Chocolate Cream Filling

Ingredients

• 1.25 ounces Semi-sweet chocolate (About 1 and 1/4 squares. Use good quality chocolate.)
• 1 cup Granulated sugar (Use in place of 7/8 cup in Cream Filling recipe (see below))
• 1.5 tablespoons Coffee extract (For Coffee Cream Filling variation)
• 0.75 cup Heavy cream (For French Cream Filling variation)
• 0.25 cup Milk (For French Cream Filling variation)
• 0.25 cup Powdered sugar (For French Cream Filling variation)
• 1 Egg white (For French Cream Filling variation)
• 0.5 teaspoon Vanilla extract (For French Cream Filling variation)

Instructions

1. 1Place chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water (double boiler). Ensure the bottom of the bowl doesn't touch the water. Heat until melted and smooth, stirring occasionally.
2. 2Prepare a basic cream filling. This typically involves combining milk, sugar, flour or cornstarch (as a thickener), and butter in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened. Remove from heat.
3. 3Gradually add the melted chocolate to the cream filling base, stirring until well combined and smooth.
4. 4For a coffee flavor, add 1.5 tablespoons of coffee extract to the cream filling base before adding the chocolate, or after. Stir well to combine.
5. 5In a separate bowl, dilute 3/4 cup thick cream with 1/4 cup milk. Beat with a mixer (Dover egg-beater or electric mixer) until stiff peaks form. Add 1/4 cup powdered sugar and 1 egg white (beaten until stiff). Gently fold in 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract.