Pots au chocolat is the French name for our more prosaic chocolate pots. These ones are a rich but silky smooth chocolate custard flavoured with Amaretto and decorated with a whipped white chocolate ganache and crushed amaretti biscuits. Perfect for a make ahead dinner party dessert.
The Belgian chocolate brand, Godiva, recently launched its first ever chocolate challenge in the UK. The aim of the competition was to create the best ever chocolate dessert taking into account taste, texture and presentation. From a shortlist of ten, four finalists will be invited to create their desserts in front of a panel of judges, including William Sitwell and Mark Hix.
The winner will have their dessert served in one of Hix’s London restaurants and all four finalists get a five star trip to Belgium. A nice prize all round and I was keen to get involved. Godiva sent me some of their white and dark chocolate pearls to create a dessert for this very purpose.
Amaretto Petits Pots au Chocolat
Sadly, although I managed to create my piece de resistance before the deadline of this Saturday just gone, I didn’t get this post written up or my entry in on time. Never mind, I was very pleased with these Amaretto pots au chocolat. If it hadn’t been for this challenge, I’d never have created them. And I had family visiting, so it was the perfect dessert to serve them for dinner that evening.
I wanted to create something rich and delicious of course, but also something small and elegant that could be served after a rather large meal. With the recent success of my plum amaretto ice-cream very much in mind, I decided to create a rich chocolate custard flavoured with Amaretto and topped off with whipped white chocolate ganache and crushed amaretti biscuits.
Served in little coffee cups, I was hoping these mini chocolate pots would do the business. And they did.
They’re indeed rich and give you the feeling of having a decadent and indulgent dessert without making you feel unpleasantly full. We all found one cup was enough. The custard is silky smooth and the sweet chocolate ganache adds contrasting sweetness, flavour and texture as does the crunchy pieces of amaretti. I can see these chocolate pots taking a starring role in many dinner parties to come.
I also have a post for spiced prune chocolate pots, which are different, but equally good. These are not a custard as they don’t contain any eggs. Either would make a great Christmas dinner dessert.
What To Make With Leftover Egg Whites
This recipe does leave rather a lot of egg whites leftover. However, I always see this as a good opportunity to make something else. That something else is usually friands as they’re quick to make and delicious to boot. But there are other options.
Here are all the recipes on Tin and Thyme that use only egg whites.
Can You Use Any Chocolate?
The white chocolate pearls melted beautifully. I was impressed as I often have problems when I try to melt white chocolate. Sometimes it just stays lumpy and sometimes it seizes altogether. So in order to make the whipped white chocolate ganache, I’d advise using whatever chocolate works best for you.
The dark chocolate pearls were quite sweet and I couldn’t detect any particular complex flavours. This meant it worked well with the distinctive flavour of Amaretto. However, if you want to make plain pots au chocolat, I’d advise using a good flavoursome dark chocolate with a high cocoa content.
Keep in Touch
Thanks for visiting Tin and Thyme. If you make this caramelised pear and honey carob cake, Iβd love to hear about it in the comments below. And do please rate the recipe. Have you any top tips? Do share photos on social media too and use the hashtag #tinandthyme, so I can spot them.
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If youβd like further inspiration for make ahead desserts, I have quite a few of them.
Choclette x
Amaretto Pots au Chocolat. PIN IT.
Amaretto Pots au Chocolat- The Recipe
Amaretto Pots au Chocolat
Ingredients
- 100 ml milk
- 175 ml double cream (heavy cream)
- 3 large egg yolks (I used 2 duck egg yolks)
- 125 g dark chocolate (callets or chopped)
- 1 tbsp Amaretto liqueur
- 25 g white chocolate
- 3 amaretti biscuits + 6 to serve
Instructions
- Place egg yolks in a bowl. Heat milk and 125ml cream until near boiling then pour over the yolks whisking vigorously.
- Pour back into the pan and place over a very low heat. Add the chocolate and stir until melted.
- Add the amaretto and continue cooking, whisking occasionally for about 5 minutes, until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Be careful not to overheat or you will get scrambled eggs.
- Pour into a jug by way of a sieve to take out any egg that might have scrambled. Pour into your serving cups or pots and leave to set for at least a couple of hours.
- Melt the white chocolate in a pan over hot water and leave to cool slightly. Add the remaining 50 ml of cream, then whisk until soft peaks form.
- Spoon or pipe some cream onto the chocolate pots, then sprinkle with some crushed amaretti.
- Serve with a whole amaretti biscuit on the side.
Notes
Nutrition Estimate
Godiva sent me some chocolate pearls to try out. They did not require me to write a positive review and as always, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands and organisations that help to keep Tin and Thyme blithe and blogging.
Margot says
Wow, those sound absolutely amazing!! I’m pinning them to my Chocolate Coma board π
Choclette says
Haha, I like the name chocolate coma Margot, good one. Thank you.
Blair Urquhart says
Pitty about your post not being done on time but better luck for next time
Judith Luscombe says
These look scrumptious and contain my two favourite ingredients chocolate and amaretto
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
This sounds so delicious. I am going to make it for my husband this weekend, as it is totally his kind of dessert.
Choclette says
Did you make it Dannii? And if so, did he enjoy it?
Gloria Baker says
Choclette I love these, look lovely!xx
Choclette says
Thank you Gloria π
Lou, Eat Your Veg says
Amaretti & Chocolate has to be a match made in heaven! Such cute little cups to serve them in too, such a gorgeous after dinner pud.
Choclette says
Thanks Lou. As soon as I saw the cups, I fell in love with them and knew I had to get them.
Nayna Kanabar says
These look super delicious, and the photos are so inviting.I love the new look of the blog.
Choclette says
Thank you Nayna. I did make a bit of an effort with the styling on this one and I think it’s paid off.
Ren Behan says
A lovely recipe, such a shame it wasn’t on time for the competition. Loving your blog re-design, too.
Choclette says
Thanks Ren. Can’t believe I missed it. Blog still needs a bit of tweaking, but it’s getting there π
Nazima Pathan says
how beautiful – these are lovely. Loving the new look of your blog too!
Choclette says
Thank you Nazima – I’m sort of getting used to the new look now π
London Unattached says
I’m sure I commented on this one already! I did the same choclette – my recipe is made but not entered!
Choclette says
Haha, glad it’s not just me Fi! As you can tell, I’ve removed capcha (for a test) so maybe your no comment was something to do with that.
Jacqueline Meldrum says
Those look wonderful and what a gorgeous photo. I would love to dip into one just now. So, so tempting.
Choclette says
Thanks Jac. They make fantastic make ahead dinner party desserts and are so easy to dress up.
Sally Sellwood says
These look fantastic and I love the new blog look too
Choclette says
Thank you Sally, much appreciated.
Hazel - Chicken in a Cherry Sauce says
Shame you missed the deadline. Like me missing we should cocoa every month! I intend on entering at least once at some point in the future! At least you have got some great pics and great enjoyment from eating and sharing them. They are beautifully dressed. Love the new blog look – lovely to put a face to the blog too π
Choclette says
Would love it if you joined in with We Should Cocoa Hazel. Thanks for your kind comments about my new blog look.
anyonita green says
Love love love it! π Can’t be amaretto!
Choclette says
You’re so right Anyonita, Amaretto is one of the best π
Alida says
Oh these are so lovely Choclette! I could have them right now. Beautiful presentation too. I love amaretti and they just go hand in hand with chocolate.
I like your new design too. Very nice and neat.
Choclette says
Thank you Alida, much appreciated. Have you made your own amaretti? Would love to find a good recipe for the crunchy ones.
vohnmcg.com says
These sund lush Choclette! Loving your new-look blog too – very smart! Vohn x
Choclette says
Thanks Vohn, it’s so nice to get so much positive feedback about my blog face lift π
Sylvia F. says
Amaretti biscuits are my fave! Lovely chocolate pots and your blog looks superb now!
Choclette says
Thank you very much Sylvia. Amaretti biscuits are rather good I must admit π
Aunt Bee says
WOW Does that look wonderful!
Choclette says
Thank you π
Deena Kakaya says
Goodness they look so rich, silky and smooth. I can imagine that crisp and light ammareti would be so perfect with these beautiful pots. X
Choclette says
Thank you Deena – rich silky and smooth sums these pots up very nicely π
Janice Pattie says
A perfect dessert and so daintily presented, I could scoff down at least two of those π
Choclette says
Haha Janice, suspect you might not have managed two after the mega curry CT cooked for us.
Kate D says
I love chocolate pots and they are always a perfect end to any meal, especially with the added Amaretti touch. These look gorgeous!!!!
Choclette says
Thank you Kate – simple yet decadent.
Ananda Rajashekar says
ah! its sad that you couldn’t enter the competition, i’m sure you would have a winner…choco pots sounds decadent, love the way you have served in those beautiful cups! Godiva is quite popular here, one day i will post to you one of the best chocolate from Belgium you being the chocolate lover π Oh i like the new look of your blog!
Choclette says
Ananda, you are lovely. Thank you. My own silly fault. I hadn’t come across Godiva until I was sent their chocolate pearls. You are most definitely in the right place to enjoy chocolate π
Kate@whatkatebaked says
What a lovely new look Choclette- I love the photos on the banner, the one of the Cornish coast line is causing itchy feet for a trip to the sea!
Choclette says
Thank you Kate. How did you guess my cunning plan. If I can’t get to London, I have to persuade my fellow foodie bloggers to come down here π
Angie Schneider says
Choclette, these chocolate pots look fantastic!
Like the new template you use for the blog.
Choclette says
Thank you Angie. Still have a bit of work to do, but I’m pleased both with the pots and the blog π
Christian Halfmann says
The chocolate pots look totally delicious and I like the sound of amaretto in them. The new blog look is also great!
Choclette says
Thank you Chris, it’s great to get so much positive feedback about the new look. Amaretto goes particularly well with chocolate I find π
Sarah Bates says
These look divine and I can only imagine how delicious they taste! I can’t wait to try this recipe soon.
Choclette says
Thank you Sarah – they were rather good π
belleau kitchen says
gorgeous pots of scrummy chocolate heaven… they looks so creamy and smooth… LOVE the new blog look, it’s really special… xx
Choclette says
So glad you like it Dom – well the pots too of course! You and Janice led the way and eventually I had to follow π
GG says
I love your re-vamped site, it looks great. These little choc pots look so special in this wonderful crockery. GG
Choclette says
Thank you GG. I’ve been meaning to give it a facelift for a long time. Jac finally gave me the nudge I needed.
Sarah Trivuncic says
What gorgeous little chocolate pots, I love this crockery too. Beautiful new post for your revamped blog!
Choclette says
Thanks Sarah. I fell in love with the coffee cups as soon as I saw them. Haven’t used them for coffee once yet!
Karen S Booth says
I LOVE chocolate pots and yours look fabulous! I also LOVED those chocolate pearls Godiva sent us too!
Choclette says
Thanks Karen. As you know I love getting chocolate π The pearls were fantastic for cooking.
Anneli Faiers (Delicieux) says
These sound super delicious. I am sooooo stealing this recipe. Shame you missed the comp entry – these would surely have done well π
Choclette says
Thank you Anneli, that’s very kind – at least the super delicious bit is, not so sure about the stealing bit π
Jane Sarchet says
Choclette, they look amazing! I’m sure I could substitute coconut cream for the dairy… will be giving this one a go π
Janie x
Choclette says
Oh yes Janie, what a good idea. It would be most delicious with coconut – mmm!
Susan Lindquist says
It’s a shame you weren’t able to get this dessert entered, as it’s such a classic and would sit very nicely on a dessert menu at most restaurants! The white chocolate ganache and crumbles of biscuit are the piece de resistance! Well done!
Choclette says
Thanks Susan. Sometimes, quite often in fact, things come along that change your priorities.