3 Desserts Perfect for Sous Vide Cooking This Spring

You’re a busy dad. You don’t have time for complicated meals. That’s why you bought a sous vide cooker. It’s about as foolproof as you’re going to get, it’s easy to clean and the food is surprisingly good.Many people are afraid to venture into desserts with their sous vide, but there are so many simple and delicious recipes that will make the kids – and dad – grin from ear to ear. 

These three desserts are perfect for Spring (especially after a weekend of Spring cleaning), and they come together quickly.

1. Chocolate Pots de Creme

Don’t let the name of this recipe scare you off. Pots de creme, French for “pots of cream,” is very simple to make, and its custard-like texture is similar to mousse.

Anyone who loves chocolate will love this dish.

The prep time and cook time for this dessert is quick, but you’ll need to let it chill for four hours before serving. This sweet dessert is worth waiting for.

Ingredients

• 6 oz. semisweet chocolate chips

• 1/2 cup Cabernet Sauvignon (or a sweet red wine)

• 4 oz. dark chocolate, unsweetened and finely chopped

• 1/4 cup sugar

• 1/2 cup milk

• 4 eggs

• 1/4 cup heavy cream

• Pinch of salt

Instructions

• Fill and set your sous vide cooker to 180F.

• In a different saucepan, combine the sugar and the wine.

• Bring to a boil over medium heat.

• Reduce heat to medium-low, and allow to simmer for 20 minutes until reduced by half.

• Remove from heat and let cool for ten minutes.

• In a food processor or blender, add the wine mixture, chocolate, cream, milk, eggs and salt.

• Blend until smooth.

• Transfer the mixture to a cooking pouch, and seal using the water immersion technique.

• Place in the water bath and simmer for 45 minutes, agitating the bag periodically to prevent clumping.

You can serve immediately or transfer back to the blender for two minutes to aerate the mixture. Divide the chocolate mixture between 6 ramekins (or make just one big bowl), cover with plastic wrap, and chill for four hours.

2. Dolce De Banana

Bananas are a staple in our home, and they make a great addition to just about any dessert. This easy banana dessert takes just 40 minutes to cook, and everyone – even the kids – will love it.

This recipe makes enough for six servings.

Ingredients

• 7 ripe bananas, peeled and cut into chunks

• 2 cinnamon sticks

• 1-1/4 cup brown sugar

• 6 cloves, whole

Instructions

• Fill and preheat your sous vide to 176F.

• Add the bananas, cinnamon sticks, brown sugar and cloves to a cooking pouch.

• Vacuum seal using the “gentle” setting.

• Submerge the pouch, and cook for 30-40 minutes.

• Remove, and allow the mixture to cool slightly.

• Remove the cloves and cinnamon sticks.

• Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream.

The great thing about this banana dessert is that it’s simple and inexpensive to make, which is always a winning combination in a busy household.

3. Coffee Ice Cream

This recipe combines two of the best things on the planet: coffee and ice cream. But ice cream in a sous vide machine? Yes, and the results are far better than you’re expecting.

Like the pots de creme recipe, this recipe does require a few hours of chilling after cooking. The results are well worth the wait.

You’ll also need an ice cream maker for this one – unless you’ve mastered the art of making ice cream without one (you brave soul).

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup strong coffee (espresso preferably), or instant coffee

• 5 egg yolks

• 1-1/2 cups half-and-half

• 3/4 cup sugar

• Pinch of salt

• Ice water bath

Instructions

• Fill and preheat your sous vide cooker to 140F.

• In a separate mixing bowl, use an immersion blender to blend the sugar and egg yolks until thick and smooth.

• Add the half-and-half, salt and coffee and blend for one minute.

• Add the mixture to a zip-closure cooking pouch and seal using the displacement method.

• Submerge the pouch and cook for 20 minutes, removing the pouch periodically to agitate the contents.

• Remove the pouch, and immediately submerge in ice water for 20 minutes.

• Transfer the custard to the refrigerator, and allow to chill for at least two hours.

• Transfer to an ice cream maker, and follow the machine’s instructions for freezing.

Sous vide machines are a fun way to cook dessert, and the kids will love helping you whip up these tasty treats.

Do you have a favorite sous vide dessert?