Warm chocolate pudding sets a sexy mood
I think this warm chocolate pudding is perfect for Valentine's Day. It's also one of my favorite standby chocolate dessert recipes because it only takes about 20 minutes to whip up, I usually have all the ingredients I need for it on hand (eggs, milk, cocoa, sugar, vanilla, salt and cornstarch) and my husband's crazy for it. Plus it's a lot healthier than most chocolate puddings made with heavy cream and whole milk-it's low in fat, cholesterol and OK even if you're on a diet.
The real beauty is that only you need to know what an easy, quick dessert this is (like our equally decadent Chocolate-Fudge Pudding Cake). When you put this pudding in a pretty dish or even a champagne glass, top it with a bit of light vanilla cream and a berry or a sprig of mint, you have an indulgent dessert that's fit for someone special. Just the kind of thing you want a Valentine's Day recipe to suggest….
Warm Chocolate Pudding
This warm pudding has a marvelous deep chocolaty flavor, but it's low in fat and super-quick to make. Don't skimp on the quality of cocoa with this one-treat yourself to the good stuff.
1 large egg
21⁄4 cups nonfat or low-fat milk, divided
2⁄3 cup sugar, divided
1⁄8 teaspoon salt
2⁄3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1. Lightly beat egg with a fork in a medium bowl.
2. Combine 11⁄2 cups milk, 1⁄3 cup sugar and salt in a medium saucepan; bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
3. Meanwhile, whisk the remaining 1⁄3 cup sugar, cocoa and cornstarch in a medium bowl. Whisk in the remaining 3⁄4 cup milk until blended. Whisk the simmering milk mixture into the cocoa mixture. Pour the mixture back into the pan and bring to a simmer over medium heat, whisking constantly, until thickened and glossy, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
4. Whisk about 1 cup of the hot cocoa mixture into the beaten egg. Return the egg mixture to the pan and cook over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, until steaming and thickened, about 2 minutes. (Do not boil.) Whisk in vanilla. Serve warm.
Makes 6 servings.
NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 164 calories; 2 g fat (1 g sat, 1 g mono); 37 mg cholesterol; 34 g carbohydrate; 6 g protein; 3 g fiber; 110 mg sodium; 311 mg potassium.
By Jessie Price
EatingWell food editor Jessie Price's professional background in food started when she worked in restaurant kitchens in the summers during college. She started out testing recipes for EatingWell and then joined the staff here full-time in 2004 when she moved to Vermont from San Francisco.
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