Chocolate-Ancho Crème Brûlée

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Ground ancho chile pepper and cinnamon add sweet heat to this chocolate creme brulee recipe. To caramelize the sugar topping of these party-perfect creme brulees, broil in the oven for 5 minutes.

Chocolate-Ancho Crème Brulee
Prep Time:
25 mins
Chill Time:
1 hrs
Bake Time:
35 mins
Stand Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
2 hrs 20 mins
Servings:
6

Ingredients

  • 2 cup half-and-half or light cream

  • 1 3-inch cinnamon stick

  • 4 ounce bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped

  • 5 egg yolks, lightly beaten

  • cup sugar

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

  • ½ teaspoon ground ancho chile pepper

  • teaspoon salt

  • 2 tablespoon sugar

  • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 325°F. In a heavy small saucepan heat half-and-half and stick cinnamon over medium heat just until bubbly. Remove from heat; remove cinnamon stick. Add chocolate to cream. Let stand for 5 minutes; whisk until smooth. Set aside.

  2. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl combine egg yolks, the 1/3 cup sugar, the vanilla, chile pepper, and salt. Whisk until combined. Slowly whisk chocolate mixture into egg mixture.

  3. Place six ungreased 5- to 6-ounce casseroles, soufflé dishes, or custard cups in a 13x9x2-inch baking dish or pan. Divide custard mixture evenly among the casseroles. Place baking dish on oven rack. Pour enough boiling water into baking dish to reach halfway up sides of casseroles.

  4. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until a knife inserted near the centers comes out clean. Carefully remove casseroles from water; cool on a wire rack. Cover and chill for 1 to 24 hours.

  5. Before serving, let custards stand at room temperature for 20 minutes.

  6. In a small bowl combine the 2 tablespoons sugar and the ground cinnamon. Sprinkle evenly over custards. Place custards on a baking sheet. Caramelize sugar on tops with a culinary torch or broil* 4 to 5 inches from heat for 1 to 2 minutes or until sugar is melted and lightly browned. Serve immediately.

*Tip:

Choose the culinary torch if your dishes are not broiler-safe.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

307 Calories
20g Fat
30g Carbs
6g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Calories 307
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 20g 26%
Saturated Fat 11g 55%
Cholesterol 205mg 68%
Sodium 91mg 4%
Total Carbohydrate 30g 11%
Protein 6g

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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