Chocolate Marquise on Meringue

This month was my first month participating in the Daring Bakers challenge. This fun group chooses one blogger to host a monthly challenge. That blogger picks a dessert, announces it, then everyone else makes it and adds their own variations. I like it because it inspires me to be more creative and to try making things I would have never thought to make.

The May 2011 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Emma of CookCraftGrow and Jenny of Purple House Dirt. They chose to challenge everyone to make a Chocolate Marquise. The inspiration for this recipe comes from a dessert they prepared at a restaurant in Seattle.

A marquise is basically a frozen mousse rolled in cocoa. They also suggested adding a torched meringue and a tequila caramel drizzle. I decided to try the vegan version of the dessert offered. I've been cooking more vegan recently, and honestly, the vegan version looked easier. :-) Ashlae at ladycakes provided the vegan recipes.

I followed her recipes, found here, but added some tequila to the caramel, and cayenne and orange zest to the chocolate.

I loved all of the components that I made (coconut caramel, frozen chocolate pudding, and vegan meringue), but together it was too rich for me. Others who are more into desserts would love it, I'm sure.

I apologize for the awful pictures.  I broke my camera so I had to use the cell phone camera.  It did give me a great excuse to order a new camera.  :-).   It should be here soon, then I'll post lots more recipes!