Irish Coffee Caramel Mousse
What's not to like about that?
Ingredients
3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons water
2 cups chilled whipping cream
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted butter
2 tablespoons Irish whiskey
1 tablespoon instant espresso powder or instant coffee powder
1 1/4 teaspoons unflavored gelatin
1/4 cup Baileys Original Irish Cream
Stir sugar and 1/4 cup water in heavy medium saucepan over low heat until sugar dissolves.
Increase heat and boil without stirring until syrup turns deep amber color, brushing down sides of pan with pastry brush dipped into water and swirling pan occasionally.
Add 1/2 cup cream and 2 tablespoons butter (mixture will bubble vigorously) and stir until caramel melts.
Continue boiling 2 minutes.
Spoon 2 tablespoons caramel into small saucepan and set aside at room temperature.
Stir whiskey into remaining caramel in saucepan.
Pour into bowl.
Stir 2 tablespoons water and espresso powder in another small saucepan until espresso dissolves.
Sprinkle gelatin over.
Let stand 10 minutes to soften.
Stir gelatin mixture over low heat until melted.
Stir gelatin mixture into caramel in bowl.
Place bowl over large bowl filled with ice and water.
Let stand until caramel mixture is cool but not set, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes.
Using electric mixer, beat 1 1/2 cups cream in medium bowl to soft peaks.
Fold 2 cups whipped cream into caramel mixture in bowl.
Divide caramel mousse among 6 balloon-shaped wineglasses.
Add Baileys to remaining whipped cream and continue beating until stiff.
Spoon mixture into pastry bag fitted with star tip.
Pipe atop mousse.
Cover and chill until mousse sets, at least 3 hours.
DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead; keep chilled.
Rewarm reserved 2 tablespoons caramel in heavy small saucepan over low heat.
Drizzle over desserts.
