Dark Chocolate Pudding

Ingredients:

Directions:

1. Partially fill a large bowl with ice cubes. Place a smaller bowl on top of the ice cubes. Set aside.
2. Combine chocolate and butter in a microwave safe bowl. Heat chocolate and butter until melted. Let cool slightly.
3. In a saucepan, simmer 2 cups milk with 1/4 cup sugar and salt. Occasionally stirring.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together cocoa powder and cornstarch with the remaining 1/3 cup of milk. Whisk the cocoa mix into the hot milk.
5. In the same bowl, whisk the yolks and whole egg with the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar.
6. Gradually whisk some of the hot milk mixture into the eggs to warm them, then whisk the egg mixture into the saucepan and cook over medium heat. Whisk for about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the chocolate-butter mix, vanilla extract and espresso.
7. Place a fine strainer over the chilled bowl. Slowly pour the pudding into the bowl. Place a sheet of plastic wrap over the top of the bowl and transfer to the refrigerator to chill.