When it comes to a holiday dessert, it's all about chocolate. Here is an easy to make yet decadent dairy free chocolate pots de creme recipe to thrill the chocolate lovers in your life. The French call these Pots de Crème (pronounced poh-du-krem) which sounds so fancy. Translation: pots of cream. My version is made with canned coconut milk for creamy smooth richness instead of dairy cream, but you can use heavy cream. For a sugar-free option, use chocolate stevia drops or monk fruit.
As a kid, chocolate pudding meant opening a box of Jello dry pudding mix, adding milk and following the directions. You can still do that today, but processed boxed chocolate pudding is no match for homemade, especially when its this easy. Plus this recipe is a lot richer and more decadent. Ingredients are easily kept in the pantry to have on hand anytime a sweet tooth or a special occasion hits.
It's All About the Chocolate
For my baking and dessert needs I keep both block chocolate and chocolate wafers in my pantry. If you have a block of chocolate it's much easier to knock it down to size using a long serrated knife.
To skip chopping altogether, try chocolate wafers or buttons. The block chocolate in my pantry is from Scharffen Berger and for the buttons I keep a box of Guittard Couverture Wafers. The wafers are about the size of a nickel. No chopping required, which makes it easier and faster…and better for nibbling. Other favorites are Valrhona and Theo chocolates, either 70% bittersweet or 85%. A combination works well too.
High quality chocolate is essential for a recipe like this, so if you can't find high quality chocolate at a store near you, order it off Amazon by clicking on the names above. Valrhona is also available at Traders Joes near the checkout stand.
Another option, visit Chocosphere. This is a site that will send chocolate lovers into a trance. Chocosphere features 49 different brands of chocolates, almost from A to Z, from Alma Chocolate to Waialua Estate. To measure just the right amount of chocolate I always use a digital scale for accuracy. If you don't have one, they are a worthwhile investment. I could not live without one in my kitchen.
Add a Little Spice and Espresso
If a spiced version sounds good (it won't to the chocolate purists, I understand), try adding a little Chinese Five Spice when heating the coconut milk and espresso powder. Five Spice is a blend of cinnamon, star anise, anise seed, ginger and clove. It has a wonderful affinity for chocolate. I like to add Five Spice when I make chocolate gelato and it pairs well with this pudding recipe as well. Cinnamon all by itself is also a nice addition.
Another ingredient note - for the espresso powder, I use Medaglia d'Oro. If you can't find it at the store it can be ordered off the internet. The link above is to Amazon and there are other sources. This won't make the pudding taste like coffee. A little espresso brings out the flavor of chocolate.
And if you love chocolate, how about an adult hot chocolate version, with or without liqueurs?
If you're looking for another classic show-stopper dessert everyone loves? Try my blender method mini creme brulee.
Updated 9-25-17
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Pudding | Pots de Creme
Equipment
- 6 2 ounce ramekins or espresso cups, glass cups, stemmed wine glasses, etc.
Ingredients
- 6 ounces good dark chocolate, coarsely chopped I use the Hu dark chocolate gems
- 3 tablespoons granulated monk fruit or sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 pinch sea salt
- 1 cup full fat canned coconut milk
Options
- 2 teaspoons instant espresso
- ½ teaspoon Chinese Five Spice or cinnamon
Instructions
- In the bowl of a food processor, combine the chocolate and sugar (or monk fruit) and pulse until the chocolate is finely ground. Add the egg, vanilla, salt, espresso powder and cinnamon (if using) and pulse to a paste.
- Shake the canned coconut milk if it's solidified. In a small saucepan (2 qt), bring the coconut milk almost a boil over high heat. Be careful and watch as it comes to a boil. It can boil over in the blink of an eye, and its a terrible mess to clean up.
- With the food processor running, add the hot coconut milk in a steady stream and blend until smooth and silky, about 1 minute. This melts everything together and makes the "pudding".
- Pour the liquid chocolate mixture through a fine small strainer into a large measuring cup like a 4 cup Pyrex with a spout. This makes pouring into the ramekins easier. Pour into the 6 ramekins to fill. Refrigerate until the puddings are set, about 2 hours or overnight. Puddings can be made up to 3 days ahead of time. Wrap tightly in plastic film after they are cool and firm.
Notes
Nutrition
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Debbie says
Hi Sally, I'm planning to make this Pots de Creme. The recipe says 1 cup full fat canned coconut milk. Is it 1 cup or 1 can?? My canned coconut milk is 12 oz. If I'm to use only 1 cup of canned coconut milk, I'd need to mix the ingredients of the can before I could measure it, since it's usually separated in the can. Help please....
And thanks!!!
Sally Cameron says
Hi Debbie, hopefully you got my email earlier! Yes, 1 cup - 8 ounces, not the whole can. Shake it before using as sometimes the fat coagulates inside the can, then let it settle. Please let me know how you do with the recipe! It needs new photos but the recipe works like a charm, I've made it so many times.
Debbie says
Hi Sally, Yum!!! This recipe is sooooo good!!!! I made it using Bitter Sweet chocolate chips (70%) from AzureStandard, weighing them for the amount needed. I used just 1 Tbs of sugar (sucanat) and 1 CUP of coconut milk. I use canned coconut milk and don't find it to be something that shaking by hand mixes, so I put all of the coconut milk in the pan and heated it on low to mix.
I then measured 1 CUP and continued to heat it per your instructions. I used 4oz glass canning jars rather than the ramekins, because I had them. This recipe was simple, with excellent instructions and extra help via the opportunity to ask you questions. And... it is super good!!! I topped them with coconut whipping cream with a little sugar and splash of vanilla. This part was a little disappointing as the coconut whipping cream didn't whip as expected and it's not the nice bright white that dairy whip cream is. It tasted great and I was happy to be dairy free but not the same look as dairy whip cream. Thanks for the excellent recipe and the quick response to my cry for help!!!!
Sally Cameron says
Thanks for reporting back Debbie! Wow, love hearing about your success, and your comments will help other readers!
Shannon says
what a great idea adding the chinese five spice..i'm all over chocolate in any form! totally agree with you on staying in on valentine's, thinking fondue this year...
Anna Yanev says
Delicious!!!