A New Take on Chocolate Royale

steps

Make the Bombolo Base

1. Line a sheet tray with parchment paper and set aside. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar with 2 tablespoons water and swirl together until sugar dissolves. Continue cooking syrup, stirring occasionally, until it begins to caramelize and turns a deep amber color. Add hazelnuts or almonds and stir to coat entirely. Turn out praline nuts onto prepared sheet tray and spread in an even layer. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and let cool to room temperature.
2. Break cooled pralines into small chunks. Add half of pralines to a food processor and blend until a pastelike texture forms. Repeat with remaining pralines. Set aside.
3. Prepare a double boiler by setting a pot of water to a low simmer over medium heat. Set a heatproof bowl over simmering water; add chocolate and stir until just melted and smooth. Remove chocolate from heat and stir in crisped rice cereal and remaining ¼ teaspoon salt until everything is well coated. Add processed praline mixture and stir until thoroughly combined. Dust bottom of a springform pan with cocoa powder and press base mixture evenly into the bottom of pan.

Make the Chocolate Mousse

1. Place a bowl over remaining hot water on stove and add butter, chocolate, and coffee. Stir until butter is mostly melted, then remove from heat. (As you work through recipe, continue to stir occasionally so that mixture does not solidify.)
2. In bowl of a stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, whisk egg yolks on medium speed until thickened and light yellow. Slowly add in sugar, letting it dissolve. Increase speed to high and beat until yolks leave a ribbon that holds its shape when drizzled off whisk. Place bowl of yolks over simmering water, whisking by hand until mixture is very hot. Whisk in orange zest and then return bowl to stand mixer and beat at high speed until cool, stopping occasionally to scrape down sides of bowl. Lower speed to medium, and gradually beat in chocolate-coffee mixture, pausing between additions until fully combined. Scrape down sides of bowl and beat for 30 more seconds.
3. Add a pinch of salt to egg whites and use a hand mixer or stand mixer to whisk on medium speed until soft peaks form. Stir one-quarter of the egg whites into chocolate-coffee mixture and then gently fold in remaining whites until combined. Turn out mousse into prepared springform pan over bombolo base and smooth top with an offset spatula or spoon. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours and up to overnight.

To serve

1. Dust top of chilled bombolo with cocoa powder and run a butter knife around sides to help it release when unlatching springform pan. Slice into 8 pieces and serve with whipped cream.