Hot Chocolate Pudding

Ingredients

• 2 cups whole milk
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Heat the oven to 375ºF (190ºC). Arrange your ramekins or baking dishes on a baking sheet so they are ready when the batter is.
2. Place the butter and chocolate in a medium-sized bowl. Rest the bowl over a pan of water that is just barely simmering, and stir softly until the mixture is melted and silky. Take the bowl off the heat.
3. With an electric mixer, or a whisk if you are feeling sturdy, beat the eggs, sugar, and salt until pale, airy, and thick enough to softly keep its form, about 5 minutes with a machine and longer if you are doing it by hand. Stir one-third of the egg mixture into the chocolate to loosen it, then pour that chocolate mixture back over the remaining eggs and fold only until the egg streaks disappear.
4. Spoon the batter into the prepared baking dishes, keeping each one no more than 3/4rds full.
5. Bake the puddings on the lower rack for about 15 to 20 minutes. They should rise up nicely, while a toothpick poked into the middle still brings up a little soft, gooey chocolate.