this dish for your Christmas dinner, now is still a perfect time to make this mousse, because Panettone is still widely available in the regular grocery stores, because they bring it in for Christmas.

I have not included a recipe for Panettone, because I have not yet attempted making it myself, and the ready-made ones in the supermarkets are very tasty. What I have here is the recipe for a delicious mascarpone mousse to go with the Panettone, which you can also serve with a variety of other deserts, or can be eaten on its own. It is very much like Chocolate mousse, except with Mascarpone cheese, and a lighter flavour. I would recommend making it, even if you are not interested in the Panettone, as it is absolutely divine. Very rich, but worth every bite.

Mascarpone Mousse

Ingredients:

475g mascarpone cheese

3 eggs, separated

1/3 cup + 3 tbsp sugar (adjust to taste)

1 shot brandy

4 heaping tbsp cocoa powder (adjust to taste)

Directions:

1. Whisk together the mascarpone cheese with the egg yolks, and mix in sugar, whiskey, and cocoa.

2. In a separate, clean bowl, with a clean, dry whisk, whisk the egg whites until soft peaks form and fold into the mascarpone mixture. Taste and adjust flavourings as you wish

3. Chill until  ready to serve.