Elegant Chocolate Custards |
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Prep Time: 15 Minutes Cook Time: 25 Minutes |
Ready In: 40 Minutes Servings: 20 |
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These custards are very pretty to serve to guests at a dinner party or to end an elegant holiday feast. Ingredients:
1 cup low-fat milk |
3 ounces good-quality bittersweet chocolate, chopped fine |
1/2 teaspoon real vanilla extract |
3 large egg yolks, from grade a large eggs |
1/4 cup packed brown sugar |
whipped cream, and |
crystalized violets (*to garnish) |
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Heat a tea kettle full of water.
2. In a small heavy saucepan, heat milk and chocolate over medium heat, whisking occasionally, until chocolate is melted and mixture just comes to a boil.
3. Stir in vanilla and remove pan from heat.
4. In a glass mixing bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar until well blended.
5. Add the chocolate milk mixture to the egg yolk mixture in a slow stream, whisking constantly.
6. Pour the custard mixture through a very fine sieve into a 2-cup measure or a small pitcher.
7. Divide the custard among six 1/4-cup ramekins and cover each with foil. Put the ramekins in a baking dish and add enough hot water to reach halfway up the sides of the ramekins.
8. Bake the custards on the middle rack of the oven for 25 minutes, or until just set. Transfer ramekins to a rack and cool, covered.
9. Chill the custards, covered, for at least 4 hours and up to 1 day.
10. Serve custards garnished with whipped cream and candied violets*.
11. NOTE: Candied (crystallized) violets can be found in some supermarkets and at specialty food shops. If you can't find candied violets, use fresh mint sprigs or raspberries instead.
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