Prep time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total time: 50 minutes
Yield: 4-6 servings
Ingredients
2 cups milk
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons water
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
1/3 cup Smooth Operator peanut butter
Dulce de leche, for drizzling over top – optional
Procedure
1. In a medium bowl, mix 1/2 cup of the milk with the cornstarch, salt, and vanilla. Set aside.
2. Pour the sugar and water into a medium saucepan and bring the mix to a boil. Cook over moderately high heat, undisturbed, until an amber-colored caramel forms, about 8 minutes. You don’t want to actually stir the caramel, but you can gently swirl the pan to make sure the caramel is cooking evenly. Keep a VERY close eye on the pan, it will turn from light amber to burnt really fast, and you don’t want it to do that. Remove from the heat once it has reached an amber color.
3. Whisk in 1½ cups of milk. As soon as you begin to stir, the caramel will seize with the cold milk. It’s okay! Keep stirring and the caramel will begin to dissolve into the milk as it heats up.
4. Return the pot to the stove and whisk over moderate heat until the caramel has completely dissolved into the milk. Simmer over moderately low heat until the milk mixture thickens slightly and begins to deepen in color, about 10-12 minutes.
5. Still over medium-low heat, slowly whisk the cornstarch mixture into the caramel. Cook again over moderate heat, stirring, until the pudding thickens, about 1-2 minutes. It will look a little thin at this point, not like the firm pudding cups you see in the store, but once the pudding cools, it will be thick and creamy. No worries.
6. Scoop the pudding into a large bowl. To avoid a pudding skin press a piece of plastic wrap onto the surface of each pudding dish as it chills. Let the pudding chill for at least an hour.
7. While the pudding is cooling, make the chocolate and peanut butter cream mixtures.
8. Pour the 2 cups of heavy cream into a large bowl and beat for 3-4 minutes until the cream has begun to thicken.
9. Divide the cream into 2 bowls.
10. Take the 1/2 cup of chocolate and heat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until the chocolate is melted. Let the chocolate cool for a few minutes until the chocolate is no longer hot to the touch but the chocolate is still liquid.
11. Whip half of the cream with the melted chocolate and the peanut butter, beating until the cream is thickened and holds stiff peaks when you remove the whisk or beater.
12. In the bowl with the second half of the lightly whipped cream, add a teaspoon of vanilla and whip until the cream has thickened and holds stiff peaks.
13. When the pudding is chilled, remove from the fridge and begin layering the parfaits in 4-6 jars or other serving dishes. Place a layer of the vanilla cream on the bottom, top with some of the pudding, then the chocolate and peanut butter cream, and more vanilla cream on top.
14. Serve with a drizzle of dulce de leche and a sprinkle of sea salt.
What other layers do you think would go well with these parfaits? Leave a comment below and on Monday, August 6, 2012 we’ll choose a random commenter to win a 16oz jar of Smooth Operator, the peanut butter used in this recipe! US residents only.
The winner of this contest is Adrianna H.
Tags: Chocolate, Dessert, Peanut butter, Smooth Operator, Snack, Sweets, Vegetarian
23 Responses to Peanut Butter, Dark Chocolate, and Salted Caramel Layered Mousse Parfaits
Rate This Post
Leave a Reply
SEARCH FOR A RECIPE
Pinned! That looks yummy!
marshmallow!
I don’t know if you could improve on that, except for more chocolate. Chocolate and peanutbutter/peanutbutter and chocolate – nirvana. Opps, you know that already – you make it 🙂
I think banana might make a good layer in one of these. I’ve been on a big peanut butter and banana kick lately 🙂
Coconut would be amazing! Or maybe some mini dark chocolate chips for a little crunch 🙂
White chocolate chips might work well with this parfait 🙂
I think a little coconut would be good too.
This recipe sounds incredible.
(I’ve never had Peanut Butter and Co before. I would love to win!)
I want to try this so bad. Plus my birthday is Aug 6 lol yes
I think toasted hazelnuts or walnuts would be awesome in this! Yum!
These parfaits are the stuff dreams are made of! Can’t wait to make them!
I would add a layer of tart cherry preserves!
That looks delicious – I’m hungry now 🙂
i’d think you could almost go banana split and add some sliced bananas, strawberries, coconut or chopped nuts in there!
I think a layer of raspberry jam would be excellent in these parfaits!
All my favorite flavors in one jar! I’m already drooling (:
gah love their pb!
i think toasted coconut or almonds slivers would be great in here!
Chocolate cookies would be a great topper!
I think a fruit element would be great in this recipe and since I love strawberries with peanut butter I think that strawberry jam would be perfect.
We love Smooth Operator and your recipe looks delicious! PB, Chocolate, and Dulce de Leche are three of my favorite flavors–who could want more?
I’m not great in the kitchen but I’m a total foodie… this recipe seems simple enough for even me, and sounds completely awesome! I can’t wait to try it!
Wow this is going on my to-make list! I think that a nice crunchy element would add to this! So I would add dark chocolate covered peanuts! Yum.
You have to bring the pudding to a boil after you add the cornstarch and let it boil for a minute before you put it in the fridge to set. I would also use a little less PB and chocolate next time, and a little less vanilla cream (to save on some calories). It was delicious, though.