Pot de crème, crème brûlée, mousse, riz-au-lait, sabayon … there is undoubtedly a strong tradition of creamy, cup-contained desserts in France. And even though the classic “pudding” (pouding, in French) is moreso a British import, it is just as much of a beloved and popular dessert in France.
Did you know: A pudding is a custard that contains milk (no cream), stirred and cooked on the stove and generally thickened with cornstarch. A pot de crème contains cream, is baked and relies on the eggs to set.
Just like many French kids, I grew up eating “Danettes”, a famous pudding brand that comes in many flavours (chocolate, vanilla, caramel, pistachio, pralines…). Danettes are highly popular in France, and they can be found at any grocery store across the country. They were also one of our favorite desserts served at our school cantine (with chocolate often the flavour of choice).
Now, like most French adults, I am still very fond of “Danettes”, but also love making my own from scratch when I have the time. This way, I can tweak it exactly how I like it to be – on the thicker side, and very chocolatey.
Thick Double Chocolate Pudding, a must in your dessert repertoire.
So here is my favorite recipe for a thick Double Chocolate pudding, using both cocoa and chocolate. It’s dense, velvety and deep in chocolate flavors. A guaranteed crowd pleaser!
It is a great recipe to have in your repertoire, as it’s easily made with simple ingredients and can be prepared ahead and chilled in the fridge before serving (ideal if you’re hosting a big dinner and need to manage your time in the kitchen wisely).
I like to serve it in individual cups with a sprinkle of fleur de sel on top. You can also garnish it with shaved chocolate or cocoa powder.
Cooking notes:
- Good-quality chocolate – For this pudding, the quality of the chocolate makes big difference. Choose a good-quality bittersweet chocolate – dark 70% is best.
- Unsweetened Cocoa – Make sure your cocoa powder is unsweetened.
- Whole milk (3.5%) in comparison to 2% or 1% will provide a creamier, denser texture and help the pudding to set perfectly.
- One of my favorite Fleur de Sel is the Fleur de sel de Guérande. You can find it online or in some grocery stores in the US/Canada.
If you try this Thick Double Chocolate Pudding recipe, let me know! Leave a comment or share a photo on Instagram tagging @pardonyourfrench or using #pardonyourfrench. I’d love to see what you come up with.
A recipe adapted from Martha Stewart.
If you like Chocolate desserts, you might also like:
- Merveilleux (Meringues & Chocolate Cream Sandwich Pastries)
- Chocolate-Coated Spritz Cookies
- Chocolate Vanilla Marble Cake
- Chocolate Olive Oil Cake
- Double Chocolate Mashed Potato Brioche
Bon Appétit!
