Recipes inspired by Girl Scout cookies add a new twist to classic flavors

Dale, jokingly, said he won an arm wrestling with his colleague, Lauryn Markle, for the right to use Thin Mints.

Together, the duo created four elegant desserts using four different types of Girl scout cookies. For each Girl Scout-inspired dessert sold at its four restaurants, Crafted Concepts donates $ 1 to local Girl Scout troops.

“Since Scout girls in the pandemic are not always able to make their traditional sales, we thought it would be a new and fun way for customers to find Girl Scout cookies,” said Dale.

In an effort to help sell more cookies during the pandemic, Girl Scouts of Colorado and other state divisions extended their sales periods this winter. The Colorado chapter, for example, will be selling cookies until March 21 – two weeks later than originally planned. If you don’t happen to know a girl scout, the web tool “find a cookie booth” offers an option for online ordering.
And if you end up with a few extra boxes and decide you want to get fancy, the recipes below for Samoas Coconut Panna Cotta and Thin Mint Mousse Tart will yield restaurant-worthy desserts, complete with sauces. More cookie-inspired recipes are available on the Girls Scouts website.

Bistro Vendôme Thin Mint Mousse Torte

By Eric Dale

Makes a 9 “pie

Eric Dale, executive pastry chef at Crafted Concepts, created the Thin Mint Mousse Tart served at Bistro Vendôme in Denver.  (Photo from CNN)

Chocolate pie

Ingredients

Non-stick vegetable oil spray

24 scout thin mint cookies

1/4 ounce (1 packet) gelatin powder

2 cups sour cream

1/2 bag (6 ounces) of bittersweet chocolate drops

2 cups warm vanilla sauce (recipe below)

Special equipment

A 9 “diameter spring shape pan

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 ° F. Mount the sides and bottom of the pan; lightly cover the bottom with nonstick spray.

2. Place the cookies in a food processor. Grind them continuously until they form a fine crumb. Press the crumbs evenly into the bottom of the pan. Bake the crust at 350 ° F for 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and leave cool.

3. In a microwave-safe bowl: sprinkle the gelatin in 1/4 cup of water, stirring to incorporate Left aside.

4. Beat the cream until soft peaks form. Cover and keep refrigerated.

5. In another microwave-safe bowl, heat the chocolate in the microwave for 30 seconds at high setting. Remove the bowl and stir the chocolate. Repeat in 30-second increments, stopping and stirring until melted. Beat approximately one third of the hot vanilla sauce with the chocolate. Beat the chocolate mixture in the remaining vanilla sauce.

6. Melt the gelatin in the microwave, 20-30 seconds in high definition. Beat the melted gelatin into the chocolate mixture. Allow to cool in an ice bath until the mixture begins to thicken.

7. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold a third of the chocolate mixture into the reserved whipped cream. Add the remaining chocolate mixture until well combined.

8. Pour immediately into the pan, over the cooled crust. Cover and keep refrigerated until hard, about 4 hours or preferably overnight.

Hot vanilla sauce

Makes 2 cups

Ingredients

1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons of whole milk

1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons sour cream

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

6 eggs, yolks separated from whites

1/4 cup + 2 granulated tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon of vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Mix the milk and cream with the salt in an anti-reactive pan and bring to a boil.

2. In the meantime, mix the egg yolks with the sugar using a whisk. Reserve the egg whites for another purpose.

3. Season the egg yolks by gradually adding a third of the hot milk, stirring constantly. Return the seasoned egg mixture to the remaining hot milk in the pan and continue cooking, stirring constantly, with a rubber spatula, until the mixture thickens enough to coat it, 1-2 minutes.

4. Strain the sauce in a medium bowl. Add the vanilla extract.

5. Proceed with the mousse instructions in the chocolate pie recipe using the hot sauce.

Ganache nail polish

Ingredients

12 ounces (1 bag) of bittersweet chocolate drops

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup whole milk

1 1/2 tablespoons light corn syrup

Instructions

1. Place the chocolate in a medium refractory bowl.

2. Place the cream, milk and corn syrup in a saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil.

3. Pour the hot cream mixture over the chocolate. Let stand for 1 minute.

4. Using a rubber spatula, stir slowly in a circular motion, starting from the center of the bowl and working on the sides. Be careful not to add too much air to the ganache.

5. Stir until all the chocolate has melted, about 2 minutes. Set aside and let cool at room temperature before glazing the chocolate pie.

6. Slide a metal spatula inside the pan to release it. Remove the outer ring and transfer the pie to a cooling grid inside a baking sheet or bordered baking sheet.

7. Pour the ganache icing over the pie, evenly covering the top so that it drips down the sides.

Chef Dale completes his Thin Mint Mousse Torte with candied mint leaves. Find this recipe on Girl scout website.

Stoic and genuine coconut Panna Cotta

By Lauryn Markle

Makes 2 servings

Samoas Coconut Panna Cotta is on the dessert menu at Stoic & Genuine in downtown Denver.  (Photo from CNN)

Chocolate ganache

Ingredients

1/4 cup or 2 ounces of 70% dark chocolate

3/4 cup sour cream

Instructions

1. Chop the chocolate into small pieces and place it in a small bowl.

2. In a heat-resistant cup, blanch the cream in the microwave for 20-30 seconds at high power.

3. Pour the cream over the chocolate and mix with a rubber spatula.

4. If you have a few pieces of chocolate left, place the bowl in the microwave for 10 seconds at high setting. Remove the bowl, stir and microwave the chocolate again until all the pieces are melted.

5. Place the desired amount of ganache in the bottom of 2 dinner bowls, making sure it is homogeneous. Left it aside.

Coconut Panna Cotta

Ingredients

1/4 ounce (1 packet) of powdered gelatin

1 can of coconut cream (as Coco López)

1/2 cup sour cream

1/4 cup sprinkles sugar

1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Sprinkle the gelatin in 1/4 cup of water, stirring to incorporate.

2. Combine the coconut cream, sour cream, sugar, salt and vanilla extract in a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat.

3. In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the gelatine at 20-second intervals until it becomes liquid. Add the liquid gelatin to the hot coconut mixture and mix well.

4. Allow the mixture to cool slightly on the counter for a few minutes before pouring into the ganache so that it does not melt.

5. Divide the panna cotta between the reserved bowls with ganache. Cover and keep refrigerated until hard.

Shortbread cookie topper

Ingredients

2 Samoa Girl Scout cookies

1/2 cup of multipurpose flour + more to the surface

1 cold stick without salt butter

4 tablespoons light Brown sugar

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 325˚F.

2. Place the cookies and 1/2 cup of flour in a food processor and spray until there are no large pieces of cookie. Reserve in a small bowl. Alternatively, chop the cookies with a sharp kitchen knife.

3. Using an electric mixer or hand mixer, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

4. Using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, incorporate the biscuit and flour mixture until all the flour is incorporated. Be careful not to mix the cookie dough too much!

5. Put the dough in plastic wrap or plastic bag that can be closed again; refrigerate for 15 minutes.

6. When the dough is firm enough to roll out, sprinkle the work surface with flour.

7. Using a rolling pin, spread the dough ¼ inch thick and cut the cookies using the desired cookie cutter. The dough can be rolled again up to 2 times.

8. Place the cookie cutters on a parchment baking sheet and bake until golden brown, 5-6 minutes.

Build your dessert:

When your panna cottas de coco are ready, take them out of the fridge, cover them with Samoas cookies and have fun!

Chef Markle finishes his Samoan-topped coconut Panna Cotta with homemade caramel sauce. Find that recipe on the girl scout website.

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