Crunchy chocolate spheres with puffed rice and custard
Crunchy chocolate spheres with puffed rice and custard is a medium French recipe that serves 2. 1200 calories per serving. Recipe by Norbert Tarayre on YouTube.
Prep: 27 min | Cook: 38 min | Total: 1 hr 20 min
Cost: $35.20 total, $17.60 per serving
Ingredients
- 200 g Dark chocolate 64% cocoa (outer shell)
- 200 g Dark chocolate 72% cocoa (inner layer and marbling)
- 150 g White chocolate (inner layer and finish)
- 100 g Pecan praline (crunchy center)
- 80 g Puffed rice (adds crunch)
- 1 pod Tonka bean (vanilla‑cinnamon aroma)
- 115 g Granulated sugar (for the custard)
- 4 pcs Egg yolks (for the custard)
- 250 g Whole milk (for the custard)
- 1 pinch Powdered vanilla (for the custard)
- 12 pcs Silicone half‑sphere mold (to form the shells)
- 1 cs Neutral oil (to lightly grease the mold) (facilitates unmolding)
Instructions
Cut the chocolates
Cut the 64% dark chocolate and the 72% dark chocolate into small uniform pieces to ensure even melting.
Time: PT5M
Melt the 64% dark chocolate
Place the 64% dark chocolate pieces in the bain‑marie bowl and melt gently, keeping temperature ≤ 40°C.
Time: PT5M
Temperature: 40°C
Melt the 72% dark chocolate and white chocolate
Repeat the operation with the 72% dark chocolate then with the white chocolate, always at ≤ 40°C.
Time: PT5M
Temperature: 40°C
Prepare the egg‑sugar mixture
In a bowl, whisk 4 egg yolks with 115 g granulated sugar and a pinch of vanilla until the mixture lightens.
Time: PT5M
Heat the milk
In a saucepan, heat 250 g whole milk with a small splash of water until 80‑85 °C (thermometer).
Time: PT5M
Temperature: 85°C
Temper the egg‑sugar mixture
Slowly pour a small ladle of hot milk onto the egg‑sugar mixture while stirring constantly to raise the temperature without curdling the eggs.
Time: PT2M
Cook the custard
Return everything to the saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring continuously until the temperature reaches 83 °C, when the custard thickens slightly.
Time: PT10M
Temperature: 83°C
Cool the custard
Remove the saucepan from the heat, transfer the custard to a large bowl and quickly cool it by whisking with a ladle.
Time: PT2M
Prepare the crunchy mixture
Melt 200 g of 72% dark chocolate in a bain‑marie, add 80 g puffed rice, 100 g pecan praline and the seeds of one tonka bean. Mix quickly so the rice stays crunchy.
Time: PT8M
Temperature: 40°C
Brush the molds with white chocolate (first layer)
Using a natural‑hair brush, apply a thin layer of melted white chocolate over the entire interior surface of the silicone half‑spheres.
Time: PT7M
Temperature: 40°C
First chill
Place the molds in the refrigerator for 10 minutes to set the first layer.
Time: PT10M
Marble with dark chocolate
Brush a second layer of dark chocolate onto the shells, create a marbled effect, then refrigerate for 10 minutes.
Time: PT7M
Temperature: 40°C
Add a second layer of dark chocolate
Repeat the previous step to reinforce the structure, then refrigerate again for 10 minutes.
Time: PT7M
Temperature: 40°C
White chocolate interior
Brush the interior of the half‑spheres with white chocolate, then let set for 10 minutes in the refrigerator.
Time: PT7M
Temperature: 40°C
Unmold and assemble the spheres
Remove the shells from the mold, place two half‑spheres face‑to‑face, lightly heat a non‑stick pan and quickly press to seal the edges.
Time: PT4M
Reheat the custard and glaze
Reheat the custard in the microwave for 30 seconds, pour into a small carafe and generously glaze each sphere.
Time: PT2M
Finishing and serving
Serve immediately, optionally dust with a pinch of cocoa or powdered sugar for decoration.
Time: PT2M
Nutrition Facts
- Calories
- 1200
- Protein
- 10 g
- Carbohydrates
- 80 g
- Fat
- 90 g
- Fiber
- 5 g
Dietary info: vegetarian, gluten‑free, high-fiber
Allergens: milk, eggs, pecan, soy (chocolate lecithin)
Last updated: April 7, 2026





