This Vanilla Pot De Creme is loaded with flavor from white chocolate, honey-roasted figs, and cherries. It's creamy, decadent, and totally worthy of being your Thanksgiving or Christmas dessert.
Can you believe the holidays are sneaking up on us again already?
These little creamy white pots of chocolatey goodness are flecked with black vanilla seeds, and topped with honey-roasted figs and cherries.
I'm a sucker for figs - they are my very favorite fruit and I'll eat them anyway I can get them.
Tips for Making a Vanilla Pot de Creme!
Prepare the vanilla pots in advance.
These little vanilla pots de creme take about an hour to put together, and another three hours to chill before serving.
This makes them the perfect make-ahead dessert for holiday gatherings. You can prepare the pots de creme the night before your gathering, and they'll be ready to serve the next day.
Same for the roasted figs and cherries.
The roasted figs and cherries can be prepared a day in advance too.
And in fact, I think they benefit from sitting overnight along with the roasting spices. It lets all the flavors meld together!
Experiment with the toppings!
While I think the figs and cherries are just perfect for this, feel free to experiment with your own favorite toppings.
I bet roasted strawberries would be another delicious topping for a vanilla pot de creme.
Or you could simply top your vanilla pots with fresh fruit, or a bit of white chocolate shavings.
And if you are looking for some more holiday dessert options, check out these recipes:
- Eggnog Truffles
- Strawberry-Chocolate Chip Christmas Wreaths
- Scottish Tablet
- Cookies and Cream Cheesecake Truffles
Happy eating!
📖 Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup whipping cream, or heavy cream
- 1 cup milk
- 1 vanilla bean, seeds scraped (keep the pod for the roasted figs and cherries)
- 4 egg yolks
- ¼ cup caster sugar
- 300 g white chocolate, chopped, 10 ½ ozs
- HONEY ROASTED FIGS AND CHERRIES:
- 2 figs, cut into eighths
- 2 cups cherries, pitted
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 tspp olive oil
- 1 cinnamon stick
- ½ star anise
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg, grated
Instructions
- Combine the milk, cream and vanilla bean seeds in a saucepan over a medium heat and bring to a boil. While the cream mixture is coming to a boil whisk the egg yolks and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer until pale and glossy. When the cream has come to the boil switch the mixer to it's slowest speed and add the cream slowly so as not to curdle the eggs. When combined return the mixture to the saucepan and place over a medium low heat and stir continuously until the mixture thickens and coats the back of the spoon thickly, around 5 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and add the chocolate and whisk until smooth. Divide the mixture between 6 small glasses or small ramekins. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3 hours to set.
- While the pots de creme are setting make the honey roasted figs and cherries. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (180 C), and line a small roasting pan with baking paper. Place the cherries, figs, oil, spices, honey and the remaining vanilla pod in the roasting pan and toss gently until coated. Roast for 15 minutes, or until the figs are softened. Allow to cool in the pan and place the fruit in a sealed container, along with any pan juices and the spices and refrigerate overnight. Remove the spices before serving.
- Serve the roasted fruit on top of the pots de creme.
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
These are absolutely stunning, I love the flecks of vanilla bean!
Rosa says
Heavenly! What a delightful combination.Cheers,Rosa
Julia (glutenfreejulia.com) says
Another amazing gluten free Xmas gift idea! I still think I would be tempted to replace the white chocolate with dark chocolate though!
Jennifer says
I do like dark chocolate too, but I think the white chocolate adds a certain festiveness 😀
cookingrookie says
Beautiful pots de creme!
Jennifer says
Thank you 😀
Lizzy (Good Things) says
Dear Jennifer, another beautiful recipe. I've enjoyed your Christmas cooking series. Wishing you and yours a safe and very peaceful festive break. See you in the new year!
Jennifer says
Thank you so much Lizzy 😀 Perhaps I gave myself a bit much to do in the lead up to Christmas, but I really enjoyed the challenge. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and I'll see you in the New Year 😀
thelittleloaf says
Happy Christmas to you too! These look absolutely gorgeous - I love the flecks of vanilla bean and those fruits sound Christmassy and delicious. Hope you have a wonderful break and looking forward to reading the final two posts 🙂
Jennifer says
Thank you 😀 I was really pleased with how they turned out, and the fruits do add that Christmassy feel, which is what I was going for. I'm a little bit addicted to roasted fruits right now :)I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and New Year. 🙂
[email protected] says
Although I like white chocolate and always heave it in the pantry it's often hard to weave into a dessert every one likes. This looks elegant and Christmas ee for sure!
Jennifer says
Thanks Tania. Merry Christmas 🙂
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen says
Happy Holidays to you as well, wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Jennifer says
Thanks Sylvie, and I hope you have a wonderful and safe Christmas too, and a delicious New Year!
Vespa Woolf says
I can't wait to try this! We get big, juicy, sweet cherries from Chile at this time of year and the first figs are large and syrupy sweet so this is the perfect dessert to show them off. Thanks!
Jackie @ Domesticfits says
Roasted figs is brilliant! I love that idea 🙂
Laura Dembowski says
Oh my, that looks like a serious holiday treat! I love all the vanilla bean seeds in there and the fruit on top. Your photos are gorgeous! I pinned it and bookmarked it.
Jennifer says
Thank you so much Laura 😀 Merry Christmas!
natalie says
I love pots de creme! I haven't had it in ages but one of my faves for sure. This recipe looks amazing!!
Deepa @onesmallpot says
These look stunning Jennifer. I love a good pot de Crème! Have a lovely Christmas 🙂
Mariane says
I'm not exactly into white chocolate but I somehow feel that the combo with roasted figs and cherries will work - 'will definitely try this one for sure, great idea!
Nicole @ Delicious Everyday says
Thanks, Mariane!