Chocolate Pastry Cream

This decadent chocolate pastry cream is a must-have filling for homemade cream puffs, but is so good, you'll want to enjoy it by the spoonful.

Chocolate Pastry Cream on spoon
Photo: Carson Downing
Hands On Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
3 hrs
Servings:
12
Yield:
4 cups

Ingredients

  • ½ cup sugar

  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

  • 1 ½ cup half-and-half or light cream

  • 4 ounce chopped semisweet chocolate

  • 4 egg yolks

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

  • ½ cup whipping cream

Directions

  1. In a heavy saucepan combine 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, and 1/4 tsp. salt. Gradually stir in 1 1/2 cups half-and-half and 4 oz. chopped semisweet chocolate. Cook and stir over medium until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir 1 minute more. Gradually stir about half of the hot mixture into 4 beaten egg yolks. Return yolk mixture to saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil; reduce heat. Cook and stir 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in 1 tsp. vanilla. Spoon into a bowl. Cover surface with plastic wrap; let cool slightly. Chill 2 hours until cold (don't stir).

  2. In a chilled small bowl beat 1/2 cup heavy cream until soft peaks form. Gradually fold whipped cream into cooled chocolate cream; chill 30 minutes. Makes about 4 cups.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

185 Calories
12g Fat
17g Carbs
3g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 12
Calories 185
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 12g 15%
Saturated Fat 7g 35%
Cholesterol 83mg 28%
Sodium 72mg 3%
Total Carbohydrate 17g 6%
Total Sugars 13g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 0.3mg 2%
Calcium 47mg 4%
Iron 1.2mg 7%
Potassium 59mg 1%
Folate, total 14.3mcg
Vitamin B-12 0.2mcg

*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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