Cream Puff Dessert

This was one of those hard-to-format recipes I run across, sometimes.  We decided to try it on a whim and it was terrif.  So...I did my best with cut and paste.  I'm going to remember it next time my friend's kids come over.  It's a simple and fast way to have the wonderful Cram Puff taste without all the work.

Ingredients:

Dough:

1 C water

1/2 C butter

1 C flour

4 eggs

1 C chocolate chips 

Filling:

1 1/2 C milk

1 (3.5 ounce) package of instant vanilla pudding

8 ounces cream cheese, softened 

4 ounces frozen whipped topping (cool whip)

Garnish:

2 ounces of shaved chocolate (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a medium sized saucepan, bring water and butter to a rolling boil.  Reduce heat to low and stir in flour.

Stir until it sticks together and pulls away from the sides of the pan.

Remove from heat; stir in eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each one.

Continue to stir until you get a creamy (sticky) consistency.

Spread into an ungreased 9 x 13 inch pan. 

Bake in preheated oven for 30-35 minutes (It will be golden brown).

Remove from oven and sprinkle on chocolate chips. Wait a minute until they begin to melt, then spread evenly over the dough; set aside to cool.

Whisk milk and instant vanilla pudding together, set aside to thicken.

Cream together the cream cheese and frozen whipped topping.

Now add the thickened vanilla pudding into the cream cheese mixture and mix again until it's all blended together.

Pour mixture onto the chocolate covered dough.

Sprinkle on some shaved chocolate. Cool in refrigerator for an hour before serving.

Slice, serve and enjoy!

The Best Chocolate Ice Cream

Doesn't this look mouthwateringly delicious? Would be a slam dunk for a dinner party.






Makes almost a quart

You'll need:
1 can (14-ounce/400 grams) sweetened condensed milk
3/4 cup (180 grams) whole milk
3/4 cup (175 grams) heavy cream
6 ounces (170 grams) bittersweet chocolate, chopped finely
1/4 cup (25 grams) cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon instant espresso powder (or two tablespoons freshly-brewed espresso)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
A pinch of fine sea salt
5 teaspoons (12 grams) cornstarch
2 tablespoons cold water

In a heavy-bottomed large pan, whisk sweetened condensed milk, whole milk and heavy cream until combined. Set the pan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil.

Take off heat and add the finely-chopped chocolate, cocoa powder, instant espresso powder, vanilla extract and salt. Whisk until the chocolate melts and the cocoa powder is completely dissolved.

Mix cornstarch and cold water in a bowl with a fork until completely dissolved, and add to the ice cream base. Whisk until combined.

Place the pan over medium-high heat and cook, whisking constantly, scraping the sides and the bottom of the pan to prevent burning, until thickened, for 8-10 minutes.

Transfer to a heatproof bowl and set aside, uncovered, to cool for half an hour. Don't worry if a skin forms on top. When the bowl is cool enough to handle, cover with plastic wrap and chill thoroughly--preferably overnight--in the refrigerator.

Before transferring the chilled ice cream to the freezer, stir or whisk to dissolve the skin on top and scrape into a container. Cover with plastic, this time pressing the wrap against the ice cream to create an airtight seal; put the lid on (or cover with an additional layer of plastic wrap) and freeze until firm enough to scoop.