Description
Delicate Heart of Cream celebrates French pastry elegance with silky smooth cream nestled in a buttery shell. Blackberry glaze adds elegant richness, creating a sophisticated dessert perfect for intimate gatherings where you’ll savor each exquisite bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Dairy Ingredients:
- 6 ounces (170 grams) cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 ¼ cups (300 milliliters) heavy whipping cream
- ½ cup + 2 tablespoons (140 grams) powdered sugar
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon lemon zest
Blackberry Sauce Ingredients:
- ½ pint (240 grams) blackberries, rinsed
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) strawberry preserves
- 3 tablespoons (45 grams) granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) water
Instructions
- Unwrap a clean cheesecloth and drape it inside a heart-shaped porcelain mold, ensuring fabric edges generously overhang the container’s rim.
- Using an electric mixer with paddle attachment, cream together softened cream cheese and powdered sugar until silky and lump-free, approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Transfer cream cheese mixture to a separate large mixing bowl, carefully cleaning mixer bowl for next step.
- Pour heavy cream into mixer bowl, whisk at medium-high speed until soft peaks form, approximately 3 minutes.
- Incorporate vanilla extract and freshly grated lemon zest into whipped cream, continuing to whisk until stiff peaks develop.
- Gently fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture using a spatula, blending until uniformly combined with no visible streaks.
- Delicately spoon cream mixture into cheesecloth-lined mold, smoothing surface with an offset spatula.
- Fold overhanging cheesecloth edges neatly over the top of the cream mixture.
- Refrigerate for 2-3 hours to allow dessert to set and develop rich, creamy consistency.
- For blackberry glaze, combine fresh blackberries, granulated sugar, water, and lemon juice in a medium saucepan.
- Simmer blackberry mixture over medium heat, stirring intermittently, until slightly thickened and berries break down, about 10-12 minutes.
- Remove from heat, allow sauce to cool completely, then strain through fine-mesh sieve for smooth texture.
- Before serving, unmold cream heart onto decorative plate, carefully peeling away cheesecloth.
- Drizzle chilled blackberry glaze generously over cream heart, garnishing with fresh blackberries if desired.
Notes
- Drain the cream mixture thoroughly in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours to achieve the perfect texture and consistency.
- Use fine-quality cream cheese and fresh heavy cream for a luxurious, silky smooth dessert that melts in your mouth.
- Cheesecloth is essential for proper draining and creates the classic heart-shaped molding signature to this elegant French dessert.
- Prepare the blackberry sauce in advance and let it cool completely to enhance the depth of flavor and allow natural sweetening.
- Serve chilled for the most refreshing and delicate dessert experience, garnishing with fresh berries or mint leaves for an extra touch of elegance.
- Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature before mixing to prevent lumps and create a seamless, creamy texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 347 kcal
- Sugar: 23 g
- Sodium: 108 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg