Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Chocolate Pots de Crème and a Giveaway (TWD)


This week's Tuesdays with Dorie (TWD) recipe was chosen by Christine of Black Cat Cooking: Chocolate Pots de Crème. Just like the name implies, these are little pots of cream! Pots de crème are a loose French custard - they aren't quite as firm or dense as other custards like flan.

Aside from their looser consistency, you will find that these are very similar to creme brulee (just without that yummy crunchy caramelized sugar "crust").  They are made the same way you would make creme brulee, except these are covered while baking.  Pots de crème are made with eggs, egg yolks, sugar, cream, milk, and chocolate. The milk and cream are heated and then slowly added to the whisked eggs/egg yolks and sugar until it is tempured. It is then flavored with chocolate ganache and the final mixture is poured into porcelain cups (also called "pots de crème"), and baked in a water bath at low heat until set.


These were smooth and creamy but not too heavy.  I didn't compare the proportion of milk, cream and eggs in this recipe to what's in creme brulee, but these definitely seemed less heavy.  I know creme brulee recipes only use yolks and this one used both whole eggs and yolks, so that would make sense.  Personally, I love the crystallized/burnt sugar layer on top of creme brulee. So even though I'd make this recipe again based on taste, I probably won't be making it again because I'd just rather make chocolate creme brulee instead!


Thanks Christine, for hosting this week.  If you would like the recipe, you can find it here. Make sure you check out the TWD Blogroll, to see how everyone else enjoyed these creamy, chocolatey treats!  And, if you'd like to win a $100 Visa gift card, head on over here to enter my current giveaway.  I've got a few giveaways lined up for March, so be sure to check back often!

* Recipe notes:
- If you don't have any pots de crème, you can simply use ramekins.
- For more recipe tips, click here

10 comments:

  1. Great photos...i enjoy a good desert and this one as everything to be delicious....

    Kisses,
    Rita

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  2. Looks so yummy! I was out of town, so I didn't get to make these in time - hopefully I will soon! :)

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  3. I can imagine how creamy and indulgent these must be! They look perfect for a special occasion!

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  4. ive never made creme brulee before but judging from your raves about it i must try! Buttercreambarbie

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  5. I have a horrible confession to make. I've never had creme brulee. But if it does taste like pots de creme, I really need to because this is good and adding a crunchy top--I'm sure would just make them even better. Now, if it could just be made fat free. sigh ;)

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  6. These looks lovely. I do like creme brule, but the thing that's always spoiled it somewhat for me is that it didn't include any chocolate. I think this recipe might solve that problem!

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  7. Mmmm....lovely pictures! Your post made me realize why I liked this so much - it closely resembles my favorite creme brulee recipe, from Ina Garten, which uses a whole egg with the yolks. Add in chocolate and I'm in heaven!

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  8. Hmmm - look so creamy and delicious. I just wanna dive right into it.

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  9. Oh this looks so yummy & rich! I would love to have a try of this!

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  10. That looks delicious, Jaime. You could brulee this too, right?

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