Pot de Creme

 
   This is a great do-ahead dessert, and so yummy!  No baking, not cutting, everything is already in its beautiful serving dish or ramekin.  The recipe says 4 - 8oz. ramekins, but I filled 10 - 4oz. ramekins. This dessert is so rich and decadent, that is all you need.  To garnish, it calls for cocoa nibs, I used crushed chocolate covered espresso beans.  Shards of a nutty or sea salt brittle would be equally wonderful.

As Always,
ENJOY!

Pot de Crème

Recipe adapted from Tariq Hanna, Salon by Sucré, New Orleans, LA

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes, plus 2 to 3 hours chilling time 
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes, plus 2 to 3 hours chilling time

• INGREDIENTS
For the Pot de Crème:
¾ cup egg yolks (about 9 eggs)
1 quart heavy cream
½ cup granulated sugar
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise, seeds removed and reserved
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate (65 percent and up), chopped 
For the Ganache:
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped 
¾ cup heavy cream, warmed
2 tablespoons Grand Marnier or amaro
For Serving:
1 tablespoon cacao nibs

DIRECTIONS

1. Make the pot de crème: Crack the egg yolks into a medium bowl and set aside.

2. In a small quart saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the cream, sugar and vanilla seeds, and bring to a simmer. Ladle some of the hot cream into the bowl with the egg yolks and whisk constantly to prevent curdling. Return the egg and cream mixture to the saucepan over medium-high heat and continue to whisk until thickened, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the heat, still stirring, and add the chocolate all at once. Keep stirring until the chocolate is fully melted and smooth.

3. Divide the chocolate mixture among four 8-ounce ramekins. Chill the pots de crème in the refrigerator until set, 2 to 3 hours.

4. While the pots de crème are chilling, make the ganache: In a small bowl, combine the chocolate and warm heavy cream, and let sit, undisturbed, for 3 to 4 minutes. Stir until the chocolate is completely melted. Stir in the Grand Marnier or amaro, and set aside.

5. Remove the pots de crème from the fridge and top each ramekin with the ganache and a sprinkle of cacao nibs before serving.