Chocolate crème brûlée with berries

(from hamster’s recipe box)

This recipe is a different twist on the traditional crème brûlée. This dessert is just like those served in restaurants, only better because you prepared it with quality in mind—not quantity!

Source: Geoff Lamb (from RecipeThing user lambchops) (from RecipeThing user RainbowBrite1979)

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 110 minutes
Serves 4 people

Ingredients

  • 4 cups heavy cream (one cup per person)
  • 4 small egg yolks OR 3 large egg yolks (average of one small yolk per person works better with the chocolate)
  • 2 oz. dark chocolate
  • 4 tbsp. granulated sugar
  • 2 handfuls (20-30) berries of your choice
  • 2 tbsp. granulated white or brown sugar
  • 1 tsp. powdered sugar
  • 1 sprig mint leaf (optional)

Directions

  1. Read through all directions, as time and specific cooking instruments are required.

  2. Begin by preparing your yolks, mixing them well with the granulated sugar.

  3. Separately, bring cream to a boil on stove.

  4. Cream will rise quickly, so add chocolate pieces as soon as the cream boils; then reduce heat to low.

  5. Stir chocolate into cream until mixture is smooth (about two minutes).

  6. Keep on low heat while adding yolk/sugar mixture to cream.

  7. Turn off heat and continue stirring mixture for about one minute.

  8. Preheat oven to 275 degrees.

  9. Place 5-6 berries at bottom of each ramekin.

  10. Pour cream/chocolate/yolk/sugar mixture evenly into each ramekin.

  11. Place ramekins in casserole and add warm water to create water bath about as high as the cream mixture inside the ramekins.

  12. Heat water bath in oven for about 45 min. until cream begins to solidify.

  13. Remove water bath from oven and let cool for 10-15 min.

  14. Remove ramekins from water bath and refrigerate at least 5-6 hours; chilling overnight works best.

  15. Remove ramekins from refrigerator and sprinkle a small layer of white or brown sugar on top of the cream.

  16. Using a kitchen torch, lightly caramelize the sugar on top until sugar has a golden hue over the chocolate brown color.

  17. Let sugar layer cool one minute.

  18. Gently sift a light layer of powdered sugar on top of caramelized sugar.

  19. Arrange a few berries and mint leaf, if desired, on top of powdered sugar.

  20. Serve to your guests’ hearts content while watching the first few minutes of “Amélie.”

  21. Crème brûlée will never be the same!

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