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The dessert, Chic bistro

Coffee parfait with warm caramel

Coffee parfait is a frozen, cake shaped dessert for 6 people, made entirely without an ice cream maker. It takes 35 minutes of active work and is made the night before, with only the caramel sauce done the next morning. It's a moderate difficulty recipe at €1.90 per person, and its success depends on a well whipped sabayon folded gently with the cream.

A coffee parfait, sliced like a cake and drizzled with warm caramel, no ice cream maker and no stress.

Coffee parfait with warm caramel
For
6 people
Work
35 min
Total time
8 h 40
Prep
Prepared the day before
Difficulty
Medium
Cost per person
€1.90
Calories per person
450 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach

This parfait has the texture of homemade ice cream without the ice crystals, rich and smooth, carried by a coffee flavor that stays strong even frozen. The warm caramel sauce poured over each slice creates that hot and cold contrast that always works at the table, and the chocolate covered coffee beans add a bit of unexpected crunch.

It's a dessert that fits a dinner with friends as well as a family meal, any time of year since it has no particular season. It pairs well with a menu that already took some time in the kitchen, since this one asks for almost nothing on the day itself, just unmolding and drizzling at the last minute.

The schedule

What happens when, so you can be with your guests instead of in the kitchen.

  1. The day before 3 steps, 8 h 10
  2. The same day 1 step
  3. Before the guests arrive Nothing to do
  4. When it's time to serve 1 step

The night before, you make the whole parfait, from the sabayon through the overnight freeze, which frees up your entire day of hosting. In the morning, all that's left is the caramel, which rests at room temperature. Right before serving, you unmold, slice with a hot knife, and drizzle the caramel in front of your guests.

The ingredients

6 people

Dairy

  • Egg yolks 5
  • Heavy cream 55 cl
  • Butter 20 g

Pantry

  • Sugaroften in the pantry 220 g
  • Strong coffee 10 cl
  • Coffee extractoften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Chocolate covered coffee beans 30 g

Allergens Lactose, Eggs

The recipe, moment by moment

The day beforeWhat's better after resting overnight in the fridge.

  1. Whisk the egg yolks with 120 g of sugar and the hot coffee over a double boiler until the mixture thickens and turns pale. 10 min

    The whisk should leave a ribbon on the surface, that's the sign the sabayon is ready.

  2. Off the heat, keep whisking until completely cool, then fold in 40 cl of cream whipped to soft peaks.

    Lift the mixture with a spatula rather than stirring, so you don't knock out the air bubbles that make the parfait light.

  3. Pour into a loaf pan lined with plastic wrap and freeze overnight. 8 h

    Tap the pan on the counter to smooth out the surface.

The same dayDuring the day, whenever you get a moment.

  1. Make a caramel with 100 g of sugar, deglaze with 15 cl of hot cream, stir in the butter, and keep the sauce at room temperature.

    Pour the cream in a thin stream and step back, the caramel bubbles up and can splatter.

When it's time to serveThe final touches, right in front of your guests.

  1. Unmold the parfait, slice it with a hot knife, drizzle with caramel sauce, and decorate with chocolate covered coffee beans.

    Warm the caramel for a few seconds in the microwave so it pours in a smooth stream over the frozen parfait.

Our tips to get it right

  • Use genuinely strong coffee, like a tight espresso, otherwise the flavor fades once the mixture is frozen.
  • Line the pan with a large sheet of plastic wrap that hangs well over the edges, it makes unmolding much easier without damaging the sides.
  • If the knife sticks when slicing, run it under very hot water and wipe it between each slice instead of forcing it through.

The variations

  • Swap the coffee for praline paste or melted chocolate for a parfait that's just as easy to prepare the same way.
  • For a quicker version, skip the sabayon step and fold the coffee extract directly into firmly whipped cream, the result is less airy but still good.
  • For kids, replace the coffee with caramel or vanilla and keep the same base, they love the frozen texture sliced like a cake.

What to serve it with

  • A strong espresso to echo the theme
  • Crisp tuiles or butter cookies
  • A few berries for some acidity

Storage

The parfait keeps 5 to 7 days in the freezer, tightly wrapped in its pan. Let it sit 5 minutes before slicing so it's not too hard. The caramel keeps 3 days in the fridge in a sealed jar, gently rewarmed before serving.

Questions about this recipe

Can you make this parfait without a double boiler?

A double boiler keeps the egg yolks from cooking too fast, but you can whisk over very low heat while watching closely. The key is getting a thick, creamy sabayon before folding in the whipped cream.

How do you scale this parfait up for more than 6 people?

For 8 to 10 people, use a larger pan and increase the quantities by about a third. Plan for a slightly longer freezing time if the pan is deeper.

How should you plate the slices?

Lay each slice flat, drizzle warm caramel so it runs down the sides, and scatter a few chocolate covered coffee beans on top. An extra stripe of caramel on the plate makes a nice effect.

Can caramel replace coffee in the sauce?

The classic caramel in the recipe works perfectly well, but you can also add a touch of coffee extract to tie it back to the parfait. It's entirely optional, the caramel and coffee contrast already works on its own.

Can a coffee parfait with warm caramel be made ahead?

Yes, it's even recommended. The recipe needs 35 min of work in total, split up like this, the day before, 3 steps, the same day, 1 step, when it's time to serve, 1 step.

How long does it take to make a coffee parfait with warm caramel?

Allow 8 h 40 in total, including resting and cooking time, of which 35 min is actual work. The recipe is rated "medium".

How many calories are in a coffee parfait with warm caramel?

About 450 kcal per person, for a recipe meant for 6 people. The calories are calculated by Kiloach, your kilo coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a coffee parfait with warm caramel cost?

About €1.90 per person, that's €11.40 for 6 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains lactose, eggs. Remember to ask your guests about their allergies before putting your menu together.

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