Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies with Vanilla Bean Ice-Cream and Mocha Fudge Sauce

Source - http://www.portuguesegirlcooks.com/2012/01/warm-brown-butter-chocolate-chip.html

Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Makes 4-8 servings (depending on the vessels used), or 16 Cookies

1 3/4 cups (8 3/4 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

14 tablespoons (1 3/4 sticks) unsalted butter

1/2 cup (3 1/2 ounces) granulated sugar

3/4 cup packed (5 1/4 ounces) dark brown sugar

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk

1 cups semisweet chocolate chips

1. Adjust oven rack to the middle position, and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare ramekins or vessels.

2. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and baking soda together and set aside.

3. Melt 10 tablespoons butter in an uncoated skillet over medium high heat, for about 2 minutes. Continue to cook while swirling the pan constantly, until the butter is dark golden brown and has a nutty smell, and little brown bits have formed in the bottom of the pan, about 1 to 3 minutes. Remove skillet from the heat, and using a heatproof spatula, transfer the butter to a large bowl. Stir in the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter into the hot butter until completely melted.

3. Whisk, both sugars, salt, and vanilla into the bowl with the butter until fully incorporated. Add the whole egg and yolk and whisk until the mixture is smooth, about 30 seconds. Let the mixture rest for 3 minutes, then whisk for another 30 seconds. Repeat the 3 minute rest and 30 seconds of whisking 2 more times until the mixture is thick, smooth, and shiny. Using a wooden spoon or spatula, stir in the flour mixture until just combined. Fold in the chocolate chips, and ensure no more flour pockets remain.

4. Divide the dough evenly amongst the ramekins, and press lightly to make sure it is even. The baking times will vary depending on the size of vessel you use. You want the cookie to be slightly brown around the edges and puffy in the centre, just like when making a cookie. This will give you a soft cookie. I found that about 15 minutes was perfect, but suggest checking after about 10.

Vanilla Bean Ice-Cream

Makes about 1 quart (1 litre)

1 cup (250ml) whole milk

3/4 cup (150g) sugar

2 cups (500ml) heavy cream

pinch of salt

1 vanilla bean, split in half lengthwise

6 large egg yolks

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1. Warm milk,sugar, 1 cup of the heavy cream, and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat until hot (do not boil). Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean into the hot milk, and add in the vanilla bean pod. Remove from the heat, and cover. Let the mixture steep at room temperature for 30 minutes. 

2. Pour the remaining 1 cup of heavy cream into a large bowl with a strainer set on top and set aside. 

3. In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks until fully combined. Slowly, while whisking constantly, pour the hot milk mixture into the egg yolks. Pour the egg yolk mixture back into the saucepan.

4. Heat the egg yolk mixture over medium heat, and stir constantly with a heatproof spatula. Heat until the mixture has thickened, coats the spatula, and has reached about 170 degrees on an instant read thermometer. 

5. Pour the custard through the strainer into the cream. Add the vanilla extract and the the vanilla bean pod. Place the bowl over an ice bath and mix until mixture has cooled. Chill mixture throughly in the refrigerator. Once the mixture is cold, remove the vanilla bean pod, and freeze in your ice cream maker according to manufacturers instructions. 

Mocha Fudge Sauce

Makes 1 Cup (you can halve this recipe, or make it all and save for other things)

1/2 cup (100g) sugar

1/3 cup (80ml) light corn syrup

1/2 cup (125ml) freshly brewed espresso

6 tablespoons (50g) unsweetened dutch-process cocoa powder

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Whisk the sugar, corn syrup, espresso and cocoa powder together in a small saucepan. Whisk the mixture constantly over medium heat, until the mixture begins to bubble at the edges at it comes to a low boil. Once it comes to a low boil, whisk constantly for 1 minute more.

2. Remove from heat, stir in the vanilla extract, and let cool. Chill in the refrigerator until very cold before using, preferably overnight.

Storage: the fudge sauce can be stored up to 2 weeks, covered, in the refrigerator.

Note: If you prefer a plain fudge sauce, substitute water for the espresso.

Let the cookie rest a few minutes out of the over before scooping on the ice cream so that it doesn’t melt too quickly. Best served warm.

Vanilla Bean Cupcakes with Salted Caramel Frosting

Source - http://www.theparsleythief.com/2011/01/vanilla-bean-cupcakes-with-salted.html

Adapted {barely} from Amy Wisniewsk, via Chow
Makes 24 cupcakes

Cupcakes:
2 cups cake flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
seeds from 1 vanilla bean
2 large egg whites
2 large eggs
3/4 cup whole milk

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 muffin pans with paper cups.
Whisk the flour, baking powder & salt in a bowl. Set aside. Beat the butter in a mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, on medium speed, until light & fluffy. Add the sugar & vanilla seeds, beat until combined. Add the egg whites & then the whole eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Scrape down the bowl, as needed. Add the milk & beat to combine. Turn the mixer down to low & slowing add the flour mixture. Beat until just incorporated.
Pour the batter into the paper liners, until 1/2 full. Bake for about 18 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through the cooking time, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let the cupcakes cool on a wire rack completely before frosting.

Frosting:
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons water
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup powdered sugar

Combine the sugar & water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil & cook, without stirring, until it turns a dark amber color, about 6-7 minutes. Remove from the heat & slowly stir in the heavy cream & vanilla. The mixture will bubble up quite a bit, so do this slowly, stirring as you pour! Set aside until cool to the touch.
Beat the butter & salt in a mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, on medium speed, until light & fluffy. Reduce the speed to low & add the powdered sugar. Beat until completely incorporated. Turn off the mixer, scrape down the bowl & pour in the caramel. Turn the mixer back on & beat until light & fluffy, about 2 minutes. Transfer the frosting to an airtight container & chill for at least 45 minutes before using.
Note: The frosting can be made ahead of time & stored in an airtight container for up to 7 days. Let the frosting come to room temperature before using.