Twelve Strokes of Midnight
Cercle V

Twelve Strokes of Midnight

Made with Extra Amer 67%

An original recipe by David Briand

11 steps

Makes 12 Ø 16cm desserts

Recipe Step by Step

Step01

P125 CŒUR DE GUANAJA STREUSEL

55g P125 CŒUR DE GUANAJA
110g European-style butter
70g Brown sugar
95g Extra fine blanched almond flour
95g All-purpose flour
425g Total weight

Melt the P125 Cœur de Guanaja chocolate at 105/115°F (40/45°C) and pour it onto the warmed butter.
Mix them together to create a beurre pommade, but make sure it doesn’t completely melt.
Add the brown sugar, almond flour and flour all at the same time.
Mix using the paddle attachment of a food processor until it forms into small balls.
Spread the streusel evenly onto a silicon mat and bake at 300/320°F (150/160°C).
Step02

EGG-BASED CRÈME ANGLAISE FOR DARK CHOCOLATE CRÉMEUX

 1025 g

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Step03

INTENSE CARAÏBE 66% CRÉMEUX

1400 g

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Step04

LIQUID STARCH

880 g

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Step05

INTENSE AZÉLIA 35% WHIPPED GANACHE

1851 g

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Step06

EXTRA BITTER 67% FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE SPONGE

385g EXTRA AMER 67%
80g European-style butter
340g Egg whites
110g Sugar
85g Egg yolks
1000g Total weight

Melt the chocolate and butter at approx. 120°F (50°C).
Beat the egg whites, adding in the sugar as soon as you start doing so to make sure you obtain a totally
smooth mixture.
Add a small portion of the beaten egg whites to the egg yolks and finish mixing.
Add the beaten mixture to the chocolate and melted butter.
Step07

CARAÏBE 66% ABSOLU CRISTAL NEUTRAL SPRAY MIX

605 g

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Step08

BASIC CRÈME ANGLAISE

1430 g

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Step09

66% HAZELNUT PRALINÉ CRÈME ANGLAISE MOUSSE

2895 g

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Step10

ABSOLU SPRAY

990 g

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Step11

SWEET & SALTY CANDIED HAZELNUTS

115g Whole blanched hazelnuts
55g Sugar
25g Mineral water
4g Fleur de sel
199g Total weight

Toast the hazelnuts at 300°F (150°C).
Cook the sugar and water at 240°F (115°C).
Combine the hazelnuts and fleur de sel with the cooked sugar.
Break the mixture up into pieces and leave to cool on a baking sheet.

Assembly and finishing

Twelve Strokes of Midnight

As needed Crispy wheat flake cereal


Make the streusel, crémeux and the 35% intense whipped ganache.
Make the sponge and place 80g in a 16cm ring.
Sprinkle with 30g of baked streusel.
Bake at 340°F (170°C) for approx. 15 minutes.
Beat the Azélia 35% intense whipped ganache, then put 150g into each 14cm silicone mold.
Spread it around with large, random movements and then use a warm spoon to give it an uneven texture.
Freeze.
Using a pastr y bag fitted with a 13mm smooth round nozzle, pipe 115g of Caraïbe 66% intense crémeux onto the sponge (be careful not to pipe it out too deep).
Freeze.
Make the Caraïbe 66% Absolu spray glaze, then use a spray gun to spray the Azélia 35% intense whipped ganache rounds.
Store in the freezer.
Place the sponge with the crémeux in a 16cm ring lined with acetate.
Make the 66% hazelnut praliné crème anglaise mousse and put 240g straight on the dessert.
Gently put in place the disk of Azélia 35% intense whipped ganache, making sure it is level with the top of your dessert.
Freeze.
Turn out the desserts, make the Absolu spray and then apply a thin layer to the whole dessert using a spray gun.
Sprinkle on a few pieces of crispy wheat flake cereal.
Make the candied hazelnuts. Randomly arrange 6 hazelnuts and 6 Equinoxes on each dessert.

Meet the Chef

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Executive pastry chef, French craftsperson of the year 2019 at Tain l’Hermitage

David Briand

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