Chocolate Pots de Creme - 2/1/05

Everything Else/Misc Recipe of the Day Archive
1

Chocolate Pots de Creme
End a special-occasion dinner on a memorable note by serving these little pots of cream.

1 cup half-and-half or light cream
1 4-ounce package sweet baking chocolate, coarsely chopped
2 tsp sugar
3 large egg yolks, slightly beaten
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 recipe Caramelized Shards (optional) (see below)

  1. In a heavy small saucepan combine the half-and-half or light cream, chocolate, and sugar. Cook and stir over medium heat about 10 minutes or until mixture reaches a full boil and thickens.

  2. Gradually stir about half of the hot mixture into the beaten egg yolks. Return all of the egg yolk mixture to the saucepan. Cook and stir over low heat for 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Pour chocolate mixture into 4 or 6 pots de creme cups or small dessert dishes. Cover and chill for 2 to 24 hours. If desired, top with Caramelized Shards.

  3. Makes 4 to 6 servings. (Nutrition facts are without shards.)

Caramelized Shards

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degree F. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil; coat foil with nonstick cooking spray. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon slivered almonds onto prepared foil. Bake in preheated oven 6 to 8 minutes or until lightly toasted. Meanwhile, place 1/3 cup sugar in a heavy 10-inch skillet. Heat over medium-high heat until sugar begins to melt, shaking skillet occasionally to heat sugar evenly. Do not stir. When sugar begins to melt, reduce heat to low. Cook for 2 minutes more or until sugar is melted and lightly golden, stirring as needed with a wooden spoon. Remove pan from heat. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon hot water. Immediately pour over nuts on hot baking sheet. Let cool for 1 minute. Using 2 forks, gently pull caramel as thinly as possible, lifting up slightly as you pull. Let cool thoroughly on foil. Break into pieces; store tightly covered up to 3 days.

Servings: 4
Preparation time: 2 hours and 15 minutes

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 serving
Percent daily values based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition information provided by the recipe author.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 276.00
% Daily Value
Total Fat 21.00g 32%
Saturated Fat 11.00g 55%
Cholesterol 182.00mg 60%
Sodium 31.00mg 1%
Carbohydrates 22.00g 7%
Dietary Fiber 2.00g 8%
Protein 5.00g 10%

Source: Better Homes and Gardens®
Copyright 2002. Meredith Corp.