Pots De Creme

There's nothing like a friend with some dietary restrictions to inspire a twist on a classic. This recipe could have low dairy (depending on the chocolate you use) or no dairy. It still has a creamy velvety texture as the Pots de Creme recipes made with cream and whole milk. I like to serve them in these little glass jars, reused from some delicious yet expensive yogurt. (I now can justify the cost of the yogurt in defense of now having super cute serving dishes?)

Bonus: Gluten free! 



Ingredients:
9 oz semi sweet chocolate (I use Guittard brand super-chips)
2 oz dark chocolate (I use 60% cacao bittersweet chocolate baking bar, like Ghiradelli)
6 egg yolks
5T coconut crystals
1/4t salt
2.5 cups coconut milk (about 1 13.5 oz can)

2t vanilla
2t instant espresso crystals

1. Set up a double boiler to melt the chocolate. Keep heat on a gentle simmer level to melt both chocolates. You can leave this to melt on its own while moving on to step 2.

2. Make the custard:
In a stand mixer, beat the eggs with the whisk attachment for a minute or two till their color turns to a lighter buttery yellow.Add the coconut sugar and salt and mix till fluffy then slowly add the coconut milk. 

Pour the mixture into a heavy bottom cooking pan and on low heat edging on medium, slowly warm the mixture till it steams and barely, if at all, begins to simmer. Stir the whole time and do this slowly so the eggs don't scramble on you. Add the vanilla and espresso crystals. By this point, your chocolate is fully melted.

Turn the heat on the egg/coconut mixture to extra low and add the melted chocolate. Mix in completely.

Pour the mixture into tea cups, little jars like those pictured, or some other small vessel. Serving size is only about 1/4-1/2c, as this is very rich. 

Let cool down to room temperature before moving them to the fridge (about 1 hour on the counter). Move to fridge and serve after chilled with some berries.

Here are nutrition facts based on entering the recipe into myfitnesspal:

Nutrition Facts
Servings 8.0
Amount Per Serving
calories 374
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 29 g	45 %
Saturated Fat 21 g	103 %
Monounsaturated Fat 2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 138 mg	46 %
Sodium 96 mg	4 %
Potassium 172 mg	5 %
Total Carbohydrate 31 g	10 %
Dietary Fiber 7 g	29 %
Sugars 25 g
Protein 6 g	12 %
Vitamin A	4 %
Vitamin C	1 %
Calcium	3 %
Iron	16 %
* The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA.