A Simple Way to Make Chocolate Pot de Creme

My favorite dessert has always been chocolate mousse, that is until I tried chocolate pot de creme. Quite a few years ago I was trying to figure out which dessert to serve for Christmas, and I came across a recipe for pot de creme. I made it, and my family thought it was delicious! It has been our traditional Christmas dessert since then. Pot de creme also makes its appearance on our table for special occasions and occasionally when having friends over for dinner.

Pot de creme is a loose French dessert custard dating back to the 17th century. The name means “pot of custard” or “pot of cream,” which also refers to the porcelain cups in which the dessert is served. Pot de crème is made with eggs, egg yolks, cream, milk, and a flavor, often vanilla or chocolate. The milk and cream are heated and flavored, then mixed into the whisked eggs and egg yolks. The mixture is strained and poured into cups, which are then baked in a water bath at low heat; sometimes prepared without milk and frozen.

Well, that all seemed too complicated. I simplified the recipe so that it is quicker to make. Pot de creme is an indulgent dessert for sure, and probably not one you would whip up all the time (but you could!) because of its richness.

My simple way to make pot de creme only takes about five minutes to prepare; however, it does need about six hours to set, so plan accordingly.

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Simple Pot de Creme

serves 6

• 6 ounces dark chocolate, chopped (you can use 1 cup quality chocolate chips instead)
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 3 egg yolks
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

1. Put the chocolate in a blender. Set aside.
2. Place the heavy cream, egg yolks, sugar, and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisking to combine. Whisk continually until the mixture just starts to bubble and is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove from heat.
3. Add vanilla to the saucepan and stir.
4. Pour the hot mixture into the blender and blend with the chocolate until smooth.
5. Pour the mixture into small, individual ramekins and refrigerate for 6-8 hours or until set. You can also let them thicken overnight in the refrigerator.

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See how easy that is? This may just be your new favorite chocolate dessert! Each bite tastes heavenly 🙂  Enjoy!

P.S. if you are a chocolate lover, you may enjoy this recipe as well!