Martha Stewart’s Pots de Crème Recipe Is a Glorious Upgrade to Your Regular Chocolate Pudding
Martha Stewart has captured our hearts and taste buds for as long as I’ve been alive. Her original recipes are truly top-tier and I know I can always count on her to clue me in on some helpful tips in the process. While I am still very much in love with her lemon sugar cookies, Martha’s recipe for an old-fashioned French baked custard dessert named chocolate pots de crème might be a close second in my list of faves.
Pots de crème translates to “pots of cream” and the term refers to the small, lidded pots that the dessert is traditionally served in. This recipe is pretty straightforward with just a few ingredients needed. You will also need a terry towel, oven-proof glass cups, and a roasting pan.
First, using a serrated knife, cut semisweet chocolate into very small pieces (Martha suggests using French or Belgian chocolate for this). Bring heavy cream to a boil and add espresso powder and vanilla extract. Add the chopped chocolate and stir well. Let it sit until the chocolate is completely softened.
In a separate bowl, whisk together egg yolks, salt, and granulated sugar. Take your pot of chocolate cream and temper the egg yolks by slowly pouring it into the yolks and stirring well. Add a little at a time so as not to cook the egg yolks; instead you want to bring them up to temperature.
Once completely mixed, strain the custard with an extra-fine sieve to remove any possible lumps. Place a terrycloth towel in the bottom of a roasting pan and arrange ovenproof glass cups on top of it before adding the custard. You’ll then pour a bit of boiling water around and up the sides of the cups within the roasting pan. Cover with parchment paper and place in an oven, preheated to 325°F, for 35 to 40 minutes. Once finished and cooled, add a spiral of whipped cream then refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours before serving.
Although Valentine’s Day has come and gone, if you’re still looking for a good treat to share with your loved one, this (or even Martha’s flourless chocolate heart-shaped cake) is a must-try.
Get Martha’s entire recipe for chocolate pots de crème here and watch the video below.