Oreo Peanut Butter Mousse Dessert

Last weekend's grocery shopping list did not quite include whipping cream, chocolate bars and cream cheese. But, I bought them nevertheless thinking I'll probably make a Black Forest Cake or something on those lines over the coming weekend to serve up as dessert as I've invited my cousin brother and his family over. Of course, with such inviting things sitting in the fridge you could only imagine my desire to whip up something new. I kept thinking about all sorts of desserts and I recollected having heard a chef on TV saying you could make mousse/mousse cakes without eggs by using cream cheese instead. Ah! The many ways that you can make a mousse...so light, yet satisfying! That said, I decided I would experiment with whatever I had on hand. WHATEVER I saw on my kitchen counter-top. And, I saw peanut butter! Now, of course, you could either make a mousse and spoon it into bowls or glasses for it to set before you serve. Pretty much what I did when I made White Chocolate Mousse. But, with this one I decided to take things a wee bit further since this was, of course, an experiment. So, I went ahead and pulled out my box or Oreo cookie to make a base for a dessert-to-be. I worked up my imagination, mixed ingredients and popped it in the fridge for a good 6 hours. The result - YUM!

The only sad thing about this entire experiment was that I made way too less. Boo hoo! I just had about one 3*5 inch layer of this sweet temptation. And, when I said layer, it was just as thick (or should I say thin?) as ONE layer of what you see in the above picture. I wished N number of times that I had churned up more and set it as a thick cake like dessert. Well, well...we'll get there some day. So I cut 1" squares of that one layer that I had, piled it up (in sets of three) and made what I call the Oreo Peanut Butter Mousse Dessert.

And as if this was not already filled with enough calories, I went ahead and made thick chocolate ganache and decorated each piece of dessert. Talk about indulgence!

Oh and guess what? Here's something I got to know from a friend. I had made this on 'National Peanut Butter Lover's Day'. Who knew March 1st was called so, eh? What a superb co-incidence indeed! Now, you need not wait another year to make this one. All you need is a guilt-filled trip to the grocery store just like me. Just this one time, come on. I'm giving you the permission!

Ingredients

1/2 Cup Heavy Cream/Whipping Cream
1/3 Cup Confectioner's Sugar (Powdered sugar)
1/4 Cup Peanut Butter (Creamy)
2 tbsp. Cream Cheese, softened
5 Oreo cookies, regular variety (For those of you who do not get Oreos around where you live, just use any other cream filled cookie instead. I suggest you pick up cookies with chocolate and vanilla flavour combinations for best results.)
1 tbsp. butter, melted
2-3 drops Vanilla essence
Cooking pray/Oil

Method
- Remove the cream from the insides of each of your cookies and set them aside
- Toss the cookies in a food chopper/blender and let it run until all the cookies are completely crushed
- In a bowl, place about 1/2 tbsp of the melted butter and add the crushed cookies
- Add the cream of the cookies to this and mix well with your hands until the mixture holds together. You will not be able to see the cream. The very reason I've separated the cream from the cookies is because else you would have this thick mass of mashed up cookies and cream sitting in your blender. Not something we want!
- Lightly grease a tiny flat based dish (I used something like this, just a lot smaller in size since I was just trying out something new) with cooking spray/oil. Use just about 1/4 tsp of oil. You really do not need much.
- Toss in the crushed cookies mixture into the greased dish and press it to form a thin layer/base for the mousse. This idea, of course, is similar to that of making cheesecake crusts.
- In another large bowl, pour the cream, sugar and vanilla essence and beat (using a electric beater) until the cream forms very, very soft peaks. You do not want stiff peaks just yet
- Toss in the peanut butter, remaining melted butter and cream cheese and now whip this mixture to a smooth, creamy texture
- Once all the ingredients have incorporated, slowly pour this mousse over the prepared Oreo crust
- Place in refrigerator for a minimum of four hours for the dessert to set
- When ready to serve, cut 1 inch squares and pile on 3 pieces to make one decadent Oreo Peanut Butter Mousse Dessert
- You could opt to eat it as is, or pour over some ganache (recipe follows)

This recipe makes about four(4) 3-layered 1" pieces of dessert. I told you, I should have made more. I am so angry with myself!

Ingredients for chocolate ganache 
1/4 Cup Heavy/Whipping cream
1/4 Cup Chocolate chips/morsels

Method
- Place chocolate chips in a heat-proof bowl
- Heat whipping cream until just boiled
- Pour over chocolate chips and let stand for a minute
- Mix with spatula until well blended and let cool until desired thickness/consistency
- Pour over dessert

Got left over ganache? Pop it in the fridge until it hardens. Take it out and make balls of the same. And, yes, you have chocolate truffles. This one I've to experiment with. Will update you when I do! Until then, enjoy your petite Oreo Peanut Butter Mousse Desserts!