Chocolate Coeur a la Creme
Ultra-smooth and creamy, this heart-shaped Chocolate Coeur a la Creme is the epitome of a Valentine’s Day dessert! You won’t believe how simple it is to make!
No baking is needed to create this exquisite Heart with Cream, but it does require an overnight draining in the refrigerator, so plan accordingly.
Why You Must Make
After a year-long debate with myself, I finally purchased a coeur a la creme mold. My pantries were full of odds and ends of specialty pans and trays, many of which were collecting dust. But the urge to make this lovely dessert did not dissipate, so I took the plunge and bought the heart-shaped ceramic dish with drainage holes in the bottom. I’m sure you’re not surprised that I tested out my new mold with a dreamy chocolate version!
- Heart-shaped desserts are an incredible way to end your Valentine’s Day dinner.
- If you love cheesecake, this is its softer, lighter delicious cousin!
- You can make my Vanilla Version, too, that’s also very tasty!
Ingredient Notes
- Kitchen Staples – Room temperature Butter, Real Vanilla Extract (not artificially flavored)
- Cream Cheese – Have at room temperature, Philadelphia Brand is recommended
- Powdered Sugar – Sift first for the smoothest results.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder – Not hot chocolate mix; Hershey or Ghirardelli brands work well. Sift first if you see small lumps.
- Heavy Cream – 36-40% Milk Fat
- Raspberry Sauce or Puree and Fresh Raspberries – To garnish, optional, but nice for company, holidays, or other special occasions.
Coeur á la Crème is French for “Heart with Cream,” and I can think of nothing more apropos than this Chocolate Coeur a la Creme for the most romantic day of the year, Valentine’s Day. Defined as a heart-shaped dessert, it’s typically made of cream cheese whipped with cream or sour cream, then placed in a wicker or cheesecloth-lined mold to allow any excess liquid to drain.
Note the classic, fine, crosshatched markings across the surface from the cheesecloth. More traditionally garnished with strawberries, I think raspberries were also a divine pairing. Especially since I adore chocolate with raspberries!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you head out for a romantic dinner? Or do you dine in? After nearly 3 decades of marriage, the hubby and I enjoy a cozy, home-cooked meal followed by a chocolate (of course) dessert. This chocolate coeur a la creme, served over a puddle of raspberry sauce, thrilled my Valentine. Don’t you think yours would be just as enamored???
Chocolate is the go-to flavor for Valentine’s Day so think of chocolate pudding, chocolate mousse, chocolate cake, or chocolate pie. Individual desserts are wonderful. You get the whole thing to yourself. And pink or red desserts are also festive. How about strawberry mousse or pie? Heart-shaped cookies or a coeur a la creme in a heart-shaped mold are wonderful, too.
This dessert name translates from French to Heart with Cream. So even more worthy for any loved ones on Valentine’s Day or any special occasion.
Yes, you can rig your own by putting cheesecloth in a colander over a pie plate. Let drain overnight. Your dessert will be round instead of heart-shaped, but it will still be delicious!
More Valentine’s Day Desserts You’ll Love:
- Heart-Shaped Strawberry Hand Pies from Well Plated
- Heart-Shaped Mini Raspberry Cheesecakes from Barbara Bakes
- These heart-shaped sandwich cookies are also a holiday family favorite.
- 30+ Valentine’s Day Recipes
- Coeur a la Creme with Raspberry Sauce
- Tiramisu for Two
- La Bete Noire
- Chocolate Pots de Creme
- Plus this Filet Mignon for Two is the perfect entree!
- More Holiday Recipes
Chocolate Coeur a la Creme
A creamy, chocolate heart shaped dessert that's perfect for your Valentine.
Ingredients
- 6 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup whipping cream, divided
- Raspberry sauce or puree and fresh raspberries, to garnish, optional
Instructions
- Line a 2-cup capacity coeur a la creme mold with a double layer of dampened cheesecloth, making sure to have enough overhang to fold back over to cover the dessert.
- Combine ½ cup whipping cream and butter in a microwave-safe bowl and heat till butter melts.
- Whisk in cocoa powder till smooth hand mixer if needed). Let cool.
- Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla in a small bowl till smooth.
- Add cocoa mixture and mix to combine. Add the remaining ½ cup whipping cream and beat until well blended.
- Spoon the mixture into the coeur a la creme mold. Fold cheesecloth over top.
- Place the mold on a rack with a pan beneath and allow it to drain in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours.
- To serve, remove the cheesecloth. Garnish with raspberry sauce and fresh berries if desired.
Notes
Total time does not include draining time.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 375Total Fat: 28gSaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 84mgSodium: 132mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 1gSugar: 24gProtein: 3g
42 Comments on “Chocolate Coeur a la Creme”
Not only is this perfect for Valentine’s Day, but it totally satisfies that chocolate fix we all get sometimes! So heavenly!!
This is really a gorgeous dessert! Everyone at my house will surely be impressed!
This is a perfect dessert, just right for any special occasion! I love the sweet. rich, and creamy flavors. So delish!
Yum! This looks so delicious! My husband loved this recipe! I can’t wait to make this again soon!
Dear Lizzy, what a beautiful and elegant dessert. I have never tried a coeur la creme before but it sounds like a wonderful treat. xo, Catherine
This is so cool Liz. I have to get one of those pans. Like immediately. I have to say I love the Gallo wine. I am so happy I got to try them at the conference. I wish I had grabbed some to take home. I’ll have to peek to see if they carry it here.
I have neeeever seen anything like this! It looks so luscious!
One of the most underrated desserts in my opinion! Love coeur a la creme…yours looks wonderful.
I learned so much about coeur la creme from this post! I think it was the one thing they didn’t teach me in culinary school! They taught us most French pastries, but not this one. I had no idea it required a special pan. This is lovely, Liz!
I do the same thing before I buy any new kitchen gadgets. Looks like this purchase was worth it! Gorgeous dessert and perfect with a glass of wine!
This sounds amazing! I’ve never had coeur la creme before. I need to fix that and fast!
This is going on my must make list! So pretty and I can never pass on chocolate with wine!
This is a recipe that has always intrigued me. And yours, of course, looks like perfection!
Lizzy,
Wow! Another winner. What an elegant dessert. I try to stay away from buying specialty pans too. They aren’t easy to store and I hardly have enough room for the regular ones.
For Valentines Day, I like to stay home. Keep it low key and relax. I always felt that eating out on holidays meant you got poor service and marginal food because they’re trying to serve so many people at once.
Annamaria
Every year in February I see this dessert and I drool, looks just magnificent. And great wine pairing. Single this year so I am hosting a mix your own cocktail girls evening.
What a lovely cake Liz ! It’s extra ! For St Valentine’s, we also stay at home, I prefer make a cozy dinner and go to the restaurant in another day.
I kept on looking at your pics and wondering how you got those little dots on there… now I know. This is just purely a brilliant dessert!
A beautiful mold! Now I want to go out and buy one!
This Chocolate Coeur a la Creme is stunning, Liz!! I love the heart shaped mold! We usually stay in with a nice dinner on Valentine’s Day too and this would be perfect for dessert!
What a beautiful Valentine’s Day inspired dessert. This little chocolate coeur la creme is perfect!
This is definitely the ultimate dessert for Valentine’s Day! So beautiful and delicious!
Home is where the heart is and if this coeur la creme is dessert on 14 Feb, then where to dine on Valentine’s is a no-brainer! Congratulations on your new acquisition, Liz, Your gourmet pantry is now complete? Tee hee…Aww the joys of being a food blogger. <3
Money well spent, Liz. Your Chocolate Coeur a la Creme looks divine. Perfect for a romantic interlude…
And, I’m a Riesling girl from way back. I will definitely be checking the liquor store for Gallo’s Riesling. I can’t wait! (between you and me I may be more excited about the wine than the dessert which may just be a first, lol)
Thank you so much for sharing, Liz…
Beautiful and romantic dessert, Liz.
Looking good Liz! I need to try this one with cocoa powder – mine has actual melted chocolate in it ;0
I love the simplicity and beauty of this dessert! I would love to have this on Valentine’s Day!
This must be the ultimate Valentine’s dessert! I love your pairing with raspberry sauce.
So glad you broke down and bought that mold. I’ve seen recipes for this, but have never tried it. I didn’t realize it had cream cheese in it – I would LOVE it. I’m curious, what’s your favorite cocoa powder?
Usually I have Ghirardelli or Penzey’s on hand 🙂
So impressive Liz. i have never heard of this dish before. Now don’t tempt me to go out and get one.
Lovely…and you know by this point that I am not a chocolate lover, right? But this does look lovely. I have debated on one of those molds ever since I first saw Ina using one on her show…and I am still debating. I recently saw little ones, probably should have gotten one of those for sure. Fun to hear about your wine adventure! We are good with Valentine’s Day if it falls on a weekend, but often times, during the week it just gets swallowed up somehow. Mark always brings flowers but the dining experience usually only happens on a weekend. I will try to do better on years not like this one where it actually is on a weekend! 🙂 Your photo is lovely. Your Valentine’s Day plans sound really nice.
I love your recipe and all I need is a spoon! I know your suppose to share, but I don’t think I could!
I’ve always admired when Ina Garten makes her vanilla coeur la creme but have never made one myself. I love how you changed it up and went chocolate. Just lovely!
What a beautiful dessert, Liz! I love that it is heart shaped and that pan is wonderful. Don and I would love this for Valentine’s Day. Do you deliver?
Look absolutely georgeous Lizzy!! xoxox
I KNOW my Valentine will be just as enamored with your gorgeous dessert as Bill is with yours! I mean, what other reaction is possible with something this creamy and delicious?
Liz!!! oh my gawd!!! this Chocolate Coeur a la Creme is stunning!!! and is absolutely the epitome of a Valentine’s Day dessert! Wow, love that ceramic heart shaped dish!! where did you get it?
I found my mold at Sur la Table 🙂
This looks amazing! I should get a coeur a la creme mold too…really cool.
Very nice , I love the ease of this but the elegance of this dessert is impeccable! Gallo is lucky to have you represent them in this fine dessert!
You have just given me the nudge to get one of those pans. What a fantastic dessert!
How pretty, I’ve never seen a mold like that before! I’m not usually a wine drinker, but I have to say I’d like to try the Riesling:@)