How to Make Coeur à la Crème
The sweet richness of coeur à la crème reigns again
Here's a Valentine's treat that'll set you apart from the chocolate masses: coeur à la crème-a creamy white heart, surrounded, if you please, by raspberry sauce. This pretty, fresh cheese-based dessert is an old French classic that makes the "in list" every now and then, explaining why your mother or grandmother may remember it and you don't.
Certainly coeur à la crème is worth getting to know-the ingredients come together in minutes, and the fetching hearts require no baking. The hardest part is waiting, often overnight, while the mixture sets in a special heart-shaped basket or porcelain mold with holes in the bottom, which allow the whey to drain off (available from Dean & DeLuca). When it's ready, you need only invert the heart onto a serving plate and sauce it as you see fit.
Coeur à la crème requires a porcelain mold or basket with holes at the bottom so the whey can drain
Variations of coeur à la crème are endless. Any sweetened fresh cheese such as mascarpone, farmer's cheese, or cream cheese provides a delicious base. So in the sweet spirit of Valentine's Day, we pay a petite homage to this bonne bouche with a handful of recipes. Choose your preferred degree of creamy richness, and serve with the fruit you love best.
Coeur à la Crème Recipes from Masters of French Cuisine
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