“HAPPINESS. SIMPLE AS A GLASS OF CHOCOLATE OR TORTUOUS AS THE HEART. BITTER. SWEET. ALIVE.” Joanne Harris (Chocolat)
Well, I have to give a shout out and a special thank you to Elle at Bromography for the reminder that today is National Pots de Creme Day!!! Elle writes a wonderfully eclectic blog which features restaurant & food reviews, food facts, recipes and special features and events in her community! Though she is based in NYC, I really enjoy reading her. I think you will, too! So while browsing her blog, be sure to check out her article about National Pots de Creme Day! Woo Hoo! This is one holiday that I am more than happy to celebrate!
Today, I made chocolate orange pots de creme. It’s just a combination that I really enjoy. (Chocolate and raspberries take a close second!) I love these creamy pots so much! They look like they have the texture of a cake. A lovely cross between a custard and a souffle. Deceptively creamy! And very rich and soul satisfying! Since I have this fetish for being able to eat every aspect of my dessert, I also made……..
…..candied orange rind and shortbread spoons! Such a fun and relatively easy recipe. Just take it in steps. And each component may be made in advance! I made the candied orange rind first, because I used the excess orangey flavored sugar in the actual custard.
CANDIED ORANGE RIND:
Strips of rind from 1 orange
1/2 cup granulated sugar, divided
1/4 cup water
Bring water and 1/4 cup of sugar to boil in small saucepan. (Almost as if you are making a small quantity of simple syrup.) Add your strips of orange rind. (You could zest or peel larger strips. I chose to peel short strips a bit larger than zest.) Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Strain the rind and drop into the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar and roll around to coat. Let dry and then shake through a sieve, so that the rind is left and you have a bit of excess orange sugar remaining. Reserve this.
CHOCOLATE ORANGE CUSTARDS:
1 1/3 cups whole milk
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 TBSP Grand Marnier
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 tsp orange zest
8 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped (do not exceed 61% cacao)
8 large egg yolks
6 TBSP sugar (here I had about 4 TBSP of orange scented sugar leftover from the candied orange rind which I used)
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Place four 8 oz baking cups in a small baking dish or pan and set aside.
In a heavy, medium saucepan, bring milk, cream, Grand Marnier, vanilla and orange zest to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat, add the chocolate and stir until the mixture is smooth. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg yolks with the sugar for about 2 minutes and until it is pale yellow in color. Pour a little of the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture while whisking constantly. Then return the egg mix to the chocolate mix and whisk until combined. Strain through a sieve into a large bowl or container with a spout. Divide the mixture into the baking cups. Add enough hot water to the baking pan to fill halfway up the sides of the cups. Cover the pan tightly with tin foil. Bake 40-45 minutes, until the custard is set. Remove the cups from the water and refrigerate uncovered until cool. Then cover lightly with plastic wrap and chill until cold, about 6 hours or overnight.
WHIPPED CREAM:
1 cup heavy cream
3 TBSP confectioners sugar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
In the bowl of your electric mixer with whisk attachment, beat cream until frothy. Add the sugar and vanilla and beat on high till stiff peaks form. Dollop the whipped cream on top of the pots de creme and sprinkle with candied sugar rind.
This is fabulous just as it is! But even more interesting when eating with sugared shortbread spoons!
SHORTBREAD SPOONS:
1 stick unsalted butter at room temperature
1 cup confectioners sugar, sifted
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 cup all purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
With your electric mixer, cream together the sugar and butter. Add the vanilla. Then add the salt and flour and continue to mix until a soft dough forms. Form the dough into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. When ready to shape, lightly flour your work surface. Roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness. I used a spoon shaped cookie cutter, but you could also trace a small spoon or cut out a free form spoon if you are that talented! Place the spoons on a parchment lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with sugar if desired. Refrigerate until cold and very firm about an hour.
Preheat your oven to 300°F. Be sure your rack is positioned in the center of your oven. Remove the pan of shortbread spoons from the fridge and immediately place them in the oven. Bake about 20-25 minutes. The edges of the cookies should be golden brown, but the centers should be pale. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack and let cool completely. Store tightly covered at room temperature until ready to use.
Enjoy!
Yum, yum and yum, Anne! The candied orange sounds like a perfect combo for the chocolate-orange custard. I have never made pots de creme but I love saying it. Yours ere beautiful (as always) and I can’t wait to try it!
Cassie….Thanks…..and I love saying it too! That’s funny! Very easy and very yummy! : )
Thank you for the lovely mention! Your chocolate orange pots de creme look like a divine way to celebrate the holiday. The spoons are an adorable touch.
Thanks Elle…..I’m usually a beat behind on ‘National Food Days’….so I appreciate having read this on your site in advance! : )
Anne you have done a wonderful job here. Those shortbread spoons are toooooo cute!!! I see you are making the best of the rain in East by making something comforting and sweet to pass the time. YUM! I’m glad you’re up and about, I would be too if I had those lovely little treats to eat. ~ Ramona
Ramona! Thanks so much! These shortbread spoons are perfect for puddings and custards …..or just to eat on their own! Windy and rainy here. But not so bad so far! : )
Anne,
This looks great especially on an otherwise grey and rainy day. Another fantastic piece of art!
Mike…a perfect comfort food for our rainy, stormy days! Thanks so much! xoxo
Anne, these are perfect! I could really go for something rich and chocolatey like this!! The shortbread spoons look delicious too!
Thanks Stephanie! These do have a rich chocolatey taste. And I just love nibbling on the spoons! : )
Good Gravy! Bowls of yummy chocolate you eat with shortbread cookie spoons? Wow. I’m glad I was a good girl, because I just died and went to dessert heaven. You’re too much, Anne!
Welcome to my heaven, Jeanne! And I’m not too much! If I were growing my own pineapple, making food photography light boxes, and fashioning beautiful vintage clothing….then…I’d be too much! ;- )
Orange and chocolate is my favorite fruit-chocolate combo! And those sugared shortbread spoons are divine in their own right! I had no idea that it was national pots de creme day!
Tiffany….orange and chocolate is such a classic combo for me! And I would not have known it was National Pots de Creme Day if I hadn’t read it on Elle’s site! For once….I am timely! Ha! : )
The presentation with the shortbread spoons is stunning! Great flavors in these pots de creme-I would love to have a scoop right now.
Thanks Tina! Love these little spoons! This hit the spot today! : )
So when should I stop by? lol
Kim….anytime! My door is always open to you my friend! : )
Your pictures are divine! Like the chocolate with orange…always a winning combination
Thanks so much! Isn’t chocolate with orange such a wonderful classic combo?! : )
National Pots of Cream Day! I love it! This looks absolutely wonderful, Anne. Chocolate and Orange are one of those matches made in heaven!
Hester….you know me. I’ll take any excuse to celebrate chocolate! : )
These are absolutely STUNNING! Not only did you make an amazing pots de creme, but you provided a tasty utensil! I am in l.o.v.e!
Thanks Ann! I only made 4 pots de creme. But I’ve been dunking the spoons in my coffee and tea! So it worked out well! : )
Thats my kind of baking
Me too! I guess I was bored! ;- )
Those shortbread spoons are the cutest things! Chocolate and Orange don’t get much combo love, and they should. Very impressive post Anne, thank you.
Thanks Sandra! I love the combo of chocolate with orange. And I could eat these spoons with most anything…..or nothing! ;- )
Oh wow this looks absolutely delectable! I love the spoons so much too!
Thanks Elyse! I’ve been munching on the spoons long after the custards are gone! ;- )
Congrats on the top 9! Chocolate and orange is always a winner. These pots de creme are gorgeous and so perfect for the end of summer. Love the shortbread spoons too!
Val! Thank you so much! I don’t know what to say! I am in shock! LOL
Yippy!!!!! You made Top 9 at Foodbuzz!!! I’m so happy for you!!!!!!!!!!! It’s about time! Well deserved. : )
I meant it’s about time Foodbuzz recognized you for your food!! : )
Ramona! Who knew?! LOL. Truthfully….it feels GREAT to be recognized. BUT….it makes me happier just having the constant support of good friends like YOU! : )
Hooray you’re in the Top 9, very happy for you!!
Sandra! I woke up this morning and thought it was Christmas! Sandra…I’ve truly appreciated all your support! Thanks so much! : )
woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo hoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! CONGRATS on making top 9 today! HUGS!
LOL….Tiffany…..your response…..more than making the top 9…..is making me smile so big right now! Thank you. Seriously, thank you for your friendship and support…..it means so much to me! It’s been the best part of blogging! : )
Anne,
Congratulations!!!! Well deserved and can’t wait to see what’s next! Enjoy.
Mike…thanks so much! It must have been those very special measuring spoons! ;- ) Honestly….thank you for always being willing to listen to me talk endlessly about desserts and blogging. And for being the one ‘non-blogger’ to always support what I’m trying to do here. You are wonderful. xoxo
Congratulations on making Top 9!! I can certainly see why! Looks delicious and the sugared shortbread spoon is a great touch! Great way to celebrate! Thanks so much for sharing, and once again, Congratulations!
Thank you so much! I loved those little spoons! : )
Congrats on top 9!
Thanks Kim!
I love chocolate and orange, as well as chocolate and raspberry…both are excellent combos!! Congrats on top 9! Can’t wait to give this recipe a try!!
Hi Sheri! And thank you! I love both of these combos as well and I hope you will give this a try!! : )
Congrat on top 9 ,you deserved it,great recipe and great food,i love chocolate and orange
Ridwan
Ridwan….thank you so much! Isn’t the combination of chocolate and orange so good?! : )