So theres this thing about me.
I really really dont like making Halloween treats. Tombstone cupcakes. Spider web cookies. Witch finger snacks. Please just please. I cant get into it. I dont want things to look dead, or bugged, or dismembered.
I want things to look sweet and chocolatey and dripping with caramel and not blood-colored caramel. Please!
I feel like I should come clean now, before you expect to see some sort of
Oh. Also I dont really have time to make tombstone cupcakes. Im dedicating most of my time to planning my super slutty panda bear costume.
Im kidding.
. Im so so kidding.
Right?
I have a wonderfully exciting, secret ingredient in this Midnight Black Chocolate Pudding. ItsBlack Onyx Cocoa Powder. See how black it is!? Especially compared to the regular cocoa powder hanging out in the back. See!? Intense.
Let me tell you a little about this cocoa powder.
Black Onyx Cocoa Powder has been alkalized to the max. That means that its acids have been super neutralized. If youre using this cocoa powder in a reci! pe, youl l probably want to pair it with baking soda, as it doesnt have the acid to react with the baking soda.
Still with me?
This cocoa powder has less fat than regular (lighter) cocoa powder, so it may produce a more dry end product. Its been suggested that you use half black cocoa and half regular cocoa. Black cocoa powder is an intense chocolate flavor. It smells like crushed up Oreo cookies. It makes cookies, puddings and cakes as dark as midnight! Im so into it. Its perfect in this pudding because theres no worry of over drying.
Black Onyx Cocoa Powder is an awesome way for be to act Halloween-y without making slutty witch fingers.
I love this pudding recipe because its thickened by both egg yolks and cornstarch. The yolks provide a nice richness while the cornstarch is a no fail thickener.
Look how luscious!
Wait is luscious an awkward word?
A little.
Its like art but its just a dirty dish.
See that orange flower back there? That was my attempt at festivity.
Please say youre proud of me or something.
Oh hey! One more thing. In case youre thinking of dressing up as the slutty version of a random something this Halloween, can I please please please suggest that you NOT DO THAT!?
I might have to write a whole blog post about that.
Lets just stick to pudding for now.
This pudding is rich, dark, unapologetic. Its chocolate right in your face!
Of course you can make this recipe using regular cocoa and not the fancy Black Onyx but, hey! Try a little darkness. Its the season.
Midnight Black Chocolate Pudding
makes 4 servings
adapted from Tyler Florence
2 1/2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar (just 1/2 cup sugar if using regular cocoa powder)
1/3 cup black onyx cocoa powder
4 teaspoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 large egg yolks
2 teaspoons vanilla extract or 1/2 vanilla bean
1 cup heavy cream
2 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 vanilla bean
pinch of salt
Place 2 cups milk in a medium saucepan with sugar and cocoa powder. Heat over medium heat until steaming and warm. You dont necessarily have to boil the mixture, just heat it up and whisk it together.
In a medium bowl, whisk together remaining 1/2 cup milk, cornstarch, salt, egg yolks, and vanilla extract. Drizzle about half of the steaming hot chocolate milk into the egg mixture, whisking constantly. This will temper the eggs, making them a bit warm before theyre cooked over a flame. Return all of the chocolate, milk, egg mixture back to the saucepan. Heat over medium hea! t, whisk ing nearly constantly. Make sure the get into the corners of the pan where the pudding might stick and overcook.
When pudding starts to boil, continue to whisk and boil for about 2 to 3 minutes. Pudding will thicken. Remove from heat and spoon into 4 ramekins or jars. Cover with plastic wrap (on the surface of the pudding if you want to avoid pudding skin). Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
For the whipped cream, whip together heavy cream, sugar, vanilla bean, and a pinch of salt. Dollop over cold pudding and serve.
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