Dark Chocolate Pudding With Pretzels Recipes

CHOCOLATE PUDDING AND PRETZELS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. On a sheet tray, gently toss pretzels, butter and 2 tablespoons sugar. Bake until sugar melts and crystallizes on the pretzels, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, whisk together the cocoa, 1/2 cup sugar and cornstarch. Form a well in the center and slowly whisk in milk over medium heat. This helps prevent the cornstarch from clumping. Bring mixture to a boil to thicken. Remove from heat. In a small bowl, whisk a little of the milk mixture into the egg to temper. Add egg mixture to the pot of milk. Heat over low until mixture thickens to a pudding-like consistency, about 3 to 5 minutes. Mix in chips until melted and combined well. Pour pudding into ramekins. Chill at least 1 hour. To serve, top with pretzels.

CHOCOLATE PUDDING PRETZEL PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the crust, crush the pretzels in a blender or food processor until finely chopped. Stir in the brown sugar and butter. Press the pretzel mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie plate.
• Bake for 8 minutes. Let cool for 15-20 minutes.
• For the ganache, chop the chocolate if using bar chocolate. Place the chocolate in a small bowl. Heat the cream to just barely simmering in the microwave or on the stovetop. Pour the cream over the chocolate. Let sit without stirring for 2-3 minutes. Stir until glossy and smooth. Spread evenly over the bottom and up the sides of the pie crust (it will be a pretty thin layer, don't worry if there are a few bare spots here and there). Refrigerate until set.
• For the pudding, in a medium saucepan, combine the milk and chocolate (chop the chocolate in pieces if using bar chocolate). Heat over medium-low until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is warm.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Carefully ladle in 1/2 cup or so of the warm milk mixture into the bowl, whisking vigorously (this is tempering the eggs so they don't curdle when cooked on the stovetop). Continue ladling in another one or two scoops of the milk mixture and whisk until the egg mixture is smooth.
• Pour the tempered egg mixture into the saucepan with the remaining chocolate milk mixture, whisking constantly. Cook over medium heat, continuing to whisk the entire time, until the mixture is bubbling and thick, 4-5 minutes.
• Off the heat, stir in the vanilla. Transfer the pudding to a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let the pudding come to room temperature. Spread the pudding evenly in the pie plate. Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours until the pudding is somewhat set.
• For the creamy topping, whip together the cream cheese and powdered sugar with an electric mixer (I often do this in my Blendtec blender) until creamy and smooth. Stir in the vanilla and heavy cream and whip until the mixture is thick and well-combined.
• Spread the creamy topping over the chocolate pudding. Top with chocolate curls or sprinkles, if desired.
• Chill the pie for another 2-3 hours before serving.

DARK CHOCOLATE-DIPPED PRETZELS

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with wax or parchment paper. Put the chocolate in a small microwave-safe bowl and microwave 30 seconds. Stir, then microwave 30 more seconds. Stir until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Dip each pretzel halfway into the chocolate, then place on the wax paper. Refrigerate until set, about 15 minutes.
• Per serving (6 pieces): Calories 100; Fat 5 g (Saturated 3 g); Cholesterol 0 mg; Sodium 150 mg; Carbohydrate 13 g; Fiber 1 g; Protein 2 g Photograph by Jonathan Kantor

DARK CHOCOLATE PUDDING

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, mix sugar, cornstarch and salt. Whisk in milk until smooth. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat to low; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from heat., In a small bowl, whisk a small amount of hot mixture into egg yolks; return all to pan, whisking constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low; stir in chocolate until melted. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Cool 15 minutes, stirring occasionally., Transfer to a bowl; press plastic wrap onto surface of pudding. Refrigerate until cold. If desired, serve with whipped cream.

DARK CHOCOLATE PUDDING

Steps:

• In a small heatproof bowl, whisk together egg and yolks. Set aside.
• Place chocolate, butter and vanilla extract in a food processor or blender but don't turn on.
• In a medium pot, whisk together milk, cream, brown sugar, cocoa, cornstarch and salt until smooth. Bring to a full boil, whisking, and let bubble for 1 to 2 minutes to activate cornstarch. At that point, it will start to thicken, and when it does immediately pull the pot off the heat. (You don't want to overboil the cornstarch, which can cause it to thin out again.)
• Pour a little of the hot cornstarch mixture into the eggs, stirring constantly to prevent them from curdling, then pour eggs back into the pan with the remaining cornstarch mixture. Cook over low heat, whisking constantly, until mixture just returns to a bare simmer (one bubble is plenty). Immediately pour into the food processor or blender. Run the machine until the pudding is very smooth (the hot milk mixture will melt the chocolate).
• Pour into individual bowls or teacups or 1 large decorative bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm and cold, at least 4 hours for individual servings and as many as 8 hours for 1 large bowl. Pudding can be made 3 days ahead. Serve with whipped cream or whipped crème fraîche, decorated with chocolate shavings and a pinch of sea salt, if you like.

DARK CHOCOLATE PUDDING

Steps:

• Mix 1/2 cup sugar and flour together in a small bowl.
• Mix remaining sugar and egg in another bowl. Add to flour mixture and mix together.
• Heat milk in a heavy saucepan over medium-low heat until warm, about 5 minutes; do not let boil. Stir sugar mixture into milk and cook over medium-high heat until it starts to bubble, about 5 minutes, stirring quickly the entire time to ensure it doesn't burn. Let bubble for at least 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in chocolate and vanilla extract until smooth.
• Pour pudding into serving bowls, cover, and refrigerate for 8 hours, to overnight.