chocolate dessert

Chocolate Pastry Cream

Chocolate Cream Pie made with Basic Pie Crust, filled with Chocolate Pastry Cream, garnished with Whipped Cream That Won't Fall Flat, and topped with shaved milk chocolate.

Chocolate Cream Pie made with Basic Pie Crust, filled with Chocolate Pastry Cream, garnished with Whipped Cream That Won't Fall Flat, and topped with shaved milk chocolate.

6 egg yolks

1/2 cup sugar

2 Tablespoons flour

2 Tablespoons cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 cups whole milk

1 cup heavy cream

1 1/4 cups best-quality semi-sweet chocolate chips (I like Ghiradelli)

In a medium bowl whisk together egg yolks, sugar, flour, cornstarch, and salt. 

In a saucepan bring the milk and heavy cream up to a simmer.  Whisk 1/2 cup of the mixture into the egg mixture, then whisk the egg-milk mixture into the saucepan, mixing thoroughly.  Bring the mixture back up to a boil over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, then cook for 2 minutes longer, until the cream is thick.  Remove from the heat and add the chocolate chips, whisking until they are melted.  Transfer to a bowl, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cool, about 2 hours.  (For pie, cool to room temperature, covered with plastic wrap, then spread into the baked pie shell, cover with plastic, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours before garnishing and serving.

Cappuccino Panna Cotta

Cappuccino Panna Cotta

Cappuccino Panna Cotta

This recipe is the result of a need for a quick dessert at the last minute.  Other panna cotta recipes take a while to chill, and the goal here was to make it FAST!  So, I heated the milk with the softened gelatin and some espresso powder, then added a can of sweetened condensed milk and some vanilla.  It cooled the milk and gelatin enough that once it went into the refrigerator it was only about two hours until it was ready to serve.  Even better, this dessert is delicious!  A win-win for sure.  Makes six 1/2 cup servings.

1 1/4 cup skim or low-fat milk

1 packet unflavored gelatin

2 teaspoons espresso powder

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

Chocolate curls or chocolate sauce for serving

Place the milk in a 1-quart glass measuring cup.  Sprinkle the gelatin over the top and let the mixture set for about 5 minutes. then stir in until combined.  Place in the microwave and heat on high until the mixture comes to a full boil, about 3-4 minutes.  Remove from the microwave and whisk in the espresso powder, vanilla, and condensed milk until very well combined

Pour into 6-1/2 cup dessert dishes or martini glasses.  Cover each with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator until chilled and firm, two hours or more is best.

Before serving, sprinkle with chocolate curls or top with a drizzle of chocolate sauce.