Oreo Crusted White Chocolate Mousse Torte

I made this sinfully rich dessert for my little brother, Stephen.  I remember when he was born.  He was a little 9 year old kid when I got married.  Now?  Now he is bigger than me and he just graduated from high school (with High Honors, I might add).  He is an amazing person.  He entered the Poetry Out Loud contest on a whim, won the state competition and went on to compete nationally in Washington D.C.  Why is this remarkable?  Because he doesn't even read poetry!  Stephen is an incredible violinist, and has been playing with the Symphony Orchestra in our city for several years.  I love him dearly and will miss him when he leaves for college.  Congratulations Stephen!


Oreo Crusted White Chocolate Mousse Torte


Crust:
20 Oreo cookies, processed to crumbs
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup heavy cream


Filling:
10 ounces white chocolate, chopped
2 cups heavy cream, divided
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons (1 packet) unflavored gelatin
3 Tablespoons cold water


Garnish:
8 Oreo cookies, chopped


Grease a 9 inch springform pan.  Line the bottom with a round of parchment paper, then grease the parchment paper. Do not skip this step as the crust turned out to be quite sticky.  Set aside.


Place the bittersweet chocolate and heavy cream in a medium size microwaveable bowl. Microwave the chocolate and cream for about 1 minute, or until the cream is steaming.  Remove the bowl from the microwave and let sit for several minutes.  Stir the mixture until chocolate and cream are completely incorporated and the chocolate is smooth.  Add the Oreo crumbs to the chocolate mixture and stir to coat the crumbs evenly.  Press the chocolate covered crumbs into the bottom of springform pan.  Set aside.


For the filling, place the white chocolate and 1/2 cup of the heavy cream in a microwaveable bowl and microwave for about 1 minutes, or until the cream is steaming.  Let sit for several minutes, then stir the mixture until it is completely combined and the white chocolate is smooth.  Set aside to cool.


In the bowl of a stand mixer, or with a hand mixer, combine the remaining 1 1/2 cups of heavy cream and the vanilla, and whip until soft peaks form.  Set aside.


In a small bowl, stir together the gelatin and the water.  Heat it in the microwave for about 20 seconds, or until the mixture is warm and liquid, and the gelatin has dissolved.  Immediately pour the gelatin mixture into the white chocolate mixture and stir well until combined.  Carefully fold the white chocolate mixture into the whipped cream until it is completely incorporated.  Pour the filling into the prepared crust.  Cover the pan with plastic wrap and chill until set, 4 to 6 hours, or overnight.


To serve the torte, run a thin bladed knife around the edge of the torte to loosen the edges from the pan.  Remove the rim of the pan.  Sprinkle the chopped Oreo cookies over the top of the torte, slice, and serve.  Makes about 12 servings.


Enjoy!  -Cardamommy