You’re only 5 minutes and 4 ingredients away from having a chocolate dessert up your sleeve that impresses every time!
Super easy desserts that impress!
I love discovering and posting ‘cheat’ recipes that impress guests but take literally minutes to throw together.
Take these very quick and easy Scrummy Lane dessert favourites, for instance:
- 6-ingredient gooey Swedish chocolate cake
- easy magic lemon pudding (just 5 ingredients!)
But I really think these 5-minute chocolate pots give both of these a run for their money!
How to make easy chocolate pots
I spotted this recipe in a little cookbook by an organic chocolate company called Green and Blacks years ago. I thought about jotting it down, but didn’t even need to.
The recipe’s so easy, I just remembered it.
5 steps, 5 minutes:
Step 1: Melt 200 grams (that’s 7 ounces) melted chocolate (2 minutes tops).
Step 2: Stir 100 ml (just under half a cup) boiling water into it (1 minute). It goes stiff and grainy when you first start adding the water. Don’t worry! Just keep stirring until smooth.
Step 3: Whisk in 100ml (just under half a cup) double cream (about half a minute).
Step 4: Pour into shot glasses or similar (1 minute tops).
Step 5: Leave to set in the fridge and … enjoy!
These little chocolate pots are rich, as you can imagine. But honestly, not overly so. They’re like a chocolate ganache, but with the bit of added water they’re more like a luxury pudding.
I used a mixture of dark and milk chocolate for my chocolate pots, in a ratio of about 2 to 1, but you can use all dark chocolate or all milk if you prefer.
If you’re more of a white chocolate kind of person, you’ll be happy to know I also have a white chocolate pots recipe here on the blog (the ingredient amounts vary slightly!).
Keep them plain, or add flavours
Adding a teaspoon of vanilla essence works well, but this is up to you. Other flavours you can add include:
- peppermint essence
- orange zest
- instant coffee
- a large pinch of salt
These chocolate pots are definitely one of my go-to quick impressive desserts.
Give them a try! There’s no way your guests will realise they only took you 5 minutes, you sneaky thing.
To serve:
These whiskey shot glasses (affiliate link) would be perfect for serving your chocolate pots!
I sometimes serve them with a dollop of whipped cream on top and a piece of shortbread (both of these optional of course).
Got some double cream to use up? Here are a few more recipes using double cream!
- 15-minute creamy pesto chicken (this is a delicious midweek meal, and only uses a little cream so it isn’t too heavy)
- creamy garlic parmesan potatoes (dauphinoise potatoes)
- 6-ingredient mini quiche lorraine (perfect for parties, and freeze really well!)
- white chocolate baked cheesecake (another super easy but impressive dessert)
More impressive but easy desserts
- 5-minute chocolate banana ice cream (healthy nice cream!)
- 6-ingredient gooey Swedish chocolate cake (you’ve got to try this!)
- Easy magic lemon pudding (the most controversial recipe on my blog!) or its little sister recipe aka this chocolate self saucing pudding (lower sugar recipe!)
- No bowl chocolate pecan bars (magic bars!)
- 2-minute healthy peanut butter mug cake
- Or check out this post listing all of the above and more in one easy list, or see ALL of my easy desserts here.
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5-minute chocolate pots (only 4 ingredients!)
Ingredients (UK/Australia? Click below for grams/ml)
- 7 ounces chocolate plus a bit extra for grating
- 0.5 cups boiling water (actually, just under half a cup – 100ml)
- 0.5 cups heavy cream heavy cream = double cream (UK), thickened cream also works well (Australia)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla essence (optional)
Instructions
- Break the chocolate up into a medium bowl, then melt in the microwave in 30-second spurts*.
- Add the water little by little, stirring until you have a smooth paste*.
- Whisk in the cream and vanilla (if using).
- Pour into shot glasses or similar and let set in the fridge (IMPORTANT: see note!).
- Just before serving, top each dessert with a splodge of whipped cream and a bit of grated chocolate (if you like).
Jennifer says
Helen, many thanks for the recipe, the chocolate pots went down very well! Everyone was very complementary, so will make again!
Helen says
Hello Jennifer, and thank you so much for letting me know you made these and that it went well! I’m so glad you enjoyed them!
Jennifer says
Hi Helen,
Whipped these up this afternoon because my daughter was coming for dinner. Wow! What a success! I had to show her the recipe. Thanks again 🙂
Saf says
Hi, have you tried making these with cadburys dairy milk?
Helen says
Hi Saf! I haven’t, but I think the recipe would still work. I would ‘possibly’ reduce the amount of water a little as Cadbury’s has a lower cocoa content. I really don’t see why not though. Do let me know how you get on if you do give it a go.
Saf says
So I did make it with the same amount of water in the recipe, as I saw your your message too late…
It did take quite long to set, I had to put them in the freezer for a little while. So reducing the water makes sense, I guess…
Nevertheless, they tasted amazing, and loved by all, will definitely make it again. Xx
Helen says
Hi Saf! This recipe can sometimes take a bit of experimentation because of differences in chocolate type/quality, but it sounds like you got good results in the end! Thanks for letting me know how you got on!
Jennifer says
Hi Julie,
Whipped these up this afternoon because my daughter was coming for dinner. Wow! What a success! I had to show her the recipe. Thanks again 🙂
Helen says
Hi Jennifer! Thank you so much for such a glowing review! These work so well as a last minute but impressive dessert, don’t they? In fact we have guests coming for dinner tomorrow and I think you’ve inspired me to make these for dessert!
Julie says
Just made this recipe and it was amazing. Thank you so much, Helen. I used 70% chocolate, double cream, and a touch of satsuma zest. They set perfectly after a little while in the fridge and are absolutely smooth and wonderful. I am a huge fan of delicious Greek food too and have bookmarked lots of your recipes to try. I think the skinny chicken moussaka is next after all the indulgences of Christmas! Thank you again for your clear and detailed recipes.
Helen says
Hi Julie! Thank you so much for your lovely review. I love the idea of adding a bit of natural orange flavouring. I’m also so pleased you’re going to try some of my other recipes. The skinny chicken moussaka is great! Do try the Greek chicken and potatoes, too. It’s just such an easy and crowd pleasing recipe!
Julie says
Thanks so much for the reply, Helen. The Greek chicken and potatoes is definitely on the list too. Another one of my favourites!
Jean says
So easy ..so delicious ..made it twice now…one of hubbys favourites.
Helen says
Thank you so much for the review, Jean – I so appreciate it! Did you make it for Valentine’s Day? 😉