Chocolate Pastry Cream

By LoriCaputo

Ingredients

• 2 tbs. cornstarch
• ½ cup sugar
• 4 egg yolks
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 vanilla bean. Sliced and seeds scraped from bean
• 1 tbs. butter
• 2 oz. bittersweet chocolate, chopped

Preparation

Step 1

Sift together the cornstarch and ¼ cup sugar. Add yolks and whisk until well combined.

Pour milk and remaining ¼ cup sugar in a pan, and place over medium high heat. Add the vanilla seeds and skin and bring milk to a boil.

Temper the egg mix with the hot milk, and whisk until it comes to a boil, continue whisking 2 minutes. Strain cream through a fine mesh sieve. Add butter and chocolate and stir until it is well incorporated. Cool mixture to room temperature and then chill.