Chocolate Pots De Crème Food

CHOCOLATE POTS DE CRèME

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Bring cream and milk just to simmer in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat. Add chocolate; whisk until melted and smooth. Whisk yolks and sugar in large bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in hot chocolate mixture. Strain mixture into another bowl. Cool 10 minutes, skimming any foam from surface.
• Divide custard mixture among six 3/4-cup custard cups or soufflé dishes. Cover each with foil. Place cups in large baking pan. Add enough hot water to pan to come halfway up sides of cups. Bake until custards are set but centers still move slightly when gently shaken, about 55 minutes. Remove from water. Remove foil. Chill custards until cold, about 3 hours. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and keep chilled.)

CHOCOLATE POTS DE CRèME WITH CRèME FRAîCHE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F. In a heavy saucepan, bring the cream and the milk to a boil. Remove from heat; whisk in the chopped chocolate and the espresso powder and mix until smooth.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar and salt. Whisking constantly, slowly pour the hot chocolate into the yolk mixture to temper. Next, strain the mixture through a very fine sieve into a large capacity measuring cup or bowl (at least 4 cups. Straining removes any bits of possibly curdled or cooked egg so your custard is smooth and silky.)
• Divide the mixture among several 2 oz. espresso cups, ovenproof glass mini-cups, or, 4 oz. small ramekins. Set the filled cups in a roasting pan that has been positioned on the center rack of oven. Add hot tap water to the pan until it comes halfway up the sides of the cups. Cover the pan with foil, then pierce a few holes in foil with a fork, so the steam can escape.
• Bake until the edges are lightly set (lifting foil to check), but the center is still giggly-it will set completely as it cools, about 30 to 35 minutes, depending on the size of the mini cups or ramekins.
• Transfer the cups to a wire rack to cool completely. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving. Top with crème fraîche or whipped cream. Add a few chocolate shavings and serve.

CHOCOLATE POTS DE CREME

Steps:

• Place the chopped chocolate in a bowl. Heat the cream and the salt until scalded, then pour over the chocolate to melt it. Whisk the yolks with 1/2 cup of the sugar. Temper the yolk mixture with the hot chocolate mixture then place on the stove over medium heat to thicken slightly, until it coats the back of a wooden spoon. Pour mixture into ramekins and bake in a water bath at 300 degrees for 30 to 45 minutes until mostly set but a little jiggly in the center. Chill covered.
• To serve, whip the cream with the remaining 1/2 tablespoon sugar and orange rind. Dollop onto the pots de creme.
• Alternate Garnish: If you have vanilla beans lying around the house that have already been used, here's a great way to recycle them. Cut split vanilla beans into 3-inch sections. Place on a sheet pan in a preheated 300-degree oven and bake until dried. Keep in an airtight container. To garnish the pots de creme, lay the dried vanilla beans across the whipped cream.

CHOCOLATE POTS DE CREME

Steps:

• Put heavy cream in top of a double boiler.
• Add sugar.
• Place over boiling water and scald (i.e., heat almost to boiling).
• Remove from heat and add chocolate and stir until completely melted.
• Beat egg yolks and gradually beat them into the hot chocolate cream mixture.
• Place top of double boiler over boiling water again and cook, stirring constantly, until well thickened (about 3 minutes).
• Remove from heat, stir in vanilla, and then pour into 6-8 small custard cups (1/2 cup size).
• When cool, place in refrigerator to chill before serving.

CHOCOLATE POTS DE CREME

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• In a small pot, over low heat, bring the milk, half and half, almond extract, vanilla seeds and vanilla pod to a gentle simmer. Melt the chocolate in the top of a double boiler. In a large bowl, add the eggs, cocoa, and sugar and whisk to combine. Pour the heated milk mixture into the melted chocolate and whisk to combine. Temper the egg mixture into the chocolate mixture, adding it slowly to prevent the eggs from scrambling. Do not overmix. You want the ingredients to be blended but not frothy or bubbly.
• Pour the mixture into the small cups, filling almost to the top. Put the cups in a baking pan and fill the pan with 2 inches of water. Cover the top of the pan with aluminum foil. This will prevent the custard from forming a tough skin as it cooks. Put the pan in the center of the oven and bake until the custards are set but still a little loose, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven.
• Carefully remove the cups from the water bath and allow them to cool for 30 minutes Serve with a dollop of whipped cream or refrigerate overnight, before serving with the whipped cream.

CHOCOLATE POTS DE CREME

Steps:

• Position a rack in the middle of the oven and heat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Put the chocolate into a medium bowl. Combine the cream and milk in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate. Let sit for 30 seconds or so to allow the chocolate to melt, then stir together until smooth.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, and vanilla paste. Slowly stream the egg mixture into the chocolate mixture, whisking constantly. Strain the custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl or pitcher, then pour into six 4-ounce ramekins or ceramic cups or bowls.
• Arrange the ramekins in a baking dish or pan and carefully add enough hot water to come about two-thirds of the way up the sides of the ramekins. Carefully place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the baking dish from the oven and let the pots de creme sit in the hot water for 5 minutes. If they still appear very jiggly in the middle, let them sit for another 5 minutes in the hot water. You want the custards to be very firm around the edges and to barely move toward the center when gently shaken.
• Remove the ramekins from the hot water and let cool in a cool area of the kitchen before serving, or chill to serve cold.

CHOCOLATE POTS DE CREME WITH CHERRY WHIP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bring a kettle of water to a boil over medium heat.
• Put the chocolate into a heat-proof bowl. Heat 1 1/2 cups of the cream and 1/4 cup sugar in a medium saucepan over low heat. Whisk just until and sugar is dissolved. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and whisk until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Put the yolks in a small bowl; while whisking, add a small amount of the warm chocolate mixture to temper the yolks. Whisk the yolk mixture into the chocolate until well combined. Transfer the mixture to a liquid measuring cup for easy pouring.
• Put 4 (6-ounce) ramekins into a high-sided baking dish. Evenly fill the ramekins with the chocolate mixture. Carefully fill the pan with the hot water until it reaches halfway up the sides of the ramekins and transfer the pan to the oven. Bake until custards are set but still jiggle slightly in the center, about 30 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and carefully transfer the custards to a rack and cool to room temperature. Refrigerate the custards at least 2 hours and preferably overnight.
• When ready to serve, whisk the cherry jam in a small bowl until loosened and thin. In another bowl with a clean whisk, whip the remaining 1/2 cup cream and 1 teaspoon sugar until firm peaks form; gently fold the whipped cream into the cherry jam until just combined and streaky. Serve the pots de creme chilled, topped with a dollop of cherry whipped cream.

CHOCOLATE POTS DE CRèME

Steps:

• Put the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl and set aside.
• Combine the cream, half-and-half, salt, and 3 tablespoons of the sugar in a medium saucepan and put over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, just until it starts to approach a simmer, about 4 minutes-you'll know it's ready when small bubbles appear around the edge of the pan. Remove from the heat.
• Combine the egg yolks and the remaining 3 tablespoons sugar in a medium bowl, and whisk until combined and smooth. Whisking the eggs constantly, slowly pour in about 1 cup of the milk mixture. Then pour the yolk mixture into the pan, whisking constantly until smooth.
• Put the pan over medium-high heat and cook, stirring constantly with a heatproof rubber spatula, until the mixture is thick and about the consistency of a pureed soup, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Pour the cream mixture over the chopped chocolate and let stand for 3 to 5 minutes. Then slowly and gently stir with a whisk-try not to incorporate any air. When smooth, add the vanilla extract and stir again to blend. Pour the mixture through a fine strainer into a large-lipped measuring cup.
• Divide evenly into eight 4-ounce cups or ramekins and refrigerate, uncovered. After 2 hours, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours longer.
• To serve, let the ramekins come to room temperature (about 30 minutes) and then top with the whipped cream and shaved chocolate.
• The type of chocolate you use has a significant impact on the flavor and texture of this luscious dessert. With bittersweet chocolate (60 to 65 percent cacao), the pots will be intensely chocolaty and almost truffle-like; using semisweet chocolate (around 52 percent cacao) yields a sweeter, mellower, more pudding-like treat.

BAILEYS CHOCOLATE POTS DE CREME

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
• Add chopped chocolate to a large bowl. Heat cream and a pinch of salt in a small pot until it just comes to a boil. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth. Let cool slightly, then stir in the Baileys Irish Cream and vanilla.
• In another bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar. Slowly drizzle the warm chocolate into the egg mixture while stirring. Strain the mixture through a sieve into another container and let cool completely (15 - 20 minutes).
• Pour the custard mixture evenly into custard pots, baking dishes, or ramekins. Place the dishes into a deep pan and fill pan with hot water until half way up the sides of the ramekins. Tightly cover with pots de creme lids or aluminum foil poked with a few holes.
• Bake until custard is set around edges but still slightly liquid in center (about 35 - 45 minutes). Custard will become firmer as it cools.
• Remove pots de creme from water bath, remove lids or foil, and let cool at room temperature for about an hour. Transfer to refrigerator and cool completely (at least 3 hours). You can make these up to two days ahead of time.
• Serve cold with a dollop of whipped cream on top.

CHOCOLATE COCONUT POTS DE CREME

Steps:

• - Break the chocolate up into pieces, put it into a food processor along with the agave nectar, vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon - don't process it yet! Just wait....
• - Bring the coconut milk up to a simmer on the stove, and then pour it over the ingredients in the food processor.
• - Blend everything together until smooth and creamy, pour into ramekins or coffee cups if that is all you have, and chill for about 5 hours until firm and creamy.
• * I am the world's foremost hater of all things coconut, but coconut milk is really growing on me. It is light and fragrant and not at all coconuty. Believe me, in this dessert you can't even taste it!

CHOCOLATE POTS DE CREME

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F.
• Place 4 (6-oz.) custard cups in 13x9-inch pan.
• Bring milk, half-and-half and chocolate to boil in medium saucepan on medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended.
• Beat egg yolks and sugar in medium bowl with whisk until blended. Gradually add hot milk mixture, whisking until blended after each addition; pour into custard cups. Place filled pan in oven. Carefully pour boiling water into pan to come halfway up sides of custard cups.
• Bake 25 to 30 min. or just until custards are set around edges but still soft in centers. Remove cups from pan of water; cool completely. Refrigerate 4 hours.

CHOCOLATE POTS DE CREME

Steps:

• Put a large pot of water on to boil for the water bath. Position a rack in the middle of the oven and heat the oven to 325°F Put eight 6-oz. ramekins in a large roasting pan or baking dish with high sides.
• Make the chocolate cream:.
• In a medium saucepan over mediumhigh heat, heat the cream, 1/3 cup of the sugar, and the vanilla seeds and pod (if you're using vanilla extract, don't add it yet) until just below boiling. In a bowl, mix the chocolate and cocoa together. Slowly add the hot cream, stirring constantly, until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Return the mixture to the saucepan. In a clean bowl, combine the egg yolks with the remaining 1/3 cup sugar; beat until smooth. Gently whisk a ladleful of the hot chocolate cream into the yolks and then whisk the yolk mixture into the saucepan with the rest of the chocolate cream. Cook slowly, stirring constantly, until the mixture reaches 170°F on an instant-read thermometer, 3 to 4 minute Strain immediately through cheesecloth or a fine sieve. If you're using vanilla extract, stir it in now.
• Bake the custards:.
• Divide the mixture among the ramekins in the roasting pan. Pull out the oven shelf, put the roasting pan on it (be sure it's stable), and pour enough boiling water into the pan so that it comes halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Cover the ramekins with a sheet of foil (simply lay the sheet on top, don't crimp the edges) and bake for 25 to 45 min.-start checking early-until the custards are set about 1/4 inch in from the sides, the centers respond with a firm jiggle (not a wavelike motion) when you nudge the ramekins, and the centers of the custards register 150° to 155°F on an instant-read thermometer (the hole left by the thermometer will close up as the custards firm). Let the custards cool to room temperature in their water bath. Remove the custards from the bath, cover them with plastic, and refrigerate for at least 8 hours and up to two days before serving. Garnish as you like.
• serving suggestions:.
• Garnish with a dollop of whipped cream (or a rosette from a pastry bag). Or try a sprig of mint or chocolate shavings.

CHOCOLATE POTS DE CREME

Steps:

• In a small nonmetal bowl stir together light cream, chopped chocolate, sugar and salt.
• Micro-cook, uncovered, on 100% power about 1 minute or till chocolate is melted, stirring after 30 seconds.
• Stir about HALF of the hot mixture into the beaten egg yolk.
• Return all to the bowl, mixing well.
• Micro-cook, uncovered, on 50% power for 1 to 2 minutes or till thickened, stirring every 15 seconds.
• Stir in vanilla.
• Pour into pot de creme cup or 6 ounce custard cup.
• Cover and chill for several hours or till firm.
• Garnish with whipped cream, if desired.
• NOTE:
• SELECTING THE RIGHT CHOCOLATE: You'll find three basic types of chocolate in the baking supplies department of most supermarkets-- semisweet chocolate, unsweetened chocolate, and sweet chocolate.
• The semisweet chocolate is made from chocolate that is just slight sweetened with sugar.
• Unsweetened chocolate is the original baking or cooking chocolate and has no added flavorings or sugar.
• And sweet chocolate, such as the German cooking chocolate used in the Chocolate Pots de Creme recipe, is chocolate mixed with sugar and sometimes additional cocoa butter or flavorings.