Chocolate And Butterscotch Pots De CrÈme Recipes

CHOCOLATE POTS DE CREME

Steps:

• Place the chocolate in a blender. Whisk the milk, 1 cup cream, egg yolks, granulated sugar and salt in a heavy-bottomed medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly with a heatproof spatula, until the mixture is thick enough to coat the spatula and almost boiling, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Immediately pour the milk mixture over the chocolate in the blender. Cover and hold the lid with a thick kitchen towel; blend until combined and smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides of the blender as needed. Divide the chocolate mixture among ramekins or small cups and refrigerate until set, about 2 hours.
• Whip the remaining 1/2 cup cream and the confectioners' sugar with a mixer or in the blender until soft peaks form. Top the chilled pots de creme with whipped cream.

CLASSIC FRENCH CHOCOLATE POTS DE CRèME

Steps:

• Step 1 - Preheat your oven to 325F(160C) with a rack in the middle.
• Step 2 - In a medium saucepan, slowly warm up the heavy cream with the chopped chocolate over medium-low heat. Do not bring up to a boil - just warm up enough to melt the chocolate. Stir occasionally and remove from the heat when the chocolate is melted.
• Step 3 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar and salt together for 2 minutes until pale and fluffy. Pour 2 tablespoons of the hot cream into the egg yolk mixture and whisk (this tempers the egg yolks so they don't curdle later). Slowly stir in the rest of the hot cream while continuously whisking.
• Step 4 - Fill 6 small [120ml - ½ cup] pots or ramekins with the chocolate cream. Place the pots into a large baking dish and fill this dish with hot water ¾ up the sides of the pots.
• Bake for 30 minutes. Remove the dish from the oven and carefully remove the ramekins from the baking dish. Let cool completely to room temperature before covering with plastic wrap and refrigerating.
• Chill for at least 3 hours before enjoying. For serving, top each pot with a dollop of whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

EXTRA-BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE POTS DE CRèME

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees. In a heavy saucepan, bring cream and milk to a boil. Remove from heat; whisk in chopped chocolate until smooth.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the yolks, sugar and salt. Whisking constantly, slowly pour hot chocolate into yolks. Strain through a very fine mesh sieve into a large measuring cup or bowl.
• Divide mixture among 2- to 4-ounce espresso cups or small ramekins. Set filled cups in a large roasting pan that has been positioned on center rack of oven. Add hot tap water to pan, halfway up sides of cups. Cover pan with foil; use a fork to prick holes in foil.
• Bake until edges are lightly set (lifting foil to check) but center is still jiggly - it will set as it cools - 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer cups to a wire rack to cool completely. Refrigerate at least 3 hours before serving with crème fraîche or whipped cream.

CHOCOLATE AND COFFEE POTS DE CREME

Steps:

• Bring the cream and sugar to a boil with the vanilla bean in a saucepan.
• Whisk yolks in a bowl. Whisk about a third of the boiling cream into the yolks. Return remaining cream to a boil and whisk in yolk mixture. Continue to cook, whisking constantly, another 15 or 20 seconds, until slightly thickened.
• Strain cream into a bowl and add chocolate. Whisk smooth, whisk in coffee, and pour into molds. Refrigerate until cooled.
• Serve the pots de creme alone, or with a crisp cookie. Storage suggestion: For advance preparation, cover the pots de creme with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Uncover and leave at room temperature for an hour before serving

BUTTERSCOTCH POTS DE CRèME

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 300°F.
• Bring cream, muscovado sugar, and salt just to a simmer in a small heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved.
• Bring water and Demerara sugar to a boil in a 2-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and bubbly, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and carefully add cream mixture (mixture will bubble up and steam), whisking until combined.
• Whisk together yolks and vanilla in a large bowl, then add hot cream mixture in a stream, whisking. Pour custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a 1-quart glass measure. Skim off any foam with a spoon.
• Divide custard among ramekins. Arrange ramekins in a small roasting pan and bake in a hot water bath , uncovered, until custards are set around edges but still tremble slightly in centers, about 40 minutes. Transfer ramekins to a rack with tongs and cool to warm or room temperature. Pots de crème will continue to set as they cool.
• *Available at specialty foods shops and Dean & DeLuca (800-999-0306).

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.

BUTTERSCOTCH POTS DE CREME

Steps:

• Use 6 (4-oz) ramekins Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 300°F.
• Bring cream, muscovado sugar, and salt just to a simmer in a small heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved.
• Bring water and Demerara sugar to a boil in a 2-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved.
• Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and bubbly, about 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat and carefully add cream mixture (mixture will bubble up and steam), whisking until combined.
• Whisk together yolks and vanilla in a large bowl, then add hot cream mixture in a stream, whisking.
• Pour custard through a fine-mesh sieve into a 1-quart glass measure.
• Skim off any foam with a spoon.
• Divide custard among ramekins.
• Arrange ramekins in a small roasting pan and bake in a hot water bath, uncovered, until custards are set around edges but still tremble slightly in centers, about 40 minutes.
• Transfer ramekins to a rack with tongs and cool to warm or room temperature.
• Pots de crème will continue to set as they cool.
• Custard can be made, but not baked, 1 day ahead and chilled, covered, in the glass measure or a non-reactive container.