Chocolate Heaven : 5 Steps

This is my go to dessert to WOW my guest.
When I serve a 3 course menu, I want to finish with a BANG!
This recipe is easy to make and you can even make it the day before. So, no hassle in the kitchen.
The only thing is to plate the dessert. If you really do not have time, you can also buy brownie and ice cream for this dessert. But it's more fun to make it yourself :)

So what's in this chocolate heaven?
- Home made brownie
- Home made easy ice cream (4 ingredient)
- Crunchy topping (nougatine nuts: it's a Dutch sprinkle made of caramel and hazelnuts)
- Fruit: strawberry or berries or blue berries or any type of fruit

As you can read, I am Dutch. In the Dutch culture, we like easy and simple food. The dessert in this country is usually 'vla' which is custard. Or we like to eat pudding. Oké, enough information... Let the baking begin!

With this recipe, you can make 4 till 6 portions, depending on the size.

Supplies

Chocolate ball
- water balloon
- coco oil (or any oil with no taste)
- white chocolate bar 200 gram
- nougatine nuts (also possible to make it yourself)

Brownie
- 2 eggs medium
- melted butter 140 gram (and some butter to grease the tin)
- flour 70 gram
- cacao powder 35 gram
- baking powder 2 gram
- sugar 50 gram
- pinch of salt
- optional: vanilla essence (a few drops)

Ice cream
- mason jar, or any jar (500 ml)
- heavy cream 200 ml
- sugar 20 gram
- vanilla essence (a few drops)

Step 1: Chocolate Dome

First blow up some balloons. I suggest to blow more balloons than you want to make, because the shape of balloons could differ from each other. I choose the balloons with the biggest diameter.

Melt the chocolate in the microwave with an interval of 30 seconds. Let it cool off for a bit.

Oil your fingers and rub it over the balloons. This will make it easier to remove the balloons later on.

Get a plate and throw the nougatine nuts on it.

Get another plate and place baking paper on it.

Dip the ballon in the chocolate and twist the balloon, so each side is covered with chocolate. If, you want to make a cup, on one side it should be more covered.

Let the excess chocolate drip of the balloon, see picture.

Gently dip/press the chocolate balloon in the nougatine nuts.

Put the balloon on the plate with baking paper, see picture.

And the chocolate dome is done and place it in the freezer.

Step 2: Brownie

Roast the pecans in the oven 180 Celsius degrees. 5 min should do.

Leave the oven on 180 Celsius degrees

Melt the butter in the microwave

Add the flour, cacao and baking powder in a bowl and mix it with a vork

Take another bowl and add the two eggs in it.

Whisk the eggs and add the sugar. (optional: add vanilla essence)

Add the dry ingredients with a sieve and in steps to the wet ingredients.

Use a silicone spatula to mix the batter.

Cut the baking paper for the loaf tin (20 cm). Pro tip: Flip the loaf tin and cut the baking paper in line with the bottom.

Flip the loaf tin again and grease the tin with butter. Place the perfect baking paper in the loaf tin.

Place the batter in the loaf tin.

Spread the batter evenly.

Pop the loaf tin in the oven for about 15 min. But always check 5 min before the actual baking time!

Use a tooth picker to see if the brownie is done. Puncture in the middle of the brownie. If the tooth picker is clean, then the brownie is done. If the brownie batter sticks on the tooth pick, it means that the brownie is not done. Just a few minutes in the oven and repeat the check.

When the brownie is done. Let it cool off in the kitchen.