Chocolate Orange Mousse

Some ingredients were born to be together- peanut butter and jelly, strawberries and cream, green tea and mint...you get the idea. Chocolate + Orange is one of those combos and boy does this recipe marry them perfectly. I took my first bite and immediately thought of those delicious chocolate orange balls you can get around Christmas time. I don't remember celebrating a Christmas without these, mostly because they're scrumptious, but maybe because they're a blast to smack on the counter to separate all the slices!

Chocolate Orange Mousse

Serves 6 to 8

6 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 teaspoon grated orange zest

12 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

8 large eggs at room temperature, separated

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar

Pinch of kosher salt

1/2 cup cold heavy cream

Whipped cream for decoration

Mandarin oranges, drained, for decoration

Combine the two chocolates, 1/4 cup water and the vanilla in a heat-proof bowl. Set it over a pan of simmering water just until the chocolate melts. Cool completely to room temperature. Whisk in the orange zest and butter until combined.

Place the egg yolks and 1/2 cup of the sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on high speed for 4 minutes, or until very thick and pale yellow. With the mixer on low speed, add the chocolate mixture. Transfer to a large bowl.

Place 1 cup of egg whites (save or discard the rest), the salt, and 1 tablespoon of the sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on high speed until firm but not dry. Whisk half of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture; then fold the rest in carefully with a rubber spatula.

Without cleaning the bowl or whisk, whip the heavy cream and the remaining tablespoon of sugar until firm. Fold the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture. Pour the mousse into individual dishes or an 8 cup serving bowl. Chill and decorate with whipped cream and oranges.