Little Buckets Parfait
Servings 4 parfaits
Cost 5
Equipment
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup graham cracker crumbs (from 9 squares)
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 tablespoon butter, softened
- tiny pinch salt, can omit if using salted butter
Quick Pudding
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, Dutch or Natural
- 1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 large egg yolk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon unsalted or salted butter (optional)
- 1 tiny pinch of salt
Whipped Cream Topping
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
Instructions
- Make the crumb mixture first. Mix all ingredients, empty onto a parchment lined baking sheet and press into a slab. Bake at 350F for about 8 minutes or until it smells toasty, then remove and let cool. Break apart into crumbs.
- Alternatively, you can just grind the graham crackers into crumbs and use them straight.
- In a saucepan, off heat, whisk together the sugar, cocoa powder and cornstarch. Whisk in the milk gradually, then whisk in the egg yolk. Whisk until everything is evenly blended.
- Put the mixture on the stove over medium (you may need to use medium low depending on stovetop) heat and cook, whisking constantly, until mixture begins to bubble and thicken. It should only take about 5 minutes, After it starts to boil and thicken, continue boiling and stirring for 1 minute, then remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Stir in the butter and vanilla. Add a dash of salt to taste. Scrape into a bowl. If you need it to cool faster, you can scrape it onto a plate (which I always do) Cover directly with a buttery piece of wax paper to prevent a skin from forming, then let cool slightly before transferring to the refrigerator to cool completely.
- Prepare the whipped cream. With an electric mixer, beat the cream until soft peaks just start to form. Beat in the sugar and vanilla and continue beating to stiff peaks.
- To assemble the parfaits, divide crumb mixture evenly between 4 little glass cups (recycled glass yogurt containers).
- Spoon a layer of chocolate pudding mixture over the crumbs, then spoon on a layer of whipped cream *or* put it in a zipper bag, cut off the bottom tip and pipe. Optional: Garnish with cocoa powder and mini chocolate chips if you have some around.