1/ Wash the Strawberries:Gently wash the strawberries and pat them dry with paper towels. Since they are for decoration, chilling them in the refrigerator will help them look fresher and neater when serving.
2/ Melt the Chocolate: Place the chopped dark chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Melt it over a double boiler or in the microwave at low power. Once smooth, let it cool to lukewarm. Do not add it while hot, as it may cause the mascarpone to separate.
3/ Prepare the Egg Yolk Cream: Separate the eggs into two bowls, placing the yolks in one and the whites in the other. Add 40 g of sugar to the egg yolks and whisk until pale and slightly thickened. Add the mascarpone and mix until smooth and free of lumps.
4/ Add the Chocolate: Gradually add the cooled melted chocolate to the mascarpone mixture, mixing well after each addition until smooth and evenly combined.
5/ Make the Meringue: In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites. Gradually add the remaining sugar while whisking, and continue beating until glossy, stiff peaks form.
6/ Fold in the Meringue: Add the meringue to the chocolate mascarpone cream in 2–3 additions. Gently fold it in using a spatula, lifting from the bottom to keep as much air as possible in the mixture.
7/ Cut the Ladyfingers: Trim the ladyfingers to fit the size of your serving glasses or dish.
8/ Assemble: Spoon a small amount of chocolate cream into the bottom of each glass (glass containers are recommended). Quickly dip each ladyfinger into the cooled coffee for about 1 second, then arrange them over the cream. Add another layer of chocolate cream. Repeat the layers, finishing with cream on top.
9/ Chill: Smooth the surface, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 3–4 hours, preferably overnight. Chilling allows the flavors to blend and the texture to set properly.
10/ Finish: Just before serving, dust lightly with cocoa powder using a fine sieve. Decorate with heart-shaped strawberries and serve 🍓
🍓 How to Cut a Strawberry into a Heart (Using One Strawberry)
Remove the stem. Cut a small V-shape at the top of the strawberry. Slice it in half lengthwise to create a heart shape.
