Classic French Pots de Crème
Pots de crème are individual baked chocolate custards with a dense, spoonable consistency that sets them apart from lighter puddings or mousses. The custards are mixed quickly, poured into small ramekins, and baked in a water bath at low heat to keep them silky and smooth. Total time runs about 1 hour, plus chilling.
Equipment
- Mixing Bowls
- Whisk
- Saucepan
- Fine Strainer
- Ramekins
- Baking dish
- Oven
Ingredients
- 3 cups heavy cream preferably organic
- 8 ounces dark chocolate finely chopped, use 70% cocoa
- 1 tsp vanilla extract pure
- 6 large egg yolks preferably from free-range chickens
- ½ cup granulated sugar fine white
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C). Gently warm the heavy cream in a saucepan over medium heat until just about to simmer. Remove from heat and add chopped dark chocolate, stirring until fully melted. Add vanilla extract and stir to combine.
- Mix Custard Base: In a mixing bowl, whisk together egg yolks and sugar until pale and slightly thickened. Gradually pour the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture, whisking continuously to prevent the eggs from curdling.
- Strain Mixture: Pass the custard through a fine strainer into a clean bowl to remove any solid bits. This ensures a silky texture. Pour the strained mixture evenly into ramekins.
- Bake in a Water Bath: Place the ramekins in a deep baking dish. Pour hot water into the baking dish to reach halfway up the sides of the ramekins, creating a bain-marie. Cover the dish with foil and bake for about 45 minutes, or until the custard is just set but still jiggly in the center.
- Cool and Serve: Remove ramekins from the water bath and let cool at room temperature. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until fully chilled. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream and shaved chocolate, if desired.
Notes
- For a richer taste, try adding a pinch of sea salt to the chocolate mixture.
- Substitute milk or semi-sweet chocolate for a sweeter version.
- Experiment with infusing the cream with coffee or orange zest for added flavor dimensions.
Nutrition
Calories: 751kcalCarbohydrates: 38gProtein: 9gFat: 64gSaturated Fat: 38gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 18gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 319mgSodium: 48mgPotassium: 403mgFiber: 4gSugar: 29gVitamin A: 2009IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 128mgIron: 5mg
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